Sunday, July 10, 2011

Energy (and Other) Events - July 10, 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@world.std.com

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Monday, July 11, 2011
300 of the world's best design theses on view at SA+P: Archiprix
Time: 9:00a–8:00p
Location: MIT 7-431, On the 4th floor above Lobby 7, at 77 Massachussets Avenue
A major exhibit on view throughout the summer at the School of Architecture + Planning is presenting 300 of the world's best thesis projects in architecture, urban design and landscape architecture.

Sponsored by Archiprix International, the biennial exhibit is the largest such presentation in the world -- more than 1,400 universities were invited to nominate their best graduating students -- and offers a rare opportunity for assessing current trends in design education around the world and architecture in general.

Hosted by SA+P's Platform for Permanent Modernity, a research program in the Department of Architecture, the exhibit opened May 30 as part of a two-week international event that also features intensive six-day workshops for about 100 of the students represented in the show, conducted at MIT by prominent designers from leading architecture schools in the United States.

Web site: http://www.archiprix.org/2011/
Open to: the general public
This event occurs daily through August 31, 2011, except May 30, 2011 and June 6, 2011.
Sponsor(s): School of Architecture and Planning, Arts at MIT
For more information, contact:
Alexander D'Hooghe
617 308 7386
adhooghe@mit.edu

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Cultivating New Voices, Approaches, and Audiences for National - and International - Reporting
WHEN Mon., July 11, 2011, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
WHERE Harvard Law School
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Education, Humanities, Information Technology, Law, Lecture, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Berkman Center for Internet & Society
SPEAKER(S) Journalists Fatima Tlisova (Voice of America) and Pulitzer Prize winner Dele Olojede will join Ethan Zuckerman (Berkman Center/Global Voices), Colin Maclay (Berkman Center), Ivan Sigal (Global Voices)
COST Free
NOTE The Berkman Center will host a conversation about the challenges of reporting international stories to U.S. and global audiences. In an age of shrinking news budgets, American newspapers and broadcasters are producing less original reporting of international stories. And while gripping events like the Arab Spring capture the attention of the public, many important international stories fail to garner widespread attention. The challenges for international reporting are both ones of supply (who reports the news from around the world?) and demand (who pays attention?).
This conversation was inspired by Berkman Fellow Persephone Miel, whose work focused on how compelling narrative and context for international stories could make unfamiliar international news more accessible to American and global audiences. Her efforts to support and promote talented local, non-US journalists whose work has the potential for global impact, but who need to overcome significant obstacles to succeed, are continued through a fellowship established in her honor by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, in partnership with Internews.

Journalists Fatima Tlisova (Voice of America) and Pulitzer Prize winner Dele Olojede will join Ethan Zuckerman (Berkman Center/Global Voices), Colin Maclay (Berkman Center), Ivan Sigal (Global Voices) and the Miel family for a discussion and reflection on these questions, and on Persephone's work and the journalistic values she championed.
More: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/2011/07/cultivatingnewvoices
LINK http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/2011/07/cultivatingnewvoices

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The Internet and the Commerce Clause through the Prism of the Federal Kidnapping Act
Michele Martinez Campbell, Assistant Professor of Law at Vermont Law School
Tuesday, July 12, 12:30 pm
Berkman Center, 23 Everett Street, second floor
RSVP required for those attending in person to Amar Ashar (ashar@cyber.law.harvard.edu)
This event will be webcast live (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast) at 12:30 pm ET and archived on our site shortly after.

Should kidnapping be a federal crime where use of the Internet or other telecommunications facilities is central to the crime's execution, but the physical act itself takes place within the borders of a single state? Through the case study of the harrowing kidnapping and murder of 12-year old Brooke Bennett, this article examines a uniquely 21st century legal question about federalism, technology and criminal law. In 2006, the Federal Kidnapping Act was amended to broaden federal jurisdiction in a clear effort to reach kidnappings committed by Internet sexual predators. The article that is the subject of this talk is the first non-student piece to address this amendment, and the only one to date to defend it.

About Michele
Michele Martinez Campbell is an Assistant Professor of Law at Vermont Law School, where she specializes in criminal law and criminal procedure. Professor Martinez Campbell graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and received her JD with distinction from Stanford Law School. After law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert F. Peckham, Chief Judge of the Northern District of California, then spent three years as a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York. She spent eight years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York (covering Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island), where she served as Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Unit.

