Earth Week 2009

The panel will explore the idea of rebuilding our world economy from a cross-disciplinary perspective in line with ecology, ethics, social justice and equity, and economics with respect to perceptions of humanity's place on Earth. Dr. Brown will be available to sign books at 1:30 pm after the panel discussion.

Dr. Brown is a professor at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and teaches in the Departments of Geology, Environment, and Natural Resource Sciences. His books include Restoring the Public Trust: A Fresh Vision for Progressive Government in America; Ethics, The Commonwealth of Life: Economics For a Flourishing Earth.

Come learn about, BioTour, an educational non-profit of 13 young people that traverses the country on two awesome school buses that have been converted to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO) and solar paneled electrical power. They will address the vital issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and peak oil while presenting pathways toward sustainability in renewable energy, the potential in green jobs, and perhaps most importantly, advocating for a more active and participatory democracy; a truly educated electorate.

Join us to learn about current and planned energy and climate policies presented to you by your elected officials Congressperson Gerry Connolly and Virginia State Senator Chap Petersen. Each will present what is happening and will answer questions from the audience. Don’t miss you chance to hear directly from the source, what we can expect when it comes to energy and climate change.

The Coal River Mountain Wind Project is being led by concerned citizens residing in Coal River Valley of West Virginia where community groups have been fighting the devastating effects of surface mining in Coal River Valley for many years. For the first time, we have an economic alternative to these destructive mining practices. We welcome you join us to learn more about this historic struggle for cleaner, more sustainable future and how you can help.

In October 2008 George Mason University's Women & Gender Studies Program began a partnership with the Women’s Center for Job Creation (WCFJC), an NGO based in Minnesota and Uganda, to empower low-income Women in Uganda. The two organizations started collecting donations for the Bulondo Goat Project. This project gives goats to individual women in Uganda, providing them with sustenance for their families and the ability to develop small businesses. The goats at Mason’s Earth Day Celebration are a vehicle to make the global local. Having the goats also provides an opportunity to educate Mason faculty and staff, students and the Fairfax community on both violence and its aftermath in Africa and on the fundraising project.

Come learn about some of the groups and organizations doing environmental work at Mason and in the surrounding communities. Participating groups include the Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Fund, Fairfax ReLeaf, the GMU Environmental Awareness Group, Mason Transportation, and many more.

We'll have a Pit Stop for those biking in from 6:00 until 10:00, with breakfast (muffins, pastries, fruit, coffee, water) provided. We'll have free Bike to Mason T-shirts, GMU Go Green water bottles, and more. From 11 to 1:00 we'll make announcements and award prizes to riders who have pre-registered (you need not be present to win). In the afternoon, we'll have power bars and drinks for the return home. Register online

SEE-I - DC's 8 piece funk'n'soul reggae band featuring members of Thievery Corporation