On January 31, 2008, Marist College will participate in Focus The Nation, an unprecedented teach-in on global warming solutions. "Today's college students are truly the greatest generation," says Lewis & Clark professor of economics Dr. Eban Goodstein, author and project director for Focus The Nation. "No other generation has ever had to face this kind of civilizational challenge. And we as educators would be failing if we did not prepare them to meet this challenge."
Marist will host a day of events, including various presentations by members of the Marist faculty, students and staff, as well as screenings of selected films addressing climate change. Students will also be involved as educators. At the end of the day, the Marist has invited a panel of distinguished Hudson Valley speakers from environmental, business, and political groups to engage in the Green Democracy roundtable.
"Critical decisions need to be made on global warming, which means today's leaders and the youth who will inherit the crisis need serious education on the issue," said James "Gus" Speth, dean, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. "Focus The Nation is our country's foremost model to create that level of education and interaction with lawmakers."
"This event reflects the crucial function our college can play to educate for a sustainable future, so as to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," said Dr. Paula Willoquet-Maricondi, chair of the Media Arts Department at Marist and an event organizer.
"One good thing about climate change is that it is bringing together large numbers of people to discuss the problem. Further, it is motivating them to commit to personal lifestyles and institutional practices that are better for the environment, the long-term economy, and human welfare," said Dr. Richard S. Feldman, associate professor of Environmental Science.
"We are thrilled to be a part of this initiative. This is education at its finest," said Steve Sansola, associate dean for Student Affairs and co-chair of the Marist Sustainability Committee. "It represents the enormous power that youth have when they use their education to create positive change in the world."
For more information on Marist and their participation in Focus The Nation, please visit www.focusthenation.org
Focus The Nation is an unprecedented educational initiative on global warming solutions for America occurring at more than 1,000 universities and colleges and in all 50 states on Jan. 31, 2008. As the largest teach-in in U.S. history, Focus The Nation is preparing millions of students to become leaders in the largest civilizational challenge any generation has faced.
