ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 15 , 2008
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In this issue:
** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS: Colloquia -- Tuesday evening, Wednesday lunch, and Friday afternoon
** PROGRAM NEWS: Professor Firmage is on sabbatical
** BEYOND CAMPUS:   Project Wild, Greenpeace Opportunity
** STUDY ABROAD:   People, Ecology and Development Study Abroad Program Thailand
** JOBS & INTERNSHIPS:  Tell us about your summer internship, NRCM
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** UPCOMING ES PROGRAM EVENTS:   Colloquia -- Tuesday evening and Friday afternoon
Does Anyone Care if Bangladesh Drowns? (The Politics of Climate Change)
Afsan Chowdhury, 2008 Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights Fellow
September 16, 7:00 pm in Olin 1

Afsan' work has focused on a number of issues including sex education (for which he was named an Ashoka Fellow), sexual abuse, AIDS/STD awareness, children's rights, refugee rights, minority identity, media rights, and, most recently, environmental rights. He has written books on human rights as well as numerous newspaper and journal articles. Most recently Chowdhury worked as a director of advocacy and human rights for BRAC, the world's largest NGO. His latest work to receive critical acclaim is a documentary film about climate change, Who Cares if Bangladesh Drowns.
ES 401 credit

“ES Students Return with Tales from Summer Internships”
Wednesday, September 17
12:00 in the Fairchild Room in Dana. Join us at 11:30 for lunch with Tucker, Lia, and Sarah.
Tucker Gorman ‘10, Sarah Sorenson ‘11, and Lia d’Hemecourt ‘11  

Three students will share their experiences from their summer internships. Please join us to hear from Tucker Gorman who worked at NEXUS Green Building Resource Center in Boston, and Lia d’Hemecourt and Sarah Sorenson who were apprentices at Long Meadow Farm in West Gardiner, ME.

Religious Studies and Ecology: The promise of partnership
Mary Evelyn Tucker
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and Yale Divinity School
Friday September 19, 2008
4:00 p.m. (cookies at 3:45)
http://forestry.yale.edu/people/2795-mary-evelyn-tucker/
Over the last decade a new field of study in world religion and ecology has emerged within academia thanks to the work of many scholars and environmentalists in North America and abroad. This field has begun to attract the interest of those in environmental studies programs which have traditionally been primarily science based. However, there is a growing awareness that human activity and behavior is affecting our environmental future, not always in sustainable ways. This talk will explore the ways in which cultural values and religious ethics from the world's religions have shaped attitudes toward nature and other species. Some promising examples of projects around the world, especially in China and in India, will be noted.
Sponsored by STS Program, ES Program, and Religious Studies
ES 401 credit

   
** PROGRAM NEWS: Professor David Firmage on Sabbatical
Wonder what Dave is up to on sabbatical?
During the fall semester I am staying at Colby and working on several avenues of research. I will be working on some of the data we gathered this summer about the Belgrade lakes in relation to the effect of one lake on another in terms of water quality. In addition I am doing library research about the reproductive ecology of Irises, particularly in relation to fragmentation of populations. I also will be working on data previously gathered on two flower species that track the sun. The latter two areas of research are in preparation for my spring semester in Israel at the University of Haifa where I will be participating in a fragmentation study of a rare Iris species (I. purpurea) and continuing our work on the solar tracking species.

** BEYOND CAMPUS:   
Project Wild
What is Project WILD?
Project WILD is sponsored by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and is one of the most widely-used wildlife, conservation and environmental education programs among K-12 educators. It is based on the premise that young people, and their teachers, have a vital interest in learning about our natural world. Emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic value, Project WILD addresses the need for humans to develop as responsible citizens of our planet.
Interested? You might like this workshop:
This workshop will
?    provide hands-on WILD experience with outdoor activities
?    assist participants with integration of WILD activities into subjects and curriculum
?    showcase great sites for student day trips to the park with wildlife/conservation activities to do at each stop
Date:  Friday, September 26, 2008
Time:  8:45am – 3:30pm
Location:  Meet at Baxter State Park
    Togue Pond Visitors Center
Cost: $25/person ($15 with Student ID)
Bring:  Your lunch and beverage, RAIN GEAR!  
Receive:  a Project WILD Basic Activity guide, a certificate of 7 contact hours, and lots of supplemental wildlife and conservation materials.
Sign up soon, space limited to 25!
To sign up, contact:
Margaret Meserve 723-8537 (margaret.meserve@maine.gov
Deadline for registration is: September 19

GREENPEACE OPPORTUNITY
I am writing to let you know about an exciting opportunity: the Greenpeace Organizing Term (http://www.greenpeace.org/got).  The GOT is an action-packed semester of travel and training. It's a hands-on training program designed to give you the skills to be an environmental leader.
You'll learn about current environmental issues and solutions while being trained by experts in grassroots organizing, leadership, media, and campaign strategy.
You'll travel internationally with Greenpeace to work with activists abroad. Also, you'll learn how to engage in peaceful direct action, climb,and drive Greenpeace boats!
On top of all of that, many students are able to receive class credit for the semester.
ACTION * TRAVEL * TRAINING
Spend a Semester with Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org/got.
Apply now at http://www.greenpeace.org/got.
The semester is offered in the Washington D.C. and San Francisco Greenpeace offices.  

Contact program staff with questions at got@wdc.greenpeace.org or 877-450-3517 ext. 320.

 ** ALSO ON CAMPUS:
Mark your calendars
"The Effect of Environmental Impact Assessments on Science and Policy: The Three Gorges Project"
<http://www.colby.edu/academics_cs/acaddept/economics/upload/Tullos-2.pdf>
Desiree Tullos
Oregon State University
October 28, 2008
4:00 PM
Diamond 122

"On the Completion of the Three Gorges Project and China's Environmental Issues"
Dai Qing
Independent journalist and environmental activist
October 28, 2008
7:00 PM
Ostrove Auditorium, Diamond

** STUDY ABROAD:   

People, Ecology and Development Study Abroad Program Thailand (Spring, 2009)
 
The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute is now accepting applications for its Spring 2009 People, Ecology and Development study abroad semester in Thailand. Academically and experientially challenging, students will learn about sustainability, culture and ecology from local communities while paddling one of the last wild rivers in Thailand, backpacking in the mountains of Mae Hong Son with tribal leaders, and sea kayaking and skin diving in the Andaman sea.
 
The deadline for applications is October 10, 2008.
 
For more information please see isdsi.org/spring.html or email apply@isdsi.org for an application.