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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
October 29, 2007
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In this issue:
** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS: Plum Creek proposal panel
discussion Monday, Charting Maine's Future: Make the Connection, Tuesday
evening
** ES PROGRAM NEWS:
Mellon Funds Available for Jan Plan
** SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Udall Scholarship, NWF Fellowship
Opportunity
** BEYOND COLBY:Balkans Peace Park Project, Board of Pesticide
Control public hearing on Proposed Rule for Regulation of Bt Corn
** JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS: Green Corps, Climate Action Coordinator
at Washington College, Clean Air Cool Planet, Nevada Salmon Recovery Organizer,
Coastal Outreach Specialist
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS:
Plum Creek proposal panel discussion MONDAY
Monday, October 29th
7:00 pm
Ostrove Auditorium, Diamond
Come learn more about the Plum Creek proposal controversy from the
EXPERTS. This is the biggest issue facing Maine today. Not to be missed by
anyone interested in Maine, economics, conservation, land use planning, or the
Moosehead Lake region.
Entitled Conservation, Development, or Both? Alternative
perspectives on the future of the Moosehead Lake region, the event is scheduled
for Monday, October 29 at 7pm in Ostrove Auditorium, in the Diamond Building.
The panel discussion will include Cathy Johnson, North Woods
Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), which is
opposing the project, and Elizabeth Swain, President of Barton and Gingold,
representing Plum Creek. Jeff Pidot, formerly a Deputy Attorney General, will
moderate the discussion.
With impending hearings to be held by the Land Use Regulation
Commission (LURC) to consider Plum CreekÕs development proposal involving
rezoning 421,000 acres around Moosehead, this panel provides a timely and
informative opportunity for anyone interested to hear firsthand two opposing
viewpoints about the benefits and costs of this proposal for the future of
Maine.
The program's panelists have backgrounds that are particularly
relevant to the evening's discussion:
Elizabeth Swain is a veteran policy consultant in Maine and also a
registered professional forester. She served as a member of the LURC board from
1984-1992 and as its four-term Chair.
Cathy Johnson is senior staff attorney for the Natural Resources
Council of Maine, the stateÕs largest environmental advocacy organization. She
has previously worked for the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S
Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the National Parks Office of Nepal.
Jeff Pidot recently retired from his long-time post as head of the
Attorney General's Office Natural Resources Division. He was director of LURC
in the early 1980's.
ES Colloquia
Tuesday, October 30
7:00 pm in Olin 1
Charting Maine's Future: Make the Connection
The Environmental Studies Program welcomes, Alan Caron, the
founder, President and CEO of GrowSmart Maine to campus. In his talk, Alan will
discuss the GrowSmart-Brookings Report, which investigated the connections
between Maine?s economy, our quality places, and our governance. The Brookings Institution found ample
good news: our economy is growing, and the ?Maine brand? is still strong. But we also face challenges: a high tax burden is accelerating
sprawl, while our emerging innovation economy remains small. The Report?s findings can be unified in
a single insight: that protecting
our quality places, growing the innovation economy and streamlining government
are related and interdependent issues.
Grow Smart Maine is a statewide non-profit organization based in
Yarmouth. GrowSmart was created in 2002 to engage Maine people, across the
state, in working together for a more sustainable and prosperous future, while
preserving the qualities that make Maine such a special place. GrowSmart
describes it?s mission as ?Protecting the Maine we Love?to Build the Maine we
Need?.
** ES PROGRAM NEWS:
Mellon Funds available for Jan Plan
The Environmental Studies Program is very lucky to have received
money from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that can be used to provide stipends
to students who want to undertake environmentally-related internships in the
summer and over Jan Plan. If you are interested in applying for a Jan plan
Mellon internship and you meet the following criteria, please consider
applying:
Criteria for Environmental Internship Stipend
*
Preference for ES majors, ES minors/concentrations
*
Current seniors eligible for January only
*
Internship should be related to environmental science or policy coursework
*
Preference for students interning in humanitarian, not-for-profit, and
governmental organizations
*
Applicants must be in good academic standing and be able to demonstrate
financial need
Applications should include the following:
* A
written proposal describing the organization sponsoring the internship, the
internship responsibilities, and the relationship of the internship to
environmental science or policy coursework and to your future career goals;
* A
letter of recommendation from a Colby faculty member;
* A
current resume;
* A
budget proposal listing projected income (including wages, stipends, family
contribution, gifts and other) and projected expenses (including
transportation, housing, utilities, food, and other); and
* A
letter or other communication from the sponsoring organization confirming the
internship.
* Submit
full application materials (electronic and hardcopy please) to Beth Kopp, box
5356 (Beth.Kopp)
*
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 23
** SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
UDALL SCHOLARSHIP
$5,000 Scholarship for students pursuing ENVIRONMENTAL careers
If you're interested in being plugged into a growing network of
environmentally-committed students across the country, you should check out the
Udall Scholarship.
