[act-ma] Energy (and Other) Events
George Mokray
gmoke at world.std.com
Sun Jun 5 18:57:29 PDT 2011
Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most
Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston
area that catch the editor's eye.
Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events
email gmoke at world.std.com
My notes from three recent presentations on the Arab Spring are at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/13/975618/-Notes-on-the-Arab-Spring
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The FuturICT Flagship - A talk with Prof. Dirk Helbing
what Discussion, Workshop
when 2011-06-06 from 18:00 to 20:30
where swissnex Boston, 420 Broadway, 02138 Cambridge, MA
contact name Sabine Ledermann
contact email sabine at swissnexboston.org
Discover an European Platform to mitigate techno-socio-economic crises!
Today, we know more about the universe than about our society. It's
time to use the power of information to explore social and economic
life on Earth and discover options for a sustainable future. Together,
we can manage the challenges of the 21st century, combining the best
of all knowledge. Please join us for a unique and fascinating lecture
about the future with modern information technology with Prof. Helbing*.
The ultimate goal of the FuturICT flagship project is to understand
and manage complex, global, socially interactive systems, with a focus
on sustainability and resilience. Revealing the hidden laws and
processes underlying societies probably constitutes the most pressing
scientific grand challenge of our century and is equally important for
the development of novel robust, trustworthy and adaptive information
and communication technologies (ICT), based on socially inspired
approaches.
Integrating ICT, Complexity Science and the Social Sciences will
create a paradigm shift, facilitating a symbiotic co-evolution of ICT
and society. Data from our complex globe-spanning ICT system will be
leveraged to develop models of techno-socio-economic systems. In turn,
insights from these models will inform the development of a new
generation of socially adaptive, self-organized ICT systems.
FuturICT as a whole will act as a Knowledge Accelerator, turning
massive data into knowledge and technological progress. In this way,
FuturICT will create the scientific methods and ICT platforms needed
to address planetary-scale challenges and opportunities in the 21st
century. Specifically, FuturICT will build a sophisticated simulation,
visualization and participation platform, called the Living Earth
Platform. This platform will power Crisis Observatories, to detect and
mitigate crises, and Participatory Platforms, to support the decision-
making of policy-makers, managers, and citizens.
Swiss style reception to follow.
Please R.S.V.P., seats are limited!
*Dirk Helbing was born on January 19, 1965. He studied Physics and
Mathematics, but was always interested in other fields of science as
well. In the year 2000, he became Professor and Managing Director of
the Institute for Transport & Economics at Dresden University of
Technology, and in 2007 he was appointed Professor of Sociology, in
particular of Modeling and Simulation, at ETH Zürich. Since 2008, he
is elected member of the German Academy of Sciences "Leopoldina".
More than 200 publications in different scientific fields, 300 talks
and more than 300 reports in the public media reflect his wide field
of interest, reaching from traffic science over crowds and disaster
management to biologically inspired logistics. He also had projects
with Xerox PARC, Volkswagen, SCA Packaging, Siemens, PTV, further
companies, and various foundations.
Helbings's team developed a traffic assistance system and patented the
principle of a self-organized traffic light control, which implements
massively parallel, decentralized control concepts for the
optimization of traffic flows. The resulting increase of performance
and the higher flexibility are based on latest developments in the
understanding of complex systems. Companies and societies are other
examples of such complex systems. This is also the reason why Dirk
Helbing is interested in sociology.
Apart from developing information portals to accelerate scientific
innovation, he is particularly interested in techno-social systems,
which will determine the future of Web2.0. Furthermore, he is the
chairman of the newly established ETH Competence Center "Coping with
Crises in Complex Socio-Economic Systems", which will develop computer
models of crisis scenarios and finally provide decision support for
politics and economy.
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*Skillshare: Time Banking in the Time Trade Circle****
Monday, June 6
6-8:30PM*
The NonProfit Center by South Station
Looking for an alternative economy? Need a ride to the airport, help
with your garden or a massage? This workshop will talk about time
banking - exchanging services based on time - and tell you all about
the Time Trade Circle (TTC), a local time bank with 800+ members all
over the greater metro-Boston and Eastern-Mass area. The workshop will
explain how to join if you are interested, and forms will be
available. I'll explain how time banking is different from bartering,
how our local Time Trade Circle time bank works, what kinds of
services people trade, and how members participate through their
online account.
www.TimeTradeCircle.org<http://www.timetradecircle.org/>
*Learn more and RSVP:** *http://www.sojust.org/events/17664391/*
*(bring your own dinner)
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New England Wind Energy Education Project (NEWEEP) Conference/Workshop
Volunteer Opportunities
June 07, 2011 8:00a–8:00p
The conference/workshop will focus on presenting balanced information
relevant to issues of importance to individuals and communities
affected by wind energy proposals throughout New England, including
environmental and economic benefits as well as siting concerns. Our
goal is to ensure that participants know where to go to obtain the
latest research, identify areas where more research is needed, and
identify strategies for continuing the NEWEEP effort.
This one-day conference/workshop will start with presentations and
discussion panels. In addition, facilitated breakout sessions will
allow participants to collectively brainstorm issues associated with
wind development, siting, and permitting, and to identify areas where
more credible research is needed and how to oversee and fund it.
NEWEEP's premise is that wind energy has benefits and that responsibly-
sited wind power has a role to play in New England, but, not every
place is the right place for wind generation. NEWEEP's mission is to
seek and make available the best information possible to support good
decisions.
