Univ. event seeks global solutions
Today and Thursday, the University will band together with more than 1,000 universities across the nation to discuss solutions for global warming in the Focus the Nation teach-in.
This event will foster conversation about ways to curb global warming and find cleaner, more efficient energy sources. Students, faculty and staff at participating schools will “put aside business as usual and focus the full weight of campus engagement on one topic,” namely, global warming resolutions, according to the Focus the Nation Web site.
“It is a two-day teach-in . as part of a national event that involves over 1,500 schools that will be doing events simultaneously,” said Kelly Siragusa, the Focus the Nation coordinator at the University, in a telephone interview Tuesday.
The teach-in will kick off tonight with a Web cast entitled “2% Solutions,” a presentation featuring a group of “youth climate leaders,” as well as several distinguished experts on climate research and sustainability.
Thursday’s events begin with lectures by Janisse Ray, author of “Ecology of a Cracker Childhood,” and “National Geographic” Executive Editor Dennis Dimick at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.
Students and faculty can also get involved by going online to the Focus the Nation Web site and casting their votes for the top five climate change solutions, Siragusa said.
TEACH-IN EVENT CALENDAR
TODAY
“2% Solution” Web cast, Memorial Hall Ballroom, 7 p.m. with free dinner to follow
THURSDAY
Lecture by “Ecology of a Cracker Childhood” author Janisse Ray, 2 p.m., Mahler Auditorium of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center
Charter Lecture presented by National Geographic Executive Editor Dennis Dimick, 3:30 p.m, Mahler Auditorium of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center
Power Hour Rally featuring Athens mayor Heidi Davison, 7 p.m., the 40 Watt (located at 285 W. Washington St.)
After voting closes on Feb. 12, individual teams from different states will give the results to their state representatives on the President’s Day recess.
“The idea is to pull together the results from all the other schools and present them to Congress,” Siragusa said.
She said the teach-in and poll results are part of an effort to make “major policy changes at the federal level” – an effort that students play a large part in.
“(The teach-in) gives students a unified voice and I think students are a powerful voice in the country,” Siragusa said.
For more information about the teach-in, visit the Athens chapter of Focus the Nation’s Web site at http://athensfocusthenation.cfsites.org.