The Udall Scholarship seeks to reward undergraduates with the
commitment and potential to make significant contributions to the
fields of the environment, tribal health, or tribal governance.
Eighty $5,000 scholarships are available each year for:
" Undergraduate sophomores and juniors
in fields related to the environment
" Undergraduate sophomore and
junior Native American/Alaska Native students
in fields related to health care, or tribal public policy
To be eligible for the Udall Scholarship, you must be nominated by
your institution. To find your Faculty Representative and application
materials, go to the "Our Programs" section of our web site:
www.udall.gov
Put your application together over winter break (but contact your
FacRep now) - the receipt deadline for all materials is March 4th. Email
Program Manager, Melissa Millage ( millage@udall.gov) with questions.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, CAMPUS ECOLOGY FELLOWSHIPS
Call for proposals
Accepting Proposals Beginning November 1.
Proposals Due December 15.
Learn more at: www.nwf.org/campusecology/fellowships
NWF's Campus Ecology program is accepting proposals beginning
November 1, 2007, for the 2008 class of Campus Ecology Fellows. NWF is seeking
proposals from undergraduate and graduate students working with a team of faculty,
staff, or other students on projects to reduce their campus carbon footprint.
Global warming has emerged as the defining environmental issue of
the 21st century. Scientists agree that human-triggered greenhouse gas
pollution is the cause of increasing temperatures. At National Wildlife
Federation, we know we can't fully achieve our mandate to protect wildlife
without addressing global warming. That is why we are now asking Campus Ecology
Fellows to confront global warming on their individual campuses by committing
to reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 2%
per year, or 30% by 2020. Fellows also help to educate and engage the campus
community on global warming impacts and solutions.
Students are encouraged to submit fellowship proposals on a
variety of sustainability practices that work to reduce their school's carbon
footprint. These practices can include, but are not limited to:
Implementing energy efficiency and conservation initiatives on
existing or new buildings.
Conducting a greenhouse gas inventory and developing a climate
action plan.
Co-hosting, with at least three other campuses, a gathering on
global warming solutions.
Designing and/or implementing green transportation options.
Installing or purchasing clean energy.
Initiating sustainable food systems.
Increasing and protecting wildlife habitat and green space on
grounds and roof tops.
Designing supportive processes such as fiscal incentives, planning
documents, professional development, community outreach, and/or new policies,
etc. to address global warming awareness.
Fellowship grants of up to $2,000 are awarded.
If you have any questions about NWF Campus Ecology Fellowships or
other opportunities, contact Kristin Kranendonk at 703-438-6265 or at
campus@nwf.org.
** BEYOND COLBY:
BALKANS PEACE PARK PROJECT IN RUNNING FOR TOP TOURISM AWARD
Peace Park nomination now among three finalists in competition for
award from the British Guild of Travel Writers
Last autumn community leaders from valleys in northern Albania and
adjacent areas of Kosovo and Montenegro met in Pristina (Kosovo) to mark their
support for creating an international peace park in the mountainous region
where their three territories converge.
Now, less than a year later, the Balkans Peace Park Project (BPPP)
finds itself in the running for one of Britain?s premier tourism awards as one
of three finalists for an award from the
British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW). That was agreed at a Guild
meeting held in London on Wednesday 12 September.
The BPPP helps unite communities that have hitherto been divided
by common borders and makes a stand against environmental degradation. It
promotes the effective protection of a region that has mountain landscapes and
rural lifestyles which are not replicated elsewhere in Europe. The project also
promotes access to the region for ethical and responsible tourism in one of
Europe?s remotest areas. Above all, the project is a powerful agent for peace
in a region of Europe where ethnic tensions have still not been entirely
resolved. The BPPP benefits from support from a number of non-governmental
agencies and individuals besides the six municipalities and some government
ministries.
Representatives of the three finalists are invited to attend a
gala dinner at London?s Savoy Hotel on Sunday 11 November, on the eve of the
World Travel Market ? and there the winning project is announced. 2007 is the
thirtieth year in which the BGTW (many of whose members are among Britain?s
most accomplished travel journalists and authors) has made an award for the
best overseas tourism project. The criteria are simple: the project must be genuinely
innovative, it must be sensitive to environmental and ecological concerns, and
it must make a positive social contribution. At their best, such projects allow
for interested travellers to explore landscapes, communities and cultures which
might otherwise be off-limits.
For more information on the Balkans Peace Park Project, go to
www.balkanspeacepark.org.or contact Abbey Radis directly via email (
aradisster@gmail.com)
Board of Pesticide Control PUBLIC HEARING on Proposed Rule for
Regulation of Bt Corn:
November 16th 9:30 am.
at the Hampton Inn on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville
The BPC needs to hear from YOU!!