Category: lectures/conferences
Location: Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough, MA
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events
Admission: Open to the public
For more information: Contact Kathryn Craddock
kcraddock at seadvantage.com
http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/newengland/neweep/index.asp
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The benefits of Facebook “Friends”: The social capital implications of
Facebook-enabled communication practices
Nicole B. Ellison, Dept. of Telecommunication, Information Studies and
Media, Michigan State University
Tuesday, June 7, 12:30 pm
Berkman Center, 23 Everett Street, second floor
RSVP required for those attending in person to Amar Ashar (ashar at cyber.law.harvard.edu
)
This event will be webcast (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast
) live at 12:30 pm ET and archived on our site shortly after.
This talk will provide an overview of research exploring the social
capital implications of social network site use. Specifically, I will
report on new research that attempts to identify specific Facebook-
enabled behaviors that contribute to users’ ability to access diverse
perspective, novel information, and social support. This research
explores the link between bridging social capital levels and Facebook-
related factors such as time on site, the number of Facebook Friends,
and a set of behaviors we call “Cultivation of Social Resources.”
About Nicole
Nicole Ellison is an associate professor in the Department of
Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media. Her research
explores issues of self-presentation, relationship development, and
identity in online environments such as online dating and social
network sites. Nicole received her Ph.D in Communication Theory and
Research from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University
of Southern California in 1999. Currently she is exploring ad-hoc
collaboration in social network sites, for a project funded by the
National Science Foundation, and perceptions regarding the
acceptability of profile discrepancies in online dating profiles. Her
previous research has examined the formation of virtual communities
and the ways in which telecommuters use information and communication
technologies to calibrate the permeability of their work/home
boundaries, as explored in her 2004 book, Telework and Social Change.
Her work has been published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated
Communication, Communication Research, and the Personality and Social
Psychology Bulletin. Representative publications can be found on her
publications page: https://www.msu.edu/~nellison/pubs.html. Nicole
will be a visiting researcher at Microsoft Research New England,
working with danah boyd, in the Spring of 2010 and at the Oxford
Internet Institute the following Fall.
Links: http://tism.msu.edu/users/nicole-ellison
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Come out tonight for a free screening of the documentary "Who killed
the electric car?"
& learn how to make a difference!
Help us kick off the EVboston Initiative with a free screening of,
"Who killed the electric car?"
What is EVBoston?
The EVboston initiative is a series of programs aimed at preparing for
the growth of the electric vehicle market in the region. Expanding use
of traditional gasoline vehicles is a major cause of both local and
global pollution. Locally, exhaust fueled air pollution is a public
health hazard—decreasing the quality of life for Boston residents
and visitors.
When: Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Where: Boston Common- Parkman Bandstand
Time: 8 pm
Contact: Boston Transportation Dept. Rachel Szakmary, 617-635-2755
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Hello friends,
I want to invite you to a FREE conference call with renowned soil
biologist and permaculture instructor Larry Korn (www.larrykorn.net)
and myself. We're going to be giving a talk on the power of
permaculture design, our trainings and spending much time answering
questions (so come prepared to ask them!)
If you're thinking about joining us for one of our upcoming trainings,
this is a great opportunity to engage with the program co-facilitators
and to learn the basics about permaculture and our trainings.
When: Wednesday, June 8th @ 6PM Pacific
Where: Conference call
Cost: FREE [Space is limited - please sign up early]
Sign up to get access to the call and recording of the call:
--> http://commoncircle.com/marketer/link.php?M=6340938&N=99&L=28&F=T
Larry Korn is an educator, consultant, editor and author in the fields
of permaculture, natural farming, sustainable landscaping and local
food production. Larry is the primary instructor for Common Circle
Education Oregon Permaculture Design and Regenerative Leadership
Trainings.
After completing his BA degree in Asian Studies at University of
California Berkeley, Larry traveled to Japan to see first hand what
life was like in Asia. He lived and worked on communes and traditional
farms in the Japanese countryside. Among other rural farms, Larry
spent several years with Masanobu Fukuoka, a farmer and philosopher,
on Shikoku Island. Mr. Fukuoka developed a special no-till way of
farming to demonstrate the practical value of his spiritual
principles. Larry returned to the United States and helped translate
and edit Mr. Fukuoka’s book, The One-Straw Revolution, which was
published by Rodale Press in 1978.
Vladislav Davidzon is a social entrepreneur with well over a decade of
experience launching innovative social change brands challenging the
very boundaries of sustainable design and permaculture. Having studied
with some of the world's most renowned instructors, including Bill
Mollison, Marshall Rosenberg, Starhawk and Joanna Macy, Vladislav
integrates a diverse range of incredible teachings into his work
designing and facilitating the Common Circle Education trainings.
When: Wednesday, June 8th @ 6PM Pacific
Where: Conference call
Cost: FREE [Space is limited - please sign up early]
Sign up to get access to the call and recording of the call:
--> http://commoncircle.com/marketer/link.php?M=6340938&N=99&L=28&F=T
We hope you will be able to join us for this call!
