On February 4th and 5th, UTC will participate in the National Teach-In on Global Warming, joining millions of Americans in a discussion of concrete policy options. During the First 100 Days of the incoming administration, the National Teach-In is planning a one-day launch on February 5 to engage the United States in critical discussion and guide students and citizens toward actions they can take.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this initiative,” said Elizabeth Southall, president of EDGE, UTC’s student environmental group. “It represents the enormous power that youth have when they use their education to create positive change in the world.”
At UTC, the Teach-In will kick off on Wednesday, February 4th, with participating professors addressing a wide range of global warming curricula. That night, the campus will welcome Robert Kennedy, Jr. who will address Crimes Against Nature in Perspectives 2009: The Raymond B. Witt Lecture Series at 6:30 pm at the Roland Hayes Concert Hall, UTC Fine Arts Center. Read more about the series here.
The next day, February 5th, the participating professors will continue discussing with their classes the issue of global warming. The night of February 5th, The First 100 Days web cast will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Raccoon Mountain Room of the University Center. The First 100 Days was produced by the National Wildlife Federation, and a faith and stewardship version co-produced by Interfaith Power and Light. The webcast will feature Hunter Lovins, CEO, Natural Capitalism and environmental justice leader, Ray Anderson, founder and CEO of Interface Inc., Betsy Taylor, founder and president of the Center for a New American Dream, Billy Parish, co-founder and coordinator of the Energy Action Coalition and youth climate leader, and his wife, Wahleah Johns.
This half-hour webcast will focus on four key recommendations of the Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP):
- Cut carbon emissions 40% by 2020.
- Green jobs now: solarize, weatherize and rewire.
- Lead in clean technology.
- Carbon neutral power for America.
The final component of the National Teach-In will be the First 100 Days Calendar. This calendar will serve as a place for students and citizens to put pressure on Congress throughout the First 100 Days. It also supports the events and initiatives of organizations such as the Energy Action Coalition, the Blue-Green Alliance, and 1Sky. It can be found online at http://nationalteachin.org/100daysofaction.php.
“Today’s college students are truly the greatest generation,” says Lewis & Clark professor of economics, Dr. Eban Goodstein, project director for the National Teach-In. “No other generation has ever had to face this kind of challenge. And we as educators would be failing if we did not prepare our students with the tools to meet this challenge.”
For more information on The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s participation in the National Teach-In, please email Elizabeth Southall at elizabeth-southall@utc.edu. Visit the National Teach-in online at http://www.nationalteachin.org/.
