Clackamas Community College sustainability event in full swing
Fourth annual Sustainability Project @ CCC brings speakers and experts on variety of green topics
The Sustainability Project@Clackamas Community College returns for a fourth year with a full lineup of authors, scientists, professors and experts. New to this year’s series is the Clackamas Green Screen Film Festival, a June capstone to the spring events.
Instructors at CCC began the Sustainability Project @ CCC in an effort to bring the most current information around sustainability to the community. The series has presented dozens of speakers to the college and the community since it began, along with films and events around sustainability.
“The Sustainability Project provides some of the most current information available,” said Jeff McAlpine, who is coordinating this year’s series. “The conservation, efficiency, and long-term planning associated with sustainability not only can save people money, but help them feel better about the world we’re leaving our descendants.”
This year’s series focuses on the Triple Bottom Line, looking at the social, economic and environmental components of sustainability. Events begin in April and conclude in June with the film festival. Events are free and take place in the McLoughlin Auditorium unless otherwise noted. A listing of this year’s events follows:
• Thursday, April 16, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Bill Lunch, OSU professor of political science and area political commentator, talks about politics and sustainability, new legislation and the Obama administration agenda.
• Tuesday, April 21, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. “Take Back the Tap.” Nancy Matella addresses tap water vs. bottled water, including a taste test. The taste test continues from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Sponsored by Associated Student Government.
• Tuesday, April 21. 7 to 8 p.m. Dr. Kristin Sheeran of the E3 Network discusses triple bottom line economics in her presentation “People, Planet and Profit.”
• Tuesday, April 21, 7 to 8 p.m., Portland poet and teacher Kaia Sand will read from her poetry and discuss her eco-poetry interview project.
• Thursday, April 23, noon to 1 p.m. Mace Vaughan, director of the pollinator program at the Xerces Society, discusses the decline in honey bees and ways to attract pollinators.
• Tuesday, May 5, noon to 1 p.m. Ted Brekken of OSU and Wallace Energy Systems and Renewable Energy Facility talks about the potential of wave energy.
• Friday, May 8, noon to 5 p.m. CCC Horticulture Club Plant Sale. Vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees and shrubs, all grown by CCC horticulture students. Bring your own boxes.
• Tuesday, May 12, noon to 1 p.m. Eban Goodstein, Lewis & Clark Professor of Economics and National Teach-In organizer discusses the clean-energy economy and the role of the new generation in creating a just, sustainable and prosperous future.
• Tuesday, May 19, noon to 1 p.m. Bob Wise of Cogan Owens Cogan presents “Sustainable Development in China.”
• Thursday , May 21, 7 to 9 p.m. Localization: Sustainability from Global to Local, a panel presentation featuring CCC’s leaders in sustainability including Don Hartsock, social sciences; Jeff McAlpine, English; Elizabeth Howley, horticulture; Karen Halliday, reference librarian; and Terry Mackey, CCC librarian. Journalism instructor Melissa Jones will moderate.
• Tuesday, May 26, noon to 1 p.m. CCC horticulture instructors Elizabeth Howley and Renee Harber join Cieridwen Terrill in a forum on invasive species.
• Thursday, May 28, noon to 1 p.m. R.A. Brown, University of Washington professor emeritus, discusses “What makes a climate expert?”
• June 6, 7 and 8. The Clackamas Green Screen Film Festival debuts at various locations on the campus.
For more information about the Sustainability Project or the Green Screen Film Festival, please see www2.clackamas.edu/sustainability/ or call Jeff McAlpine at 503-657-6958, ext. 5240 or Janet Paulson at 503-657-6958, ext. 2307.