Much gratitude,
Vladislav Davidzon, Founder/CEO
--
Common Circle Education
1-800-376-3775 // www.commoncircle.com
14525 SW Millikan Way, Suite 17760, Beaverton, OR 97005
Love us on Facebook:
http://commoncircle.com/marketer/link.php?M=6340938&N=99&L=29&F=T
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Financing Innovative Clean Energy Technologies
Thursday, June 09, 2011 from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (ET)
Boston, MA
Finance Series Event #5: “Financing Innovative Clean Energy
Technologies”
Date: June 9, 2011
Time: 8:00-8:30am – Breakfast and Networking
8:30-10:00am – Panel Discussion
Location: Goodwin Procter, 53 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Cost: Council Members and Sponsors: FREE
Non-Members:
$40.00
Description:
For clean energy companies, conventional financing is often
unavailable when deploying innovative technologies. Even with
government grants, tax incentives, and loan guarantees, innovative
technologies often must pursue joint ventures, strategic investors, or
projects with specific vendees or stakeholders. Finding the right
strategic partner is challenging, and companies then face another
hurdle to structure their deal and allocate risk between the parties.
Yet, these barriers must be surpassed in order for companies to
demonstrate the feasibility of their technologies at scale.
Join us as our panels of experts take a deep dive into the
challenges and opportunities for clean energy companies in deploying
innovative technologies.
• What factors determine the allocation of risk between strategic
partners? What current trends are emerging?
• What role does venture capital play in financing the deployment of
innovative technologies?
• Can federal and state funds help bridge the gap? What role can
government and non-profit groups play in match-making strategic
partnerships?
Moderator:
Peter Rothstein, President, New England Clean Energy Council
Peter is President of the New England Clean Energy Council and has
many years of venture, entrepreneurial, executive and deal experience
across the cleantech venture market. Previously, Peter was part of the
Flagship Ventures team, a leading seed and early stage venture capital
firm in Cambridge Massachusetts, and founder of Allegro Strategy, a
consultant, advisor and interim executive with early-stage cleantech
start-ups. Peter has been in early-stage deal or executive roles with
a number of cleantech companies, including Mascoma, Planar Energy
Devices, Ze-gen, Novomer, Boston-Power, and Mechanology. Peter is
actively involved in a range of leading cleantech and entrepreneurial
organizations, including the National Renewable Energy Lab’s VC
Advisory Board, catalyst to MIT Deshpande Center solar and energy
storage MIT projects, and a Board member of the Cleantech Open.
Panelists:
Robert M Day, Partner, Black Coral Capital
Rob Day is a Partner with Black Coral Capital, based in Boston. He
has been a cleantech private equity investor since 2004, and acts or
has served as a Director, Observer and advisory board member to
multiple companies in the energy tech and related sectors, currently
including Digital Lumens (www.digitallumens.com), Next Step Living (www.nextsteplivinginc.com
), Powerit Solutions (www.poweritsolutions.com), and Zeta Communities (www.zetacommunities.com
).
Rob serves as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Clean
Economy Network Education Fund (www.ceneducationfund.org), and also is
the Chairman of the Cleantech Open – Northeast Region. Rob was
previously a co-founder of the Renewable Energy Business Network, a
non-profit organization which was acquired in 2009 by the Clean
Economy Network. Since 2005 he has also authored the website
Cleantech Investing (www.cleantechvc.com), which currently appears on
GreentechMedia.com.
R.J. Lyman, Partner, Goodwin Procter
R. J. Lyman is a partner at Goodwin Procter. He represents clients in
all aspects of commercial real estate and renewable energy project
development, including site acquisition, project permitting, debt and
equity financing, and property disposition. Mr. Lyman began his career
as a project manager at a consulting engineering firm representing
independent power producers and other energy and commercial
developers. He has also served as a government policy maker, as
Massachusetts Assistant Environmental Secretary. Mr. Lyman earned his
B.A. from Harvard University and his J.D. from Vermont Law School.
Kim Stevenson, Manager, New Technologies, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
Kim evaluates proposals and develops and manages programs to support
development and commercialization of new clean energy technologies.
She has spent over 15 years in innovation and technology management,
working with the senior management of Fortune 500 corporations and
smaller organizations to conceive, develop and commercialize new
products and services focused on energy, industrial and automotive
markets. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and a
Master of Science degree in urban planning, both from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Farm Bill Forum
A Presentation & Discussion with Congressman McGovern and the
Worcester Food & Active Living Policy Council
The Farm Bill is scheduled to be reauthorized in 2012, but organizing
and advocacy has already begun!
The Farm Bill has international, national, and local impacts,
including whether our food is nourishing and affordable, what
assistance our society provides to feed hungry people, and what crops
farmers grow under what conditions. Come learn about the Farm Bill
and what we can do locally to advocate for the best possible Farm Bill
to support Worcester and Central Massachusetts!
Thursday, June 9th 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Worcester Public Library
Saxe Room
Open to the Public, please RSVP to Liz Sheehan Castro
hungerfree at worcesterfoodpolicy.org
508-757-5631 ext. 304
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Thursday, June 09, 2011
The First Week in Space
Speaker: Dr. Paolo Zuccon, University of Perugia, Italy
Time: 11:00a–12:00p
Location: MIT 26--414, Kolker Room
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Laboratory for Nuclear Science
For more information, contact:
Miller, Randyn
617-253-2395
randyn at mit.edu
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Blogging While Brown Boston Meetup
Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 5:30 PM (ET)
Cambridge, MA
Event Details
The purpose of Blogging While Brown is to give Bloggers of Color an
opportunity to meet each other for the first time, discuss current
issues affecting Bloggers of Color, and learn about the latest
technology that will assist them with publishing their work.
