Live Blog- Sustaining the Ivory Tower

12:17pm- John Doolittle is opening up after lunch. I’m typing this up on word because American University’s wireless is being lame. Doolittle is the director of CTE, and started to introduce the speakers.

Paul Wapner- SIS Professor- New Mexico course- environmental policy
Chris Palmer- SOC- Director of Center of Env. Filmmaking- “final word” in environmental filmmaker
Claire Roby- CAS Senior; student perspective; history in Eco-Sense
H. Paul Davis- Environmental architecture
Keo Kim- Potomac Project- Started by some Eco Sense students who waned Kerwin to sign on to the Climate Commitment. AU would raise the issue of sustainability to a higher level.

12:20pm- Potomac Project has been used by other schools. Perhaps it would inspire other schools.

What does sustainability mean to them? Where’s it going within the U? What does it mean to be sustainable?

Roby said that S, F, and S have been working together to work with Kerwin to sign onto the Climate Commitment to aim for Carbon Neutrality within the next two years. She just announced that he has committed to signing it. Applause, of course.

“If our habits are affecting other people, it’s our responsibility to address that”- Robie
5 major campaigns in 3 years; vote to wind energy;

Palmer- Sustainability- We don’t want to take resources away from future AU students; each of us have to decide what side we’re on- do we pollute or do we heal?

12:27- I’m still trying to get the internet working so I can access my actual blog and start posting there, instead of this Word document BS.

Palmer says that SOC has picked up the green bug, we have a green roof now. Dean Kirkman has initiated partnerships with various green companies- Sony- has declared Green intentions, striving to be stustainable.

Center for Environmental Filmmaking- formed out of necessity to produce films to produce change in that arena. “We Are Fouling our own Nest”. He just mentioned how effective a film like “An Inconvenient Truth” can be. He’s also touting he fact that SOC brings in “outstanding” filmmakers, who’ve made films that are effective in bringing about change.