After leaving the U.S. Attorney's Office, Professor Martinez Campbell became an award-winning crime novelist. Her legal thriller series featuring federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas has been published in Spanish, German, Japanese, Russian, Estonian, e-book, audio and large print formats, in addition to English hardcover and paperback formats. She has also published several short stories, and done hundreds of media and public appearances including national book tours and television, radio and print interviews.

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The Green Innovators in Business Network (GIBN) was formed to offer a platform for changemakers to meet and learn with each other and share challenges and solutions in creating more sustainable businesses. We invite your participation in this effort with the following resources:

July Growing GIBN Conversation
GIBN engages participants in both sharing their knowledge and providing input to ensure that the network is serving the needs of the community. Over the past several weeks, EDF's intern from the University of Michigan, Raina Rahbar, has been interviewing network members and partners to gather feedback about GIBN Solutions Labs. On our next "Growing GIBN" call, Raina will be reviewing themes from her findings and we'll discuss how to integrate this feedback into the planning process for the 2012 Solutions Lab series.

July Growing GIBN Conversation
Increasing the Impact of the GIBN Solutions Labs

Date: July 12, 2011
Time: 2pm ET
Call-in information: (760) 569-9000, Code: 160031#
Please join us by sending your RSVP to info@digin.org

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Emotional Thinking
WHEN Tue., July 12, 2011, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
WHERE RCC - conference room
26 Trowbridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Lecture, Science, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Real Colegio Complutense (Advanced Research Group)
SPEAKER(S) Lina Arias, education adviser, Spanish Ministry of Education & School Psychologist (Madrid)
COST Free
CONTACT INFO rcc_info@harvard.edu
NOTE in English
LINK http://www.realcolegiocomplutense.harvard.edu

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Harvard Business Review In Person
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (ET)
Cambridge, MA

Harvard Business Review In Person: Spotlight on Collaboration

Join Harvard Business Review for a live event around the July/August issue Spotlight on Collaboration. HBR’s focused spotlight provides an in-depth look at issues that today’s managers are facing when fostering collaboration within their companies. Whether you’re leading teams; trying to spark creativity and innovation; or hoping to breakdown cultural barriers– HBR brings you the latest thinking on this important topic.

You will hear from HBR’s Editor-in-Chief, Adi Ignatius, as he leads a discussion with local business leaders on why collaboration has become a critical component to building successful teams not only inside companies, but also with partners and vendors around the globe.

HBR In Person will allow you the opportunity to network with Boston-area professionals and idea enthusiasts; mingle with HBR editors; and hear from local business leaders on how to effectively collaborate. HBR would also like to hear from you on the challenges you face in your daily work life.

The first 20 people to arrive will receive a special HBR gift bag. All attendees will receive a copy of the July/August issue of HBR and complimentary drink ticket.

Where: Microsoft NERD Center
One Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142
When: Tuesday, July 12, 2011, 5:30-7:30 pm
RSVP: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1725215165
Hashtag: #HBRlive

About Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact.

Visit Harvard Business Review at http://hbr.org

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Join us on July 12 at 7pm EDT to find out how Transition Initiatives – locally based efforts to prepare our communities for a world impacted by peak oil and climate change - overlaps with Resilience Circles and Common Security Clubs

with Carolyne Statyon, Executive Director of Transition US, and Chuck Collins of Resilience Circles and Common Security Clubs and Conrad Willemon and Ralph Schmoldt who are working with both Transition initiatives and Resilience Circles in their communities of Newburyport, MA and Portland, OR.

Please join this conversation - register here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/428291462

Both Transition initiatives and Resilience Circles are community-minded approaches. This contrasts to many of the “solutions” to economic and environmental challenges we read about, which are either at the itty bitty individual level, or the super-huge global policy level.

These can both be disempowering. Sure, we can change our light bulbs to fluorescents, but at some level we all wonder how much impact my few bulbs really have. Even harder, how can I possibly get world governments on board with a fair energy descent plan?

But like that third bowl of porridge Goldilocks found, the community level solution feels just right.

Transition and Resilience Circles are right at that level, albeit at different sizes. Your Resilience Circle is your small “affinity” support group of about 10 – 20 people. They’re the folks who you can turn to for support, motivation, and mutual aid. Meanwhile, Transition initiatives aim to transform the larger communities we are a part of. These are complementary and crucial components of social change.

To hear more and share your own thoughts, register for our webinar with Transition US: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/428291462

And - next time you read a book or article whose only proposed solutions are eliminating corn subsidies and/or changing those bulbs, write to that author and tell them they’re missing the Goldilocks level: the community-level solution.