The Blogging While Brown Boston Meetup will provide an opportunity for
local bloggers in the Greater Boston Area to meet, connect, and
further the development of their respective blogs.
This event is open to everyone and FREE to attend!
Agenda
5:30 - 6:00 Connect
6:00 - 7:00 Introductions and updates (everyone gets 3 minutes to
introduce themselves, their blog, any current needs, and a goal to
meet by our next meetup)
7:00 - 8:00 Guest Speaker and Discussion (TBD)
8:00 - 9:00 Connect
For additional information about the event or if you are interested in
being a sponsor, please contact: Atinuke Diver at tinu at yesweretogether.com
.
Twitter Hashtag: #BWBBOS
RSVP at http://bwbbos.eventbrite.com/
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June 10, 2011
New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable:
Better Integrating Policy, Planning, and Electricity Markets in New
England
Raab Associates presents:
The 123rd NE Electricity Restructuring Roundtable
Date: Friday, June 10, 2011
Time: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Foley Hoag LLP
155 Seaport Boulevard, 13th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
June 10, 2011
New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable
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Better Integrating Policy, Planning,
and Electricity Markets in New England
New England has spent nearly two decades restructuring its electric
utility industry, and developing more competitive market structures,
ostensibly to bring enhanced benefits to customers. During the same
time period, federal, state, and even local governments have developed
a multitude of energy policies to encourage the development of
particular resources, such as energy efficiency, demand response, and
renewable energy (think RPS, energy efficiency and renewable energy
system benefit charges, demand response initiatives), while
discouraging other resources (think RGGI, various environmental
regulations, etc.). Other types of policies and planning frameworks
impact the choice between building more wires or more resources. Some
states are even putting out RFPs to develop very specific types of
resources. This Roundtable will explore the tensions between the
desire for both workable markets and a variety of public policy
objectives, and will consider how we can move forward to forge a more
workable system here in New England.
Our first panel takes a step back from the specific struggles within
New England to explore how these issues are playing out on the ground
nationally, providing some bold ideas for New Englanders to consider.
Former FERC Commissioner Nora Brownell will kick off the panel by
discussing how markets can successfully accommodate a wide range of
policy/planning objectives. Rich Sedano, Principal at the Regulatory
Assistance Project, will share work RAP is currently undertaking to
redefine the way markets and policy/planning should be integrated in
pursuit of "Responsive Resources." Finally, Mauricio del Valle, Vice
President, Global Power and Utility Group, Morgan Stanley, will
provide some reality-testing from Wall Street about what's actually
needed from markets and policy to get energy projects funded and built.
Our second panel focuses specifically on the current situation in New
England, and offers some thoughts on what we should do over the next
five to ten years to better integrate electricity markets and policy/
planning. Leading off the panel will be Gordon van Welie, President/
CEO of ISO New England, which is responsible for keeping the lights on
and operating the markets in the face of increasing complexity.
Massachusetts DPU Chair Ann Berwick will provide a state regulatory
perspective, followed by Daniel Weekley, Vice President of Government
Affairs at Dominion Resources, who will provide a generator
perspective (and reflect on Dominion's just-announced decision to
close Salem Harbor). Rounding out the panel will be Mary Healey,
Consumer Counsel for the State of Connecticut and immediate past
president of the National Association of State Utility Consumer
Advocates.
The Restructuring Roundtables are free and open to the public.
Advanced registration is not required.
The Restructuring Roundtable has been meeting bimonthly since 1995, to
discuss current topics related to revolutionary changes in the
electric power industry in Massachusetts and throughout New England.
It is supported by over 25 generous sponsors.
Jonathan Raab, Ph.D, moderator of the Roundtable, is president of Raab
Associates, Ltd, a Boston-based mediation and facilitation firm
specializing in energy and environmental issues. He also teaches the
sustainable energy policy class at MIT.
Raab Associates, 118 South St. 3A, Boston, MA 02111
tel. 617-350-5544 fax 617-350-6655
http://www.RaabAssociates.org
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Greater Boston Connected and Consequential Conference: June 10, 11 and
12
June 10 & 11 Egan Center, Northeastern University
June 12 Design Studio for Social Intervention?
A place for artists and other creative thinkers and practitioners to
gather and explore the intersection of art and other fields, including
Health, Nature, Consumption and Justice. Through case studies and
moderated discussions, conference participants will?learn how artists
and their collaborators are using their creativity and finely honed
skills to intervene in the major issues of our time to produce
positive social outcomes.? The proceedings will focus on the best ways
to develop successful?"integrated or hybrid?practices", including the
role of collaboration, research, technology and sustainability.
The conference is free, but please pre-register online at
http://www.artistsincontext.org/index.php/connected-a-consequential/greater-boston/greater-boston-conference.html
Friday, June 10 at Northeastern University, Egan Center,120 Forsyth
Street,
Boston, MA 02115
6:30-8:30 p.m. Stories from the Field, with artists and community
practitioners Gail Burton, New Freedwoman Project; Michael Dowling,
Medicine Wheel Productions; Mariama White-Hammond, Project Hip Hop;
Andi Sutton, National Bitter Melon Council; John Osorio-Buck;
moderated by Kenneth Bailey, Design
Studio for Social Intervention
Saturday, June 11 at Northeastern University, Egan Center,120 Forsyth
Street, Boston, MA 02115
8:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Introductory Remarks and Video, Marie Cieri and Louisa
McCall, Artists in Context
9:15 a.m. Jeremy Nobel, Art and Healing
Jeremy Nobel is an Adjuncy Lecturer on Health Policy and Management
Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public
Health and President and Founder, Foundation for Art and Healing
9:30-10:30 a.m. Case Study: SUGAR and Story Circles with artist Robbie
McCauley
Moderated by Jeremy Nobel, the discussion of story circles and their
impact on diabetics, attitude, care-taking and healing will include
Sharon Jackson, Mattapan Community Health Center, and Kathryn, a story
circle participant. The case study will also examine how community
interest and desire for this type of engagement are determined.