In July of this year, the Board of Pesticide Control (BPC)
licensed Bt corn for use in Maine. This corn product has been genetically engineered
to produce a pesticide in every cell of the plant. At the time of licensing,
the BPC agreed to make rules restricting the use of this pesticide, and on Nov.
16th, they will be soliciting public comment on those rules. Protect Maine
Farmers is urging concerned farmers, gardeners, and consumers to come out to
the hearing and make your voices heard. Let's tell the BPC to protect Maine
growers rights to produce crops free of genetic contamination as their markets
and consumers demand, and to protect Maine's image as a clean, green state by
strictly regulating Bt corn.
Protect Maine Farmers will be issuing another action alert in the
coming weeks for people unable to attend the hearing to send their written
comments to the BPC. However, it is crucial that as many people as possible
come out and speak directly to the BPC on Nov. 16th. So please, save the date,
plan ahead, and we'll see you there.
For more information:
Contact Logan Perkins, 615-5158, info@protectmainefarmers.org
** JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS:
Green Corps
Applications due Oct. 26, 2007 ? apply online today at
http://www.greencorps.org
Green Corps is the non-profit Field School for Environmental
Organizing, founded by leading environmentalists in 1992 to train environmental
organizers. Our program includes intensive classroom training, hands-on
experience running urgent environmental campaigns, and placement in permanent
positions with leading environmental and social change groups.
Classroom Training. Our intensive classroom training combines
issue briefings, workshops and skills trainings to prepare you to run a
grassroots campaign.
Field Training. Our field training puts you on the front lines of
today's most urgent environmental campaigns. With Green Corps, you will work in
multiple cities nationwide, chosen for their ability to make an impact on
critical environmental problems. Potential locations include, but are not
limited to, San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC and Boston, MA. You
must be willing to relocate during your year with Green Corps.
Dates. The program begins in August 2008 and concludes with
graduation in August 2009.
Responsibilities. Plan and implement a series of critical
environmental campaigns with groups like Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club
and Greenpeace. You will secure media coverage, recruit and manage volunteers,
train new leaders, and mobilize grassroots activists.
Qualifications. Each year we select 35 recent college graduates to
join Green Corps. We are looking for people who are serious about saving the
planet, have demonstrated leadership experience, and want to work for change
over the long haul at the grassroots level.
Salary & Benefits. Salary of $23,750. Optional group health
care coverage, paid sick days and holidays, two weeks paid vacation, and a
student loan repayment program for qualifying staff.
To Apply. To apply to Green Corps, fill out our online application
by the Early Application Deadline of Oct. 26, 2007. Deadlines, 2nd round
interview locations and our online application are at
http://www.greencorps.org.
Contact. Colin Beckman, Green Corps Organizer, at
colin@greencorps.org 301-767-5411.
Climate Action Coordinator
Washington College's Center for Environment & Society seeks a
Climate Action Coordinator to coordinate and manage climate action plans for
Washington College and the Town of Chestertown. Responsibilities will include
development of plans to move toward carbon neutrality for the College and the
Town, preparation of a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the College, and
creation of an urban greening plan for Chestertown. The Coordinator will work
with faculty, staff, students, Town staff, and volunteers to achieve project
goals. This is a full-time, one year position with benefits. Continuation
beyond one year is possible, contingent upon external funding. Salary is
competitive and commensurate with experience.
Requirements for this position include a Bachelor's degree, with a
strong background in environmental science and/or managerial skills; advanced
degree preferred; excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills;
demonstrated supervisory and organizational skills; and ability to work well
with direction and independently.
The Center for Environment & Society promotes
interdisciplinary learning, research, and exemplary stewardship of natural and
cultural resources. It endeavors to shed light on the reciprocal relationship
between humankind and the natural world, with the goal of integrating
ecological and social values. Washington College is a competitive four-year
liberal arts school located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, near the
Chesapeake Bay. Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia are within easy driving
distance. Review of applications will begin October 29, 2007, and continue
until the position is filled. Washington College is an Equal Opportunity
Employer. Women and members of traditionally underrepresented minority groups
are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information on the Center and
Washington College, visit http://ces.washcoll.edu and http://www.washcoll.edu.
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and names of three references to:
Director of Human Resources, 300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Washington College
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, MD 21620
(410)810-7406
(410) 810-7420
pcunningham2@washcoll.edu
Campus Program Associate
Based in Portsmouth, NH, with regular on-site work on New England
college campuses
Campus Program Manager
Full-time, one year, with possibility of extension
1. Support
coordination and outreach efforts for various campus program initiatitives,
under the direction and guidance of the Campus Program Manager. These
initiatives include the CA-CP Youth Climate Leadership fellowship, our
partnership with the Campus Climate Challenge, an annual survey of CA-CP
partner campuses to determine needs and resources and to gather information
about innovative new projects, and others.