Contact: info@localcircles.org

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SYMPOSIUM ON MATHEMATICS AND RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE
Faith, Science, and Mathematics
The Clavius Group of Mathematicians
July 13, 2011, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Higgins Hall, Room 300, Boston College
Open to the Public Gratis

9:30-10:30 AM “The Ontological Proof for the Existence of God” – Pedro Guimarães Ferreira, S.J. (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro)

Coffee break

11:00-12:00 AM "Mathematical and Religious Truth" – Javier Leach, S.J. (Complutense University, Madrid)

Lunch

1:30-2:30 PM “Beauty in Mathematical Discovery and the Encounter with God” – Paul Schweitzer, S.J. (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro)

Coffee break

3:00-4:00 PM - "A Historical Approximation to Philosophy of Mathematics" - Pedro A. Suarez, S.J. (Barry University and Belem Jesuit Preparatory School, Miami)

4:15-5:15 PM "On the Pernicious Influence of Mathematics: Some Advice from Gödel and Rota" – Palle Yourgrau (Brandeis University)

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The Future of Yemen? Assessing a Worsening Economic Situation, the Political Stalemate, and the Question of Partition or Succession
WHEN Wed., July 13, 2011, 12 – 1 p.m.
WHERE Weil Town Hall, Belfer Building, Ground Floor, Harvard Kennedy School
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Middle East Initiative, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies Outreach Center, and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program
SPEAKER(S) Steve Caton, professor of contemporary Arab studies in the Department of Anthropology, Harvard University
COST Free
LINK http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/5539/future_of_yemen.html

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Harvard/Cambridge Walk for Peace
WHEN Wed., July 13, 2011, 12 – 12:20 p.m.
WHERE John Harvard Statue
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Ethics, Social Sciences, Special Events, Support/Social, Working@Harvard
NOTE Nearly 10 years of war. Thousands of American lives, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Afghani lives, trillions of dollars. Come remember, mourn, and protest.

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Swiss Clean Energy Vision
July 13, 4:30 to 7:00 pm
MIT, Room 3-133

Talk by Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, Switzerland’s Minister of Energy & Environment, followed by roundtable discussion with local experts on sustinability and energy. Given concerns about climate change and nuclear power, Minister Leuthard will present Switzerland’s vision and strategy on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
RSVP at http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1092276-FJLQiOJYbo

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Yes We CAN, have a nuclear free, safe and green future.

Join us at:
Festival for a Nuclear Free Future
Copley Square, Boston
July 16th Saturday, 2:00pm-5:00pm.

There will be:
Puppets, Rutsubo Taiko Drummers. Japanese Dancers, Short talks,
The Public Interest Band (Classical Rock Band), hip-hop and more.

Dont miss this fun, family-friendly, and educational events !

Learn more at:
http://masspeaceaction.org/festival-nff
http://nukefreefest.org/

Editorial Comment: And the Editor will be there with a Solar IS Civil Defense/Simple Solar display.

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Upcoming

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A Conversation with Rob Hopkins (and hosted by Richard Heinberg)
Date: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 8:00am - 9:15am
Note: All Transition US virtual events are Pacific Time (PT)

Join us for a conversation with Rob Hopkins. Rob needs no introduction really but if you are new to the concept of "Transition" then this is a great opportunity to learn from the source.
Rob Hopkins is the originator of the Transition concept and co-founder of the Transition Network. He spent many years teaching permaculture and cob building, mostly when living in Ireland. Now based in Totnes, he is a member of Transition Town Totnes, works part time for Transition Network, publishes www.transitionculture.org, is author of the ‘Transition Handbook’ and generally spends far too much time thinking about Transition stuff. He is also a Trustee of the Soil Association.

Rob is a family man with 4 sons, Rowan, Finn, Cian and Arlo, and is deeply in love with the raised beds he just finished building.

We are excited to announce that Richard Heinberg will be hosting this call.

Phone: (707) 763-1100
email: carl@transitionus.org
register: http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/KECC4Y6CWC0T2KF

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The Hacker's Aegis - Protecting Hackers From Lawyers
Derek Bambauer of Brooklyn Law School & Oliver Day
Tuesday, July 19, 12:30 pm
Berkman Center, 23 Everett Street, second floor
RSVP required for those attending in person to Amar Ashar (ashar@cyber.law.harvard.edu)
This event will be webcast live (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast) at 12:30 pm ET and archived on our site shortly after.