10:35-11:35 a.m. Case Study: Ideas Team with Artistic Director of
Artlink, Edinburgh, Alison Stirling, and artists Kelly Dobson, Steve
Hollingsworth and Wendy Jacob
How can people with profound developmental disabilities inform an
artistic process? How do you bring people together to further inform
and realize these ideas? In February, a group of artists, engineers,
arts administrators and case workers met in Edinburgh to discuss the
creation of a center part ideas laboratory, part university and part
day center where individuals from across a range of abilities and
disciplines could collaborate on creative projects that challenge
normative ways of communication and being in the world. The aim of the
center is to use the most cutting edge ideas for the most
disadvantaged people.
11:45-12:30 p.m. Open Time networking and resource tables
12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch, Judy Meredith, Institute for Public Policy
Negotiating Change with Power
1:30-2:30 p.m. Case Study: Crossing the Rubicon: On Contamination,
Tragedy and the Possibility of New Cultures with Dan Borelli, artist;
Gavin Kroeber, producer; moderated by Marie Cieri, Artists in Context
Environmental contamination may be perpetrated by specific individuals
and corporations, but the cultural conditions that permit such
disregard are
collectively produced.? Starting from the environmental and social
histories of Ashland, MA and the Nyanza EPA Superfund site that it is
home to, this talk explores the possibility of an artwork that can
trace a society?s failure to address its own excesses, honor the
victims and heroes of this history, and finally lay the ground for a
fundamentally more complex relationship within our community.
2:35-3:35 p.m. Case Study: The Story Behind with Mario E. Quiroz-
Servellon, artist; Franklin Soults, Communications Director,
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee and Advocacy Coalition; moderator
TBD
3:45-5:00 p.m. Wrap Up Community Discussion
5:00-6:00 p.m. Open Time networking and resource tables
Sunday, June 12 at the Design Studio for Social Intervention, 1946
Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (entrance on Thorndike
Street)
10:30-1:00 p.m. Conference reflections, discussion and networking
------------------------------
Come Celebrate Magazine Beach
Saturday, June 11
9 am to 3 pm
9am to 12 pm Cleanup: Meet at Riverside Boat Club (across from
Starbucks)
12 pm to 2 pm Picnic/Potluck/Barbecue with music by Best Ever Chicken
(behind DCR swimming pool)
1 pm to 3 pm Learn to Row at Riverside Boat Club
RSVP for clean up at lcw at thecharles.org
For further information, including rain date updates (rain date is
Sunday, June 12), go to http://www charlesriverconservancy.org, http://www.riversideboatclub.com
, or contact Cathie Zusy at cathzusy at gmail.com or 617-868-0489
------------
**********
Upcoming
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Science in the News Spring Lectures — The War on Cancer: Where We Are
in the Battle, and Why We Haven’t Won
WHEN Wed., June 15, 2011, 7 – 9 p.m.
WHERE Pfizer Lecture Hall, Department of Chemistry, 12 Oxford Street,
Cambridge
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Lecture, Science
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Harvard Science in the News
COST Free
NOTE Join Science in the News for a series of provocative and
fascinating talks! Science in the News is a graduate student
organization dedicated to science outreach for the general public.
Speakers for our lecture series are graduate students who are working
directly with the topics. This talk will review the history of cancer
and our current progress in fighting it.
LINK http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu
------------------------------------------------------
Global Pitchfest" - International Start-up Competition
Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (ET)
Boston, MA
Switzerland’s most outstanding young innovators journey to Boston
every year for an entrepreneurial “boot camp” called venture leaders,
and you are invited to this year’s finale.
Coordinated by venturelab and swissnex Boston, this year’s 20 selected
startups range from medtech to iPhone apps. They will undergo ten days
of training culminating in the Global Pitchfest 2011 at MassChallenge
on June 16.
Over drinks and high-powered networking, come out to see the venture
leaders show off the skills they learned in Boston. They will pitch
their ideas to the top start-ups and investors from the Boston area,
while competing against 20 local counterparts for airline tickets
courtesy Swiss International Airlines. You choose the winners with
your votes!
Come and join us for this exiting "Global Pitchfest" and have a chance
to select the winner of the night.
Organizers:
Visit the following link for additional information on the
entrepreneurs visiting from Switzerland:http://www.swissnexboston.org/activities/ventureleaders
For local startup teams: We are looking for 20 entrepreneurs who would
like to take advantage of this opportunity to get visibility for their
companies. If you are interested in joining the lineup of presenters,
please contact Thomas Boillat (thomas at swissnexboston.org).
