August 20, 2008 10:29 AM

Aspen hosting green forum starting on Thursday

The fifth annual American Renewable Energy Day kicks-off at Paepcke Auditorium in Aspen at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
Two leaders in an Aspen Institute-sponsored trip to the Arctic last month will be on a panel discussion moderated by Jim Calaway , chairman of the Aspen Institute; a discussion with Majora Carter, Founder of Sustainable South Bronx and Sally Ranney, a principal of Stillwater Preservation. Next week, Carter is scheduled to be at a Sustainable Fair in the HIghland neighborhood in Denver, which I have written about in a Rocky article and on my blog.
In Aspen, the speakers will discuss their July trip to the Arctic and give a slideshow presentation on it.
The speakers were joined in the Arctic by Gov. Bill Ritter and other business and environmental leaders for a first-hand assessment of the region. There will be a question and answer session with the audience after the discussion.
Following the forum at, 5:00 pm, Jim Garrison from the Wisdom institute and Paul Ray, PhD author of "Cultural Creatives" will present "Public is Listening: The New Political Compass", a presentation of the emerging environmental values of the majority of Earth's citizens.
This presentation will be followed by a special screening of the film, "Burning the Future: Coal in America", with an introduction by the filmmakers and a question and panel discussion with Physicans for Social Responsibilty and the Sierra Club Coal Campaign following the screening.
This documentary examines the conflict between residents of West Virginia's mountain regions and the coal industry, the ramifications of mountain top mining and citizens' fight to preserve their environment and way of life.
The film airs at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, in Paepcke Auditorium. Thursday's events are free and open to the public.
On Aug. 22, at Aspen's Wheeler Opera House, philanthropists Jennifer and Peter Buffett, and Lakota spiritual leader Chief Arvol Looking Horse will discuss "Connecting Carbon and Spirit".
Looking Horse is the 19th generation keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, a 2,000-year-old Lakota peace pipe used throughout the centuries for prayer, meditation, peacekeeping and mediation.
"The idea of connecting carbon with spirit is an interesting way to look at this issue in a whole different light," said Chip Comins, AREDAY Founder and Executive Director, who will moderate the discussion. "To think of both carbon and spirit as things that exist everywhere, but that you cannot see, smell or touch, is intriguing. The speakers are sure to present a fascinating dialogue."
Also, there will be a talk by the internationally-renowned expert on renewable energy and energy efficiency, Lester Brown. He is president of Earth Policy Institute and author of Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization at 11 am in the Wheeler.
Other Friday speakers include Jerome Ringo, President of the Apollo Alliance; Harris Sherman, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources; nationally recognized environmental consultant Sally Ranney; Randy Hayes, founder of the Rainforest Action Network; representatives from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; the Presidential Climate Action Project; Native Wind; Rocky Mountain Institute; and other non-profit leaders, authors and photographers.
Throughout the day, panel discussions will offer participants the chance to hear these experts engage with one another about the future of our planet and the roles of renewable energies.
These interactive discussions will feature question and answer sessions with the public.
At 8 p.m. on Friday the film "Fields of Fuel" will be presented the Wheeler Opera House. The film won the Audience Award at this year's Sundance Festival.
This film makes the case that biodiesel is the fastest and most sustainable means to reducing our country's dependence on oil and talks about how this can be accomplished.
Tickets are on sale at the Wheeler Box Office for the August 23 Ted Turner event.
He will engage in an interview with Pat Mitchell, former president of PBS and current CEO of the Paley Media Center. Peter Buffett will perform on the stage of the Wheeler Opera House along with the Native American Sacred Wind Dancers.
"Turner and Buffett's decision to align themselves with AREDAY demonstrates their desire to bring solutions for climate and energy challenges to the forefront of our national dialogue," said AREDAY's Comins.
Peter Buffett and the Native American Sacred Wind Dancers will perform music from the theatrical production "Spirit the Seventh Fire" Saturday evening.
A children's climate solution panel will take place Saturday morning, Aug. 23. Smitha Ramakrishna, a youth leader and founder of AWAKE will join Jessy Tolken, executive director of the Energy Action Coalition on the panel. Starting at noon on Saturday, AREDAY provides opportunities for the public to engage in renewable energy demonstrations and family activities on the Cooper Street Mall and Wagner Park - including live music with Aspen's John Michel and Michael Jude from Take the Wheel and a special performance by John Oates.
Additional information: www.areday.net.

Posted by John Rebchook at 10:29 AM | Comments (1)