"Diversifying Environmentalism: The Environmental Movement's Greatest Challenge?"

Speaker: Marcelo Bonta, founder of the Young Environmental Professionals of Color and Director for the Center for Diversity & the Environment.

When: Wednesday, February 27th, 2008
Where: Portland State University - Urban Studies Building, Second Floor Gallery
Time: 12PM - 1PM

Description:
As the nation continues to diversify, the environmental movement is left with one of the greatest challenges it will face this century. In order to become an influential and sustainable movement for generations to come, it needs to successfully address its diversity crisis. Currently, nearly one-third of the US population can be classified as people of color, but barely 11% of the staff of natural resource organizations fit in this category. Marcelo Bonta will share his thoughts on how to address this issue in a comprehensive, action-oriented way.

When: Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Where: Hotlips (corner of SW 6th and Hall).
Time: 7:00PM

To be discussed:
1. Does TriMet have something against Bikes? Why did they remove a bunch of bike parking from their plans? We'll look at a construction map and formulate a plan of action to represent bikers' interests.

2. Leadership nominations open now! Elections on Thursday!

3. We'll hear from the various teams like Parking, Safety & Security, Outreach, and Housing about what they're working on and what they need help with.

4. We'll discuss starting a Bike Buddy system and other joint social marketing opportunities with the Transportation office.

You can sign up for the PSU Bike Advocacy Committee's Google group HERE or contact Peter WelteCat weltepe@gmail.com.

The Women's Resource Center is looking for ideas on how to make its office more sustainable, and they thought our club members would be a good place to find feedback.  If you have any ideas or want to see their newly remodeled office, please visit their posh space in the Montgomery Building (behind the alumni house) anytime.

You can also send ideas to their sustainability coordinator, Blythe Pavlik at bpavlik@pdx.edu.

When: Wednesday, February 20th, 2008
Where: Food For Thought Cafe
Time: 1:00PM - 2:00PM

Chat about club happenings, brainstorm event ideas, and meet like-minded folks. If you have plant ideas for the native garden, please let us know at the meeting or by email. Just look for the "Environmental Club" table sign.

Volunteers are needed to help out the The Learning Gardens Laboratory, a partnership between PSU and Portland Public Schools. One of the goals is to include a greenhouse and 13 acres of gardens and orchards into the curriculum of neighboring schools.

If any Environmental Club members want a chance to experience and learn about gardening, the greenhouse or sustainable farming is a great opportunity. Please contact Hans Albing at (360) 798-4401 or email hans@pdx.edu.

When: Saturday, March 22nd, 2008
Where: TBA
Time: TBA

Presenters Stephanie and Inde will offer a two hour presentation on radical eco-feminism and environmental ethics. This workshop will focus on the interconnections between the oppression of women and nature. They will also discuss racism and social inequalities.

Stephanie and Inde have been involved in movements which include Portland Animal Defense League, Rising Tide North America, Cascadia Rising Tide, Stumptown Earth First!, the Radical Cheerleaders for Animal Rights, and N.E.S.T. In addition, Inde served on Sea Shepherd vessels for 14 months over a 3.5 year period. During this time, she helped to oppose threats to marine life on an international scale and traveled to Antarctica twice to interfere with Japan's whaling fleet.

For more information, contact ecpsu@pdx.edu or visit Rising Tide North America.

This event is co-sponsored by Vegans for Animal Advocacy.

When: Thursday, April 24th, 2008

The Portland Water Bureau is looking for volunteers for the 15th annual Children's Clean Water Festival.

On April 24th, 2008, more than 1,200 local 4th- and 5th-grade students will attend the Children's Clean Water Festival at PCC-Sylvania. Through classroom presentations, stage shows, and exhibits, they'll learn about watershed ecology and the vital role that water plays in our everyday lives.

More than 70 volunteers are needed for this event. Come join us for a day of fun and learning - and make a real difference to the students and teachers involved. No experience needed - training (and a free lunch!) will be provided at the festival.

Volunteer roles include:
1. Classroom Guide. We'll assign you a class (the teacher and several chaperones stay with the class, too). You'll guide your class around the PCC-Sylvania campus for the day, keeping them on schedule and helping them feel excited about what they're learning. This role offers fun opportunities to interact with the kids. Plus, you're likely to learn a little (maybe even a lot!) about water that you didn't already know.

2. General Festival Volunteer. This is "behind-the-scenes" work that allows the festival to run smoothly - setting out signs, directing traffic, assisting with lunch distribution, etc.

You can register on-line HERE.

Contact: Lisa Peters at lisa.peters@ci.portland.or.us or call (503) 823-7439.

You can also read the Children's Clean Water Festival "Groundwater" document HERE.

When: The first weekend of April (tentative)
Where: Hoyt Arboretum
Time: TBA

Judy is a graduate student at PSU who specializes in native plants. She will lead us through the arboretum as we explore the many mysteries of the plant kingdom. More details to come!

Contact ecpsu@pdx.edu for more information.

Net Impact Meeting
When: Monday, February 25th, 2008
Where: TBA
Time: 4:30PM - 5:30PM

For more information, contact Scott at (503) 725-4842 or email scottm@sba.pdx.edu. You can also visit Master Of International Management (MIM) or Net Impact.

When: Monday, February 18th, 2008
Where: Sierra Club office at 2950 SE Stark
Time: 7:00PM

Featured film: “Future in the Cradle,” a documentary about the landmark 1994 United Nations Conference on Population and Development.

Contact: Ramona Rex at ramona.rex@oregon.sierraclub.org for more information.

Hey all you Sexy Environmentalist,

I hope this update finds you well. We had an awesome turnout at the Party in the Parkway and we got the chance to meet and talk to a lot of you. This Thursday, February 7th, we are having out first meet and greet!

Bring your ideas and an empty stomach. We will be serving Hot Lips pizza, salad and juice. Also there will be the opportunity to enter a raffle to win some tzight stuff. It should be lots of fun. If you can't make it the whole time, come late, leave early, no matter what just show up!

When: Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Where: Portland State University - Smith Memorial Student Union Room 296
Time: 6:00PM - 7:00PM
Note: We don't know if the room is 296 or 298.

There are a lot of events that will be coming up as the school year continues and I will keep you updated as they occur. I hope to see you all on Thursday. Enjoy your week! If you have any questions please feel free to email us.

Were you at the Focus the Nation?  It was an awesome synopsis held right here on Portland State. The topics included how our world is changing due to global warming and how we can change it.

To conclude this event there will be an informal meeting between ESR Faculty and students! This is a great opportunity to speak your mind and get in touch with our own Environmental Department. A few of the officers are planning to attend, so mark your calendars!

When: Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Where: Portland State University - SBII room 140
Time: 11:00AM - 12:00PM

Hope you can make it, and please spread the word.

Recently we were contacted by a fellow PSU student who let us know about a great opportunity coming up;

Cascade POWER SHIFT will feature a weekend of informative panels, skill-building workshops, kick-offs for exciting climate action campaigns, Citizen Action Days in Salem and Olympia and a chance to connect with hundreds of other Northwest students and youth working for a sustainable, just, and prosperous future!

Cascade POWER SHIFT will kick-off the evening of Friday Feb 8th with exciting keynotes and conclude Sunday evening, Feb 10th. The weekend summit will be hosted at the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. The weekend will be followed on Monday Feb 11th by Cascade Climate Network Citizen Action Days in Salem and Olympia to help push for climate victories in the state legislatures of Oregon and Washington in 2008.

It's at the University of Oregon. It's $10. People will be carpooling to the summit, and students can stay with a friend or sign up for housing.