MassChallenge: MassChallenge is running the largest-ever global
startup competition and accelerator to catalyze the launch and success
of high-growth, high-impact new businesses. Around 100 of the highest-
potential entrants will receive intensive mentorship and other free
resources, including office space and targeted introductions to
customers and funding sources. The very best startups will be
identified by expert judges to receive cash awards toward launching
their businesses.
swissnex Boston: They act as a physical and virtual environment
fostering closer ties between Switzerland, New England and Eastern
Canada in academia, industry and society. It places particular
emphasis on the next generation of creative thinkers and leaders,
through a network that promotes the exchange of knowledge and
generates cooperation in an innovative, inspiring, and rewarding
atmosphere.
ventureleaders: This year will be the 11th edition of Venture Leaders,
an entrepreneurial "bootcamp" that will bring to the Boston area 20
entrepreneurs from Switzerland to visit local high tech companies,
attend courses with Babson College professors, interact with experts
and most importantly network with local entrepreneurs, investors and
other members of the high-tech community. The program is a
collaboration between CTI (Swiss innovation agency), venturelab (Swiss
entrepreneurship training platform) and swissnex Boston, Consulate of
Switzerland
http://pitchfest2011.eventbrite.com/
------------------------------------------------
Taking Risks: The Journey from Blackjack to Big Blue - a talk with
Yuchun Lee
Monday, June 20, 2011 from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM (ET)
IBM Center for Social Software
1 Rogers Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
http://yuchun-lee.eventbrite.com/?ref=enivte?
amp
;utm_source
=eb_email&utm_media=email&utm_compaign=invitenew&utm_term=readmore
---------------------------------------------------
Climate Change Adaptation Workshop
Consensus Building Institute
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
The Trustees of Reservations' Putnam Conservation Institute
present
Local Communities Adapting to Climate Change: Managing Risk in
Decision Making
Monday, June 20, 2011
9am-4:30pm
Leominster, MA
This one-day course will introduce municipal and community leaders,
and planning professionals to the tools they need to better assess and
manage the risks associated with climate change. Our approach helps
community leaders to consider how they can alter everyday decision
making to better prepare for the risks that may lie ahead. This course
is tailored specifically for the needs of suburban and rural
communities. The key concepts introduced will be "scenario planning"
and collaborative approaches to decision-making.
Presenters/Facilitators:
Patrick Field
is Managing Director of North American Programs at the Consensus
Building Institute and Associate Director of the MIT-Harvard Public
Disputes Program. Patrick has helped thousands of stakeholders reach
agreement on natural resource, land use, water, and air issues across
the United States and Canada.
Steve Aldrich
is the founder and President of Bio Economic Research Associates LLC,
an independent research and consulting firm specializing in complex
issue analysis at the intersection of our emerging knowledge of
biology and the economy. Steve studied evolutionary biology and has
more than 25 years of experience working in various industries,
including energy planning.
Workshop Fee: $45*
For More Information or to Register:
Pre-register online
www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/central-ma/adapting-climate-change-jun20.html
Or contact
Miriam Scagnetti
978.840.4446 x1935
mscagnetti at ttor.org
* Members of The Trustees of Reservations or the MA Association of
Conservation Commissions may register for this workshop for $30 - New
members welcome!
--------------------------------------------------
Panel Discussion
swissnex Boston
420 Broadway
Cambridge
Tuesday,
June 21, 2011
6 - 9 pm
If you would like to attend this event, we kindly ask you to
RSVP here<http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1077550-h1swFJFpXs>.
Please feel free to forward this invitation to friends and colleagues
who are interested in this topic.
One of the major challenges of the 21st century will be to create an
economy that can at the same time provide livelihoods for an
increasing number of people and not degrade natural resources or spur
climate change. This is also one of the major challenges that the
Biovision<http://www.biovision.ch> Foundation<http://www.biovision.ch>
encounters in its pilot projects in East Africa and its political work
within the Rio+20 process.
A “Green Economy” in the context of sustainable development and
poverty eradication is one of the main themes of the upcoming 2012
UNCSD Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro. Within the preparatory process
the question what green economy actually is and what it should look
like is a heatedly debated issue. UNEP’s roadmap to Rio + 20, the
Green Economy Report (published February 2011) sees the challenge of
agriculture in feeding the world’s growing population without damaging
ecosystems and human health and without undermining the sector’s
natural resource base. Drawing upon UNEP’s Green Economy Report,
experts will debate on what sustainable agriculture could look like
and how it could fit within the new Green Economy framework.
Speakers and panelists:
Hans Herren<http://www.millenniuminstitute.net/about/hans.html>,
President Millenium Institute and Biovision Foundation, Author of the
Agriculture chapter of the UNEP's Green Economy Report
Katherine Di Matteo<http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/inside_ifoam/boards.html
>, President of the Board of IFOAM (International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements)
Eric Chivian<http://chge.med.harvard.edu/about/faculty/chivian.html>,
Founder and Director of the Center for Health and the Global
Environment at Harvard Medical School.
Moderator:
Samuel Fromartz<http://fromartz.com/main.php?sn=sn1&pc=oi2>,
Journalist, Washington D.C.