Research on software security vulnerabilities is a valuable example of peer production. However, hackers are often threatened with intellectual property lawsuits by companies who want to keep flaws secret. Oliver Day and Derek Bambauer propose a liability shield for security research to improve cybersecurity in a world dependent on cloud computing and mobile platforms. Come debate whether hackers are whistleblowers, and how legal immunity affects security when cyberweapons like Stuxnet are increasingly available.

About Derek
Derek Bambauer teaches Internet law and intellectual property and publishes articles on intellectual property, information control, and health law. He has also written technical articles on data recovery and fault tolerance, and on deployment of software upgrades. He has presented on issues including spam and Internet filtering in both technical and policy settings, model laws for spam regulation, and China’s online controls. He is also one of the authors of Info/Law, a popular blog that addresses Internet law, intellectual property, and information law.

A former principal systems engineer at Lotus Development Corp. (part of IBM), Professor Bambauer spent two years as a Research Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. At Berkman, he was a member of the OpenNet Initiative, an academic consortium that tests and studies Internet censorship in countries such as China, Iran and Vietnam.

About Oliver
Oliver Day is a senior security researcher for Internet titan Akamai where he is focused on web based malware such as Drive By Downloads. He is intent on integrating biostatistical and epidemiological models into modern network security practice and policy making. He was formerly a security researcher at Stopbadware.org where he helped build the infrastructure to monitor reports of infections across the Internet and distill them into actionable reports. Previous to Stopbadware Oliver was a principal security consultant with @stake (then acquired by Symantec) and an engineer with eEye Digital Security. Oliver graudated from the Harvard School of Extension with concentrations in legal studies and Chinese studies. His thesis and subsequent academic work have been focused on finding suitable mathematical models to predict the spread of web based malware. He also likes to interact with the cyberlaw community and is a strong advocate for the disclosure process and shielding for security researchers.

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Beekeeping in Cambridgeport
July 19, 6:30 pm
115 Pearl Street
and 7:00 pm, 9 Perry Street

A tour and talk with two bee keepers on location. Learn about the bees and how beekepers funciton in a very tight urban location. Sponsored by Greenport.
For more information, contact Steve Wineman atswineman@gis.net.

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Clean Economy Network - Breakfast of Champions with Nolan Browne
Friday, July 22, 2011 from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (ET)
Boston, MA

Please join Clean Economy Network of Boston
at our

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
July 22, 2011
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

At the offices of Cooley LLP
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116-3736

Our speaker will be
Nolan Browne
Managing Director - Fraunhofer CSE

Tickets are limited, so register today at http://cenbreakfast2.eventbrite.com/

Event Summary:
CEN is pleased to invite you to our Breakfast of Champions. At these meetings, we will provide a forum for a limited number of attendees to have some breakfast, do some networking, and hear from a star in the local cleantech community who has an established career in the field. We will hear about successes and failures along their way, and have an opportunity for some Q&A as well.

Agenda:
8: 00 -8:30 - Breakfast and Networking
8:30 - 9:30 - Featured Speaker Nolan Browne and Q&A
9:30 - 10:00 - Wrap-up and Networking

Speaker Bio:
Browne co-founded the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems in February 2008 with the vision of creating a world-leading R&D lab in PV modules, building energy efficiency and certain smart grid applications. Previously, he worked for Massachusetts-based Evergreen Solar, where he was responsible for developing research relationships to facilitate Evergreen's advanced PV module efforts and support their capacity expansion. Prior to this, Nol served as a senior associate at Cambridge Energy Research Associates, where he started-up CERA's Clean Energy Study.

While at MIT, Browne co-founded the MIT Energy Conference and was involved with a number of energy startups, including GreenFuel Technologies. Nolan, a Kauffman Fellow Finalist, is active in the entrepreneurial and venture capital communities, where he has founded two successful for-profit companies to date. He holds an MA and BA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

About Clean Economy Network: The Clean Economy Network is the national non-partisan advocacy organization for individuals who support the development of a clean economy. It develops public positions on, and actively engages with policymakers and elected officials to lobby for, specific legislative proposals critical to the development and growth of a new clean economy. CEN is the largest national networking, educational, and advocacy organization shaping a new economy based on clean technology and innovation. Our members are professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers who connect to each other, learn information relevant to business and professional growth, and influence public policies that impact the clean economy. To learn more, please visit http://cleaneconomynetwork.org.

About Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE): Based in Cambridge, MA, the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) is a non-profit applied research and development laboratory dedicated to the commercialization of clean energy technologies. CSE engages in collaborative research and development with private companies, government entities, and academic institutions, performing research that broadly benefits firms, industries, and society. These partnerships take a wide variety of forms, including confidential co-development programs, third-party technology validation, and joint applications for grant programs.

Founded in 2008 and supported by the Massachusetts state government, the CSE is part of an international research network spearheaded by Germany's Fraunhofer Society, Europe's largest contract R&D organization. In Germany, the Fraunhofer CSE is closely partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) in Stuttgart. http://cse.fraunhofer.org

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The Arab Spring and its Energy Implications
WHEN Thu., July 21, 2011, 12 – 1 p.m.
WHERE Faculty Dining Room, Littauer Building, First Floor, Harvard Kennedy School
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Middle East Initiative, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies Outreach Center, and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program
SPEAKER(S) Meghan O'Sullivan, Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
COST Free
LINK http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/5540/arab_spring_and_its_energy_implications.html

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FARM + CAMP JOURNEY
Barre MA - July 22-24th

After the first one was a huge sucesss, theMOVE (http://getoutma.org/) is proudly putting on our second farm-volunteer camping weekend, at Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre MA!

This weekend is designed for folks to get a rich experience taking part in the life of a working farm -- to get to to roots of how our food gets to us. It's an amazing invitation into the home and onto the farm of NOFA/Mass Executive Director, Julie Rawson! We'll enjoy delicious farm-fresh meals, some of which will be hand-picked by our group, and also we'll have time to hang out and soak in the beautiful surroundings.

The trip will run from Friday evening (7/22) to Sunday afternoon (7/24). The trip fee is $80 ($70 for theMOVE members), which includes near-everything for the weekend (transportation, food, and accommodations). We also have half-scholarships available if needed. 18-person limit, so please sign up soon!

Get more information @ http://getoutma.org/volunteer!

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Making a Green Solidarity Economy
A Community Conference to Build a More Just and Sustainable Future in Worcester and Beyond
Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St.
Saturday, July 23, 10am-6pm

The Worcester Green Jobs Coalition and the Making a Green Solidarity Economy Planning Committee invites Organizers, Activists, Academics, Media, and Community Members to participate in workshops, discussions, music and fun.

The conference will bring together individuals and organizations in Central Massachusetts who are working towards progressive social, environmental, and economic goals. The day's events are structured to help share resources and skills, discuss best practices, strengthen inter-organizational relationships, and identify actions we can take together to make a green solidarity economy for the betterment of our communities. Morning workshops and discussions will build towards an afternoon dedicated to more participatory envisioning and planning that will identify specific actions groups can take to support each other and generate new initiatives that can transform our economy. The evening session will feature local musicians and food in a casual atmosphere to encourage further discussion and relationship-building.
The ecological and economic crises present both challenges and opportunities. Increasing social dislocation, insecurity, entrenched unemployment, and growing inequalities demand that we rethink the foundations of our economy and recreate our communities. In Worcester, we have the opportunity to build a new economy based on ethical choices rather than market logics, an economy organized through a caring community rather than by predatory profit-seeking, and an economy that marshals our political and social resources instead of handing them over through corporate welfare and broken political systems. Now is the time to Make a Green Solidarity Economy that privileges people over profits and sustainability over environmental destruction.

Contact: Lazri DiSalvo
Phone: (860) 309-5690; Email: Lazri.disalvo@gmail.com

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The Ethical Society of Boston will be presenting a program, Sunday, July 31 from 10AM to 12PM.

THE CAMPAIGN TO REVERSE "CITIZENS UNITED DECISION"

The discussion will take place at the Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St., Harvard Sq. Cambridge.

The discussion will be led by the Ethical Society Program Director Andrea Perrault

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The Ethical Society of Boston will have a discussion on Sunday, August 7 from 10AM to 12PM.

THE TEA PARTY: IS IT AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT? WHY? WHAT ARE ITS MESSAGES?

The discussion will take place at Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge.

The discussion will be led an Ethical Society member - Gaston de los Reyes.