2. Work
closely with the MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs to coordinate on
resources and guidance for completion of greenhouse gas inventories and climate
action plans for Masachusetts campuses - and work closely with the CA-CP campus
team to replicate that model on campuses outside Massachusetts.
3. With Campus
Program Manager and campus team, assist in creating annual campus program
workplan, goals and deliverables.
4. Meet with
Campus Program Manager and other campus team members weekly to coordinate and
evaluate progress in meeting program goals and specific deliverables.
5.
To Apply:
Please send application materials (cover letter, resume, references) to
Lynn Sullivan at lsullivan@cleanair-coolplanet.org or 100 Market St. Ste. 204,
Portsmouth, NH 03801. No phone calls, please. Application deadline November
12th.
NEVADA SALMON RECOVERY ORGANIZER
Save Our Wild Salmon
Save Our Wild Salmon (SOS) is a nationwide coalition of
conservation organizations, commercial and sport fishing associations,
businesses, river groups, and taxpayer and clean energy advocates working
collectively to restore healthy, self-sustaining and abundant wild salmon to
rivers, streams and oceans of the Pacific Salmon states
DEFINITION. Save Our Wild Salmon seeks a contract organizer for a
four-to-six month project in Nevada. This project will build citizen support
for restoring salmon and steelhead to northern Nevada streams flowing into the
Snake River; generate media coverage of the history of salmon and salmon use in
Nevada, and the prospects and means for restoring salmon; and facilitate
contact with Nevada elected leaders in support of doing so. (Salmon and
steelhead once inhabited the Owyhee River, Bruneau River and Salmon Falls Creek
in northern Nevada until extirpated by large downstream dams.)
DESIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. We seek an energetic, creative,
organized person who easily interacts with and engages people of all kinds,
likes to travel, and is seeking experience which can lead to professional
opportunities in conservation advocacy. We need someone who works well with a
broad constituency, including hunters, anglers, businesses, and
conservationists. Position requires excellent written and oral communication.
Organizing experience in an advocacy or political campaign, including event
planning and management, is desired. Some media experience is desired. Travel
will be extensive.
Canvass Nevada conservation organizations, and meet as appropriate
with leaders and chapters (e.g., Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation,
Sierra Club chapters) to enlist their help;
Organize and participate in public events to inform and educate
people on the Nevada/salmon connection;
Engage Nevadans in the federal relicensing of Idaho Power CompanyÕs
Hells Canyon dams, the Columbia/Snake Biological Opinion for endangered Snake
River salmon, and any related public processes occurring during the project;
Establish a network (in a database and in relationships) of Nevada
citizens for electronic and phone contact after the project ends;
With Nevadans in the lead, generate news and editorial coverage in
key Nevada newspapers for the vision of restoring salmon and the Nevadans
ngaged in it;
Establish and maintain positive contact, and organize citizens to
contact, NevadaÕs members of Congress and other statewide elected officials;
Prepare outreach and media materials necessary for the work above.
TERMS. The contract fee for this position is DOE, within a range
of $2,000-3,200 per month. An expense budget for travel, materials, supplies,
etc. will be included. Full-time preferred, but will entertain a part-time
proposal from a highly-qualified applicant. Prefer applicants with own car,
laptop and cell phone. Valid driverÕs license and proof of insurance required.
TO APPLY: Send a resume and cover letter via email only to Joseph
Bogaard, joseph@wildsalmon.org. Position open until filled. Additional
information available at www.wildsalmon.org.
Coastal Education Outreach Specialist
Coastal Education Outreach Specialist (CEOS) works as part of the
regional office team to manage all aspects of coastal education and outreach
activities for students, educators and the public within the assigned region of
coastal North Carolina. CEOS designs and implements educational and outreach
programs focused on the coastal environment and habitat stewardship. Programs
implemented by the CEOS will increase opportunities for active participation in
all work focus areas of the Federation. CEOS designs and carries out programs
that reach targeted audiences in a highly professional and effective manner,
and works with the regional team to coordinate the overall management of
Federation volunteers within assigned geographic regions. Educational
programming managed by the CEOS will be designed to engage and educate
students, teachers, and community decision-makers within their assigned
geographic region. Outreach and education efforts will be integrated into the
advocacy (not including students), restoration, and preservation priorities of
the regionÕs team.
Application Procedure:
1. Apply to Todd Miller, Executive Director, North Carolina
Coastal Federation.
2. To apply: (a) Submit a cover letter stating your reasons for
seeking employment and special qualifications that you wish to highlight from
your resume; and (b) Submit a current resume.
3. How to apply: (a) Send your cover letter and resume by email to: toddm@nccoast.org; (b) Subject heading on your email should read: Application for Employment; (c) Request return receipt to make sure your application is received; (d) Submit application no later than 5:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2007; and (e) No mailed or faxed submissions will be accepted.