Sustainable Slippery Rock

Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Introductory Session: This Friday, December 16th, 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Jennings Environmental Education Center (2951 Prospect Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057)

Join concerned citizens for a series of sessions to study and discuss the book The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial Is Threatening Our Planet, Destroying Our Politics, and Driving Us Crazy, written by climate scientist Mark Mann and cartoonist Tom Toles. The book summarizes where we are today on the climate change issue and how we got here, exploring the science, the politics, the confusion and the denial. The discussions will be facilitated by Marcellus Outreach Butler, a grassroots environmental organization formed in 2010 in Butler County to educate, advocate, and act in relation to the potential dangers of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), climate change, and the need for a transition to renewable energy.

During this first session, a film related to climate change will be shown as an introduction to the issue and the book. The book study will be conducted over three additional sessions, tentatively scheduled for January 4, 11 and 18, 2017. (These may be subject to change, based on availability and wishes of registered participants.)

Marcellus Outreach Butler will make a limited number of copies of the book available on a first-come, first-served basis to those interested, for a donation of $16.00. To register for the sessions or get further information, e-mail mpro113@gmail.com .

Sustainable Slippery Rock will sponsor a a presentation by Slippery Rock University Professors Becky Thomas and Shawn Davis on Friday, December 2 at 7:00 pm, at the meeting place of Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist Congregation, (174 South Main Street in Slippery Rock, behind the building at 172 South Main). The event is free and open to all.

Titled “Making an impact with ‘No Impact’,” the presentation will relate to the professors’ experiences in doing the “No Impact Experiment” with students at two universities: lessons learned and ideas for scaling up in April and possibly including the whole community.

Inspired by the No Impact Man book, film, and blog by Colin Beavan, the “No Impact Project” is an international, environmental nonprofit founded in 2009. A description from the project’s website explains that, “The No Impact Experiment is a one-week carbon cleanse. It is a chance for you to see what a difference no-impact living can have on your quality of life. It’s not about giving up creature comforts but an opportunity for you to test whether the modern “conveniences” you take for granted are actually making you happier or just eating away at your time and money.”

Learn more about the project at http://noimpactproject.org/experiment/.One of several video testimonials by project participants about their experiences also may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og4p_STCLog&index=2&list=PLWQUrgLEJaHdQqCd3k6q81uDQtVhWmSEb 

Slippery Rock Community Farmers’ Market is gearing up for the 2016 season, which will begin May 7th and continue through the end of October. A planning and organizational meeting for the upcoming season is scheduled for Thursday, April 14 at 6:30 PM at the Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s building at 174 South Main Street, Slippery Rock. (It’s the yellow building along the alley between the Main Street storefronts and the big, public parking lot.) All current and prospective vendors and anyone who wishes to volunteer or support the market are encouraged to attend, in order to provide input and ideas to the market management committee. To grow the market, we need and will appreciate your help!

On Saturday, December 1st Marcellus Outreach Butler will host a presentation by Alex Lotorto of the Energy Justice Network. The presentation is scheduled from 1:00 until 3:00 PM at the Butler Public Library (218 North McKean Street). It is free and open to the public.

Mr. Lotorto will review the natural gas midstream from wellhead to end use, explaining cryogenic processing plants, pipelines and compressor stations and the potential impacts of each of these. He’ll also discuss how various strategies and tactics implemented through community organizing have been used across the state to influence decision making by gas companies. Find further details and information on the Marcellus Outreach Butler website: http://www.marcellusoutreachbutler.org/ 

Wednesday-Friday, September 30-October 2, Duquesne University in Pittsburgh will host its first “Presidential Conference on the Integrity of Creation,” with climate change being the topic of discussion.  According to the university, “This interdisciplinary, academic conference will occur each year to provide a scholarly forum for exploring a topic related to the general theme of the Integrity of Creation.”

The conference has three goals:  1. To provide a scholarly opportunity to engage established and emerging research on the conference topic; 2. To foster interdisciplinary discourse on each topic, such as among science, health, philosophy, religion and policy; and 3. To enlighten public awareness and discussion of the conference topic.

Speakers will include Richard Alley (Evan Pugh Professor of Environmental Science, Penn State University, and Nobel Laureate); Robert Brinkmann (Director of Sustainability Research at the National Center for Suburban Studies); Mary Wood (Phillip Knight Professor of Law, University of Oregon); and Laurie Zoloth (Professor of Religious Studies, Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Northwestern University).

The conference is free, but registration is required.  To see the complete schedule and to register, go to the conference website  (http://www.duq.edu/research/integrity-of-creation-conference—climate-change)