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Opportunity

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You are invited to participate in our first volunteer orientation meeting for Boston Local Food Festival (http://bostonlocalfoodfestival.com/). Volunteers are the engine that keeps the festival running. We seek committed, enthusiastic and responsible people who would love to contribute, join in on the local food movement, meet new folks, and have a lot of fun! The first Boston Local Food Festival in 2010 was a stunning success, thanks to our volunteers. Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston is moving into high gear for building the second Boston Local Food Festival at Fort Point Channel. Last year's success was credited to over 200 committed volunteers and we anticipate this year's turnout to be greater, requiring an excellent team. We invite you to participate in the second annual Boston Local Food Festival on Saturday October 1, 2011! Please feel free to pass along the information. We will be having monthly volunteer meetings, so if you miss this one, you can make another one in the future. To sign up as a volunteer, visit our website and complete our online application.

http://bostonlocalfoodfestival.com/participate/volunteer-for-the-festival/

Volunteer Meeting details:
Location: Cambridge Savings Bank, Harvard Square, Cambridge.
Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm

RSVP: Please RSVP by Monday, July 11, 2011by clicking this link: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1087988-qiCT50I03J

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AC Swap – The Cambridge Energy Alliance’s window air conditioner swap program is in progress. Residents can obtain a voucher for $125 if they swap an inefficient window AC unit for an Energy Star rated model This is a limited time offer. Go to the CEA website for participation details: http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/resources/a-c-swap

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Free Solar Panels for Houses of Worship

From a recent Mass Interfaith Power & Light (http://mipandl.org/) email
"We've recently been talking with DCS Energy (http://www.dcsenergy.com/) who has an unbeatable offer: if your site qualifies, they design and install the panels at no cost, don't charge you for any electricity, and donate the system to your house of worship after five years. Your only costs will be for a building permit, possibly a structural engineer to verify that your roof can support their weight, and any preparatory work such as roof work or tree removal. If solar panels are so expensive how can anyone give them away for free? First, there is a federal grant program that is only available until November that pays for 30% of the cost of the system. Then there is an accelerated depreciation option that gives certain kinds of investors another tax advantage. Finally, the state awards a special allowance called a "Solar Renewal Energy Credit" (SRECs) to owners of solar electricity systems which are sold at auctions to utilities who buy them to meet their requirements under the Massachusetts' renewable portfolio standard. DCS is betting that the price of these SRECs will remain high. Jim Nail, president of MA IP&L, has talked to DCS Energy and is currently having them prepare a proposal for his church, St. Dunstan's Episcopal in Dover. Jim says, "The references I've talked to have been quite positive about the program and the company has been very responsive. "If you think your site might qualify, contact Peter Carli, pete@dcsenergy.com, with the address of your house of worship and your contact information. He'll take a preliminary look at your site and advise you if it meets their criteria."

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Young World Inventors (http://yinventors.wordpress.com/) has started a Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1036325713/youngworldinventorscom) to fund insider web stories of African and American innovators in collaboration, whom Diane Hendrix will be following with her camera from June 23 to August 2 in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. They are building a community and raising funds for production and editing.

One of the people she will be following is Bernard Kiwia, a Tanzanian inventor who teamed up with MIT grad Jodie Wu to start Global Cycle Solutions in Arusha, near the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. They are starting with ten insider stories of innovators (high and low tech) in East Africa on a new interactive site, with collaborators who'll help distribute stories, such as AITI, who who led us to some fascinating projects (see our intro to AITI on YouTube).

Editorial Comment: I too have met Bernard Kiwia and am deeply impressed by the variety of projects and collaborations happening between Africa and the USA. Bernard's bicycle cell phone charger is only one of the many innovative ideas coming out of young African and American imaginations and expertise these days.

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What you need to know: The Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur (YSE) Competition is a global competition created by Staples Foundation and Ashoka to recognize exceptional young people using innovation and technology to advance social change and improve their community and the world.

Who’s eligible?: Young people (age 12-24), living anywhere in the world, are eligible to apply.

Dates and details: Apply online between June 22 and September 19, 2011.

For more information: http://ashokayouthcompetition.org/
--
Laura Sampath
MIT International Development Initiative
77 Mass Ave, 10-110
Cambridge MA 02139
617.253.7052

Sign up for the 2011 Yunus Challenge Facebook page: yunus2011@groups.facebook.com

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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@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

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Resource

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Cambridge Residents!
Trade in your old inefficient air conditioners:
Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA), in partnership with the City of Cambridge and local retailers, is offering residents through July, the chance to swap old air conditioning units for new energy Star-rated window models. Participants will receive $125 voucher for purchasing Energy Star -rated air conditioners which use about 10% less energy. For more information call: (617) 491-0488.

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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

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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@wellesley.edu

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Bostonsmart.com's Guide to Boston http://www.bostonsmarts.com/BostonGuide/

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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/

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