Focus the Nation prompts climate action

By Christina Cernak Bulletin Contributing Writer

Published on January 25, 2008

The start of spring semester is usually a time when students, faculty and staff at the Five Colleges focus on getting back in the rhythm of academic life. This year, though, some will also be homing in on the effects of global warming and sharing in a massive nationwide teach-in.

The Five College community will join thousands of colleges and other institutions across the nation in a kickoff event on the evening of Jan. 30, followed by a teach-in dedicated to global warming on the 31st. The events are part of the Focus the Nation program, dedicated to spreading the word on the effects of and solutions to climate change. The group's organizers predict that Jan. 31 may become the largest nationwide teach-in in American history.

According to Focus the Nation's organizers, which include a number of nationally renowned environmentalists, "We owe our young people one day of focused discussion about global warming solutions for America."

Groups at Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges have taken this message to heart, and have planned for the kickoff and teach-in for months.

<h4>Music, stories</h4>

At Mount Holyoke, the kickoff will begin at 7 p.m. with musician-activist Erica Wheeler, a Northampton native who dedicates a portion of her profits to land conservation. Wheeler's performance will be followed by Native American storyteller Marge Bruchac. At 8 p.m., event participants will tune in to "2% Solution," a live, interactive Web cast sponsored by Focus the Nation. (See related story below.)

The hour-long Web cast focuses on the goal of reducing U.S. emissions levels by 2 percent per year. Discussion will be led by Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins and green jobs innovator Van Jones, along with youth climate activists.

Smith College will also hold a public screening of the Web cast at 8 p.m. in Wright Hall's Weinstein Auditorium.

On the 31st, Mount Holyoke's Center for the Environment's Director Sandra Postel will lead students, faculty, staff and others toward a day of panel discussions and teach-ins. The public is welcome.

Discussions will include alumnae who work in a field that focuses on climate and sustainability and students who attended a climate conference this fall. Other panels will touch upon the college's environmental sustainability goals and the political process of affecting climate change solutions.

Smith College will also hold discussion panels on climate change and a presentation led by Five College Peace and World Studies professor Michael Klare. Klare is the author of "Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum."

Professors at both Smith and Mount Holyoke have also agreed to dedicate class time Jan. 31 to discussing global warming from their field's perspective. Students who are not in their classes are also invited to attend.

Communications Director for the Five Colleges Kevin Kennedy is working to involve all of the colleges in the event. The timing of the event is acting as a roadblock for the other three colleges, as they will only have a few days to prepare for the kickoff and teach-in after students and faculty return to campus.

Hampshire College is tackling this problem by honoring the event mid-February.

Amherst College, which planned on hosting a guest speaker, now must "honor the day in spirit," according to professor Jan Dizard. The speaker, who was to discuss the New England forest and climate change, canceled.