Speakers encourage a focus on climate
Jess Vogt
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: News
"Green democracy." "A round-table dialogue." "One day of focused discussion."
No matter how you describe it, January 31 is Focus the Nation day. It is one day of grassroots political efforts to talk about solutions to what is arguably one of the biggest problems in today's world: global climate change.
Next Thursday, over 1000 institutions -- including businesses, colleges and universities and even large corporations -- will all be focused on thinking and talking about climate change and what America as a nation can do to help mitigate it. Students, professionals and legislatures all across the nation will be discussing this issue by way of organized teach-ins, discussions with local congressmen and webcasts.
The national project called Focus the Nation is the brainchild of Hunter Lovins, well-known sustainability activist and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute. She and the board of Focus the Nation are taking the advice of top U.S climate scientist Dr. James Hansen and pursuing a citizen's course of action to discuss solutions to climate change and the damage it will cause to all facets of our lives.
"We owe our young people at least a day of focused discussion about global warming solutions for America," the Focus the Nation website declares. Grassroots political action and discussion, they believe, is the only way to spark change in our sluggish legislature and politicians.
"What I appreciate most about the event," said associate professor of geology and department chair of environmental studies Jeff Clark, "is that it is about solutions, rather than rehashing the debate over the causes of climate change."
Indeed, Focus the Nation concentrates most on the idea of solutions. The event acknowledges that global warming is happening and will drastically impact all aspects of our lives unless we move towards new solutions now.
The contribution of Lawrence University students to this day will come in the form of many short speeches outside all over campus between classes by members of Greenfire. These speeches, inspired by Mark Johnson's 5-minute speeches, will provide a variety of perspectives on the issue of global warming.
No matter how you describe it, January 31 is Focus the Nation day. It is one day of grassroots political efforts to talk about solutions to what is arguably one of the biggest problems in today's world: global climate change.
Next Thursday, over 1000 institutions -- including businesses, colleges and universities and even large corporations -- will all be focused on thinking and talking about climate change and what America as a nation can do to help mitigate it. Students, professionals and legislatures all across the nation will be discussing this issue by way of organized teach-ins, discussions with local congressmen and webcasts.
The national project called Focus the Nation is the brainchild of Hunter Lovins, well-known sustainability activist and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute. She and the board of Focus the Nation are taking the advice of top U.S climate scientist Dr. James Hansen and pursuing a citizen's course of action to discuss solutions to climate change and the damage it will cause to all facets of our lives.
"We owe our young people at least a day of focused discussion about global warming solutions for America," the Focus the Nation website declares. Grassroots political action and discussion, they believe, is the only way to spark change in our sluggish legislature and politicians.
"What I appreciate most about the event," said associate professor of geology and department chair of environmental studies Jeff Clark, "is that it is about solutions, rather than rehashing the debate over the causes of climate change."
Indeed, Focus the Nation concentrates most on the idea of solutions. The event acknowledges that global warming is happening and will drastically impact all aspects of our lives unless we move towards new solutions now.
The contribution of Lawrence University students to this day will come in the form of many short speeches outside all over campus between classes by members of Greenfire. These speeches, inspired by Mark Johnson's 5-minute speeches, will provide a variety of perspectives on the issue of global warming.
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