TECHNOLOGY AND MICRO FINANCE
• Date: 6/23/2011
• Location: Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive,
Cambridge, MA 02142
• Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
• Audience: general public
• Description: This event hosted by the MFC (Micro Finance Club) of
Boston will focus on the influence technology has recently had on
micro finance organizations including Grameen, KIVA, WOKAI, and
ACCION. Technology has played an important role in shaping micro
finance in developing countries in a variety of ways. Technology has
allowed farmers in rural areas better access to information about
agriculture and through technology pregnant women have been able to
receive medical updates without leaving their villages. This
informative presentation will aim to bring together people in the
community to discuss the future of technology and ways in which
individuals can help locally, whether that be donating old cellphones
or volunteering their time.
http://microsoftcambridge.com/Events/TechnologyandMicroFinance/tabid/754/Default.aspx
--------------------------------------------------------
GreenPort Forum
Film and Discussion: The Economics of Happiness
Tuesday, June 21 at 7:00pm
Cambridgeport Baptist Church, 459 Putnam Ave
A powerful new film by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steven Gorelick & John Page
'Going local' is a powerful strategy to help repair our fractured
world – our ecosystems, our societies and our selves. Far from the old
institutions of power, people are starting to forge a very different
future. The thinkers and activists interviewed for the film come from
every continent, and represent the interests of the great majority of
people on the planet today. Their message is unambiguous: in order to
respect and revitalize diversity, both cultural and biological, we
need to localize economic activity.
Featuring voices from six continents, including: Vandana Shiva, Bill
McKibben, David Korten, Michael Shuman, Juliet Schor, Richard
Heinberg, Rob Hopkins, Andrew Simms, Zac Goldsmith, Samdhong Rinpoche
http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org
------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm
Cambridgeport Baptist Church
459 Putnam Av, Cambridge
(corner of Magazine St. and Putnam Ave)
GreenPort envisions and encourages a just and sustainable
Cambridgeport neighborhood
For more information, contact Steve Wineman at swineman at gis.net
*Recess for Justice - Saturday, June 25 - 11am-1pm*
Southwest Corridor across from Stony Brook T station in JP
Bring your favorite outdoor game or check out the assortment of fun
we'll have on hand: Frisbees, kickball & chalk (for 4-square!), jump
rope, basketball, softball (bring a glove) and whatever other
randomness we can think of. If it's hot we can run through the
fountain sprinkler to cool off. Around 1pm, we'll likely get out of
the heat by going to Ula Cafe for lunch. So look no further if you
want to cross-promote your events and campaigns while perfecting your
Frisbee forehand, you're seeking like-minded progressives to hang out
with in Boston, or are new to the area and looking for groups to get
involved in.
*RSVP:* http://www.sojust.org/events/17521346/ *Newcomers always
welcomed!*
----------------------------------------------------
Fundraiser for Water for Niger, Africa
When: Sunday, June 25 from 8 pm to 11 pm
Where: 239 Arlington Street, Acton MA 01720
What: African drummers will perform and afterwards a dance party.
Why: To raise funds to help build wells for villages that have been
put at risk by the many droughts in the region.
Donation: We are asking people to make reservations with a $25
donation.
Make checks payable to Bokai Inc, 239 Arlington Street, Acton. MA 01720
Bokai Inc: Established by a former Peace Corps volnteer with a direct
relationship with town officials in Guidan Roumji. It is a 501 C-3
charitable organization. The towns of Action and Guidan Roumji have
become Sister Cities. High School students have exchanged letters.
Money has been sent for business micro-loans, farming and tree
planting. All money will go towards the well building project.
For more details, contact Michael Klinger #978 263-7925, mklinger at anzuglobal.com
------------------------------
NO NUKES PARTY
JUNE 25, 1-8PM
WENDELL, MA, TOWN HALL, Common
POTLUCK***CELEBRATE***RE-CONNECT*** SINGING
(And discuss non-violent action plans 3-5:30pm)
Sponsored by: Wendell Conservation Commission
Co-sponsors: Clamshell Legacy and Antinuclear Mobilization (info at clamshellalliance.org
)
Citizens Awareness Network (nukebusters.org), Safe & Green
(safeandgreencampaign.org)
Green Mtn. Post Films (gmpfilms.com); W. MA AFSC (westernmassafsc.org);
Traprock Center for Peace and Justice (traprock.info); Solar Rollers
More information, contact info at clamshellalliance.org
------------------------------------------
Every year, the International Co-operative Alliance, based in Geneva,
and the United Nations co-sponsor the International Day for Co-
operatives on the first Saturday in July, which is July 2nd in 2011.
This year, Harvest Cooperatives has agreed to sponsor a Co-op Faire,
featuring Boston-area cooperatives and their supporters. We will come
together in the parking lot adjacent to Harvest from 10 AM to 2 PM and
set up tables / canopies / booths with banners and signs, to pass out
flyers to the public, talk with interested potential members, share an
afternoon with coop-minded people, and celebrate the joy of building
the co-op movement. Add a bit of food for the gatherers to share,
maybe some acoustical music, possibly a skit or other performance and
a demonstration project or two and we will have a marvelous time
supporting co-ops and connecting with co-ops around the world.
History shows that the periods of greatest co-op growth are when the
economy is coming out of a recession. As people get back on their
feet, they work to organize different ways of building economic
organizations that will not replicate the previous business
disasters. That time is now. As we come out of the "Great
Recession", we are already seeing a boom in co-op organizing and now
is the time to point the way to a better future -- co-operatively.
If your co-op or supporting organization would be interested in
reserving a table space for the Faire, please contact Wayne Clark at rwayneclark at irg.org
or 603-512-8015 (cell) or 617-467-4113 (home). You can complete the
registration form and prepare to participate.
