STEM Ed Announcement: LWV Meeting on Climate Change

[Morton Sternheim <mort@k12s.phast.umass.edu>]

The League of Women Voters of Amherst will host a panel discussion titled
"The Heat is On: Climate Change and the Environment"  on Thursday, Jan.
22 in the Town Room of Amherst Town Hall. There will be coffee at 7 p.m.
and the program will begin at 7:15 p.m. Panelists include Dr. Steven
Roof, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at Hampshire
College, Stephanie Ciccarello, Chair of the Amherst Energy Task Force and
Lois Barber, Executive Director of Earth Action. Dr. Roof has been doing
climate change research since 1985. Ms. Ciccarello works for the town of
Amherst as Wetlands Administrator and Energy Task Force Coordinator. Ms.
Barber is also the co-chair of the Alliance for Renewable Energy and the
founder and president of 2020 Vision, a peace and environment
organization.
    Our panel of experts will present an overview of the situation and
discuss how policies on the national, state and local levels can be
used to address the problem of climate change. They will also discuss
how our personal choices can make a difference. In the months ahead,
we will be hearing more about government policies since the incoming
administration in Washington has talked of promoting clean energy
initiatives and a green infrastructure stimulus bill.
    The League has adopted positions on climate and energy issues. A
recent national League publication states that "global climate change
is considered one of the most serious threats to the environment,
health and economy of our nation. The League believes it is time to
act. We can reduce global warming pollution by using existing
technologies to make power plants and factories more efficient, make
cars go further on a gallon of gas and shift to cleaner
technologies.State and local initiatives are proving that answers
exist."
    For more information call (413) 253-0633