Cascade Focus the Nation Events

What's happening in January?

A range of departments are planning talks related to climate change. For more information contact rosie.sweetman@pcc.edu.

  • Jan 14th - Film screening "The 11th Hour" in the MAHB auditorium.
  • Jan 29th - $1 BBQ
  • Jan 30th - 2% solution webcast in the cafeteria, 5 pm

Jan 31 Agenda

Click on an item to learn more:

Terrell Hall 122

10-11am: The History and Future of a Mutable Atmosphere:
Jefferson Ranck, English Instructor
This ocean of air we live in has a long and convoluted past, and is a remarkable product of living organisms that made life on land possible. If the atmosphere can change dramatically due to biological activity in the past, it can certainly be altered by a new kind of biological activity -- us -- in the future. We will explore some of the ways that can happen, such as disruptions of the basic atmospheric cycles -- nitrogen, oxygen, water, carbon.
11am-12 noon - Climate Change and Culture
María Wilson-Figueroa, Sociology Instructor
How do our dominant cultural values and beliefs impact our behavior and endanger
our environment?
12 noon-1pm Second Life: Can Virtual Reality Can Keep Us Out of Our Cars?
Martha Baily
In online programs like Second Life, players create unique characters and environments, and interact with each other in rich ways. Do programs like these have the potential to reduce our carbon footprint? Can they substitute for real world interaction?
1-2pm - Climate Change, The History of Science and Philosophy
Shirlee Geiger – Philosophy Instructor
How are scientific controversies sometimes misrepresented and exploited for political ends? A look at the nature of controversy in science and the logic of dispute resolution as understood by philosophy and the history of science.
2-3pm - Canaries in the Coal mine: Global Warming and Species Collapse
Micah Jordan, Biology Instructor
What science can and can’t tell us about the biological impact of global warming.
3-4pm - Denial Ain’t Just a River in Egypt! Climate Change and Psychology
Monica Schneider, Psychology Instructor
What effect will global warming have on your mental health? How do we cope with things we think we have no control over?

Cascade Student Center Cafeteria

12 noon-1pm - Green Pizza Innovation in Sustainable Business
Lou from Hotlips Pizza
From their commitment to using only local ingredients, to their use of green power and composting, Hotlips Pizza serves as a role model for how can be incredibly successful through responsible environmental stewardship. Lou will be here to talk about some obvious and not so obvious steps they have taken to reduce their impact and why other businesses would be wise to follow.
1-2pm – You Want Me to Pay More? The Economics of Renewable Power Options
Economics Instructor Nancy Scott & Geoff Bastian of 3Degrees Inc.
Nancy and Geoff will be teaming up for both a basic and an in-depth explanation of green power options, like Pacific Power’s “Blue Sky Energy”. Paying a bit more each month helps build renewable power infrastructure, like wind farms. However, some customers don’t understand the mechanics behind such programs. Come to this session to get your questions answered.
3-4pm - The Power of the People: Non-profit & Non-governmental Organizations
Environmental Sociology Instructor Kim Smith and Stephanie Rawth of Green Empowerment
Kim Smith, environmental sociology instructor, and Steph from Green Empowerment will team up to explain how non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and non-profits can play a significant role in alleviating the social and environmental problems associated with global warming. Kim will also speak about some theories explaining the unprecedented growth in the non-profit sector, and how students can position themselves for careers in the non-profit sector.

Student Lounge – Basement Of SC

Movies throughout the day
The story of stuff; An Inconvinate Truth, and more.
12 noon-1pm - In Our Own Words: Student Writings on the Environmental Crisis Student Panel
During winter term Lutgarda Cowan asked her students to write papers on environmental issues. Not wanting all their hard work to go to waste, the students will share their findings and discuss the process of researching environmental topics.

Library

12 noon-1pm Climate Change and the Law
Jerry Brask, Paralegal Program
Sustainability--Selected Legal issues
2-2:30pm Data! A greenie’s best friend
Roberta Richards Research Librarian
Building Green is a library research database with state-of-the-art information on sustainable building practices. Come to this hands-on training to learn about certified green buildings, energy saving products, and much more!

SC Hall

Green Fair – All day!
Many community organizations and green businesses will be on hand to inform about their organizations, find volunteers, and raise awareness of environmental issues. Be sure to stop by and check out the tables.