Hopefully, the 2011 International Day for Co-operatives, Mass Bay Co-
op Faire will begin an annual event where co-ops in our area can
promote the benefits of co-operatives and develop our organizations
and their members.
Come share the wisdom in the nearly 200 years of the co-op movement.
I hope to see you there, R. Wayne Archer-Clark (rwayneclark at igc.org)
**************
----------------
Opportunity
---------------
From John Bolduc, Environmental Planner, Community Development
Department, Cambridge, MA:
"Finally, I wanted to let folks on the list know, if you are
interested, that I will be going, on a personal basis, on a study tour
of cities in Germany and Holland taking a look at climate change
adaptation and mitigation initiatives. The tour is organized by ICLEI-
Local Governments for Sustainability. We will visit Freiburg,
Dresden, Bonn, and Rotterdam. We will also participate in the ICLEI
Climate Resilient Cities Conference in Bonn. I am leaving today for 2
weeks and I plan to blog along the way as a way to share information.
If you are interested, please visit the Energy 2.0 blog hosted by the
Cambridge Energy Alliance. You can visit the site athttp://energytwodotzero.org/
. You can also subscribe to the blog to be informed of updates. I
plan to post 4 or 5 times with photos. So join me for the trip."
------------------------------
The Medford Farmers Market is looking for organizations, individuals,
chefs, nutritionists, educators, musicians, physical activity
specialists, gardeners, and other fun people who would like to do
educational activities on market days.
We are looking for activities that are interactive and enjoyed by all
ages. Demos, how-tos and games are encouraged. Should be somehow
related to sustainable living, health, nutrition, farming, gardening,
physical activity, sustainability, learning and development, music,
art, creativity. Most importantly it should be entertaining for people
at the market.
We are looking to fill 1, 2, 3 or 4 hour time slots. The Medford
Farmers Market is a great place for you to gain experience and
exposure - there are over 20 vendors signed up for the season
including local wine, meat, vegetables, honey, bread, art.....Your
activity/demo/gig will be well publicized via social media, as well as
local newspapers and newsletters sent to hundreds of people.
The market goes from June 16- Oct 13 at the Whole Foods Market Parking
Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway (Rt 16), Medford, MA 02155. Plenty of
parking and restrooms are available.
Please contact me if you are interested. Please feel free to forward
this e-mail to people who you think may be interested. Thanks so much,
have a great weekend!
For more info, please see the following:
website: www.medfordfarmersmarket.org
e-mail: medfordfarmersmarket at gmail.com
twitter: MedfordFarmMkt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Medford-Farmers-Market/135452753138491
Address: Whole Foods Market Parking Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway
(Rt 16)
Editorial Comment: I have taken some of my solar displays to farmers'
markets from time to time and have advocated doing so as a way to
change US energy attitudes, policies, and realities as the people who
go to farmers' markets are a core constituency for renewable energy.
More at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/5/27/870257/-How-to-Change-US-Energy-in-One-Growing-Season
*********
-----------
Resource
-----------
Massachusetts Attitudes About Climate Change – An opinion survey of
Massachusetts residents conducted by MassINC and sponsored by the Barr
Foundation found that 77% of respondents believe that global warming
has “probably been happening” and 59% of all respondents see see it as
being at least partially caused by human pollution. Only 42% of the
state’s residents say global warming will have very serious
consequences for Massachusetts if left unaddressed. The 18 to 29 age
group is more likely to believe global warming is appearing and caused
by humans compared to the 60+ age group. African-American (56%) and
Latino residents (69%) are more likely than white residents (40%) to
believe global warming will be a very serious problem if left
unaddressed. The MassINC report, titled The 80 Percent Challenge:
What Massachusetts must do to meet targets and make headway on climate
change (http://www.massinc.org/Research/The-80-percent-
challenge.aspx), contains many other findings. MassINC will hold a
forum about the report on May 19, 5:00 to 6:30 pm at the City Year
Headquarters, 287 Columbus Avenue, Boston. To register, click here.
[MetroWest Daily News, 4/14/11]
----------------------------------------------------
The presentations from the recent Affordable Comfort National Home
Performance Conference are available online at
http://2011.acinational.org/downloadable_resources
Lots of good information from what some call the best energy
conference in the USA on Deep Energy Retrofits to Community Energy
Challenges with details on insulation, heat flow, energy metering,
ducting, hot water, and many, many other topics. If you are a
practical energy wonk, this should make your eyes light up.
--------------------------------------------------
Free Monthly Energy Analysis
CarbonSalon is a free service that every month can automatically track
your energy use and compare it to your past energy use (while
controlling for how cold the weather is). You get a short friendly
email that lets you know how you’re doing in your work to save energy.
https://www.carbonsalon.com/
---------------------------------------
Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post
announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships,
programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles
or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's
food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take
place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food
system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food,
farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health,
environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of
organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on
week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let
everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of
subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and
other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
----------------------
Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation,
contact jmatthaei at wellesley.edu
********************************************
-----------------------------------------------------
Links to events at 60 colleges and universities at Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://sustainability.mit.edu/
http://www.environment.harvard.edu/events/calendar/
http://green.harvard.edu/events
http://microsoftcambridge.com/Events/tabid/57/Default.aspx
http://pechakuchaboston.org/blog/
http://boston.nerdnite.com/
http://www.meetup.com/
http://www.eventbrite.com/
More information about the Act-MA
mailing list