During the academic year 2007/08, we addressed three topics in our public symposium series – Religion & Tolerance, Power, and Climate Change. Around these topics, we held Conversation Cafes and Days of Listening, welcomed distiguished speakers such as Anne Fadiman and Diana Eck, and shared in dialogue with Clark faculty such as Cynthia Enloe. We broadened our understanding of these topics with art exhibitions such as War of the Walls: Rebellion and Graphic Art in Oaxaca and Horizon: Conversations about Climate Change. Students from the Clark Sustainability Initiative held a conversation about climate change, while others conducted a series of Conversation Cafes.

We offered our first two semesters of The Dialogue Seminar – a half-credit course that allows students to explore our symposium topics and deepen their dialogic practice – and continued to offer courses with a DD designation, across the curriculum. Thank you to everyone who particpated in the program this year – through participation and planning of our events, through teaching and enrolling in Difficult Dialogues courses, and in all the other ways in which our program continues to grow.

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Fall 2007 Calendar

During the fall of 2007, the Difficult Dialogues Symposium Series brought activists, scholars and artists to campus to participate in dialogues on two topics – Religion and Tolerance and Power. Each addressed how we can work with difficult concerns through the skills of dialogue. See the event summaries below or download the Fall 2007 Event Schedule PDF

War of the Walls
Rebellion and Graphic Art in Oaxaca

The Photographs of Aaron Tukey
September 18 - December 11
Dana Commons, second floor lounge

When dialogue fails, people struggling for empowerment may seek other ways to have their voices heard. In Oaxaca, Mexico, some are speaking out through the Mexican tradition of political wall art. Everywhere you look 'graffiti' is crying out the frustrations of the people. And every morning, state-funded crews are out in force to paint over the protesters’ voices. This so-called 'War of the Walls' is symbolic of the power struggle between the people of Oaxaca and their government – who, in the hands of the same political party for nearly eight decades, have been largely unresponsive to citizens' requests for power-sharing. Photographer Aaron Tukey captured this in a series of photographs taken in the Spring of 2007 – "In the war over Oaxaca's walls, I began to see reflections of broader questions over the incremental enclosure of public space, and the role of art in social change."

LEARN MORE
READ Aaron Tukey's essay War of the Walls
VISIT Aaron Tukey's website

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Religion and Tolerance | September 12-October 24

Much of the violence in the world has arisen in the name of religion. Why do religious conviction and intolerance so often occur in tandem? Is dialogue between those of differing faiths and cultures possible? These questions and many others were raised by Diana Eck, Anne Fadiman, religious leaders from the Worcester community, Clark faculty and others.

Jesus Camp
film screening and conversation cafe

Wednesday, September 12 @ 7 pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

In our society, there are widely diverse and divergent religious experiences among young Americans. Jesus Camp, the Academy Award nominated documentary directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, follows a group of young children to Pastor Becky Fisher’s “Kids on Fire Summer Camp” – an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America’s political future.

Faith and Tolerance in a Muli-Cultural World
an interfaith dialogue

Thursday, September 20 @ 7:30 pm
Tilton Hall, Higgins University Center

How should different religious faiths relate to one another in today’s shrinking world? Professor Paul Ropp moderated a panel discussion with four religious leaders representing the Christian, Buddhist, Islamic and Judaic traditions. Panel participants included Tom McKibbens, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church; Melissa Blacker, teacher (sensei) at Boundless Way Zen, a multi-lineage Zen Buddhist community; Mohamed Lazzouni, Visiting Scholar of Islamic Studies at the department of Arts and Humanities at Boston College; and David Coyne, Director of Hillel at Clark. The audience was invited to contribute to the dialogue. Cosponsored by the Andrea B. and Peter D. Klein Professorship

Day of Listening

Wednesday, Spetember 26
one-hour sessions at 12, 1, 3 & 4:00
Dana Commons, second floor lounge

The Day of Listening highlights listening as an essential element of effective dialogue. Each hour-long session is about taking a moment to pause, to really listen to each other and to explore the relationship of listening to dialogue – and to give us a break during our busy day. This semester's Day of Listening event addressed the role that dialogue can play in Religion and Tolerance. It gave us a chance to reflect on issues that had been raised in our symposium events thus far. Each session was hosted and facilitated by trained faculty, staff and students. The entire Clark community was invited to attend.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Monday, October 1 @ 7:30pm
Atwood Hall

Author Anne Fadiman spoke about the experience of writing her first book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997), which chronicles the trials of an epileptic Hmong child and her family living in Merced, California. Fadiman’s sensitive, incisive treatment of the gulf between the Hmong and American cultures and medical systems won her a 1997 National Book Critics Circle Award. Her talk dealt with the cross cultural challenge she faced and the lessons she learned as to how American health care providers can provide more sensitive and effective care for patients from other cultures.

Questions of Faith
a spoken word-chorus

Wednesday, October 10 @ 7pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

The words of Clark students on issues of faith on campus were woven into a spoken-word chorus, performed by other Clark students, and based on interviews with current students. Getting beyond the basics of simple denominational differences, the program investigated the hard questions, surprising discoveries, new perspectives, and lasting challenges that our encounters with both organized religion and personal faith have brought while at Clark. A conversation cafe followed the performance.

Students interested in participating, by being interviewed or performing, should contact the organizer, Professor Meredith Neuman at meneuman@clarku.edu

Can Religions be Tolerant? Is Pluralism Possible?
Voices and Perspectives from South Asia

Tuesday, October 16 @ 7:30pm
Dana Commons, second floor

The strength and certainty of religious voices in our time and the turbulence generated by religious movements makes us wonder if, perhaps, religion is one place where tolerance and dialogue are in short supply. Diana Eck raised these questions: Can religious people really be tolerant of differing religious views? Can religious people engage deeply with those of other faiths? Does the notion of pluralism threaten religious certainties? South Asia has long experience in living with religious differences, so perhaps we can learn more about the difficulties and promise of dialogue from that experience. And now South Asians have brought their Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Jain traditions to the U.S. How do South Asian Americans weigh in on the religious controversies of the U.S.? Diana Eck of Harvard University is Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies, Fredric Wertham Professor of Law and Psychiatry in Society, Master of Lowell House, and Director of The Pluralism Project. Cosponsored by the South Asian Studies Forum.

LEARN MORE
VIEW video of this event

Sound and Spirit

Wednesday, October 24 @ 7pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

An improvisational dialogue and listening journey with the Sacred Singing Group, BoneSong, which included Clark V&PA professor, Valerie Claff. Inspired by a variety of indigenous musical traditions, early polyphonic sacred song, sounds of nature and their Earth-based spiritual paths, BoneSong weaves improvisational soundscapes with voice, drum and simple instruments. Hear a recording of Bonesong

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Power | October 29-December 11

The question of power lies at the heart of dialogue. Where does power lie in our culture, in both its outer and inner dimensions, and how does that shape the possibilities for dialogue? How do we, through dialogue, find access to the power of the collective? When do we choose to remain silent? What is the power of silence, and of listening? These and other questions were explored in a range of talks, panels and events.

Don't Just Talk at Someone - Sit There!
Toward Dialogue and Engagement on Global Warming

Monday, October 29 @ 7:30pm
Dana Commons, second floor lounge

To address climate change at all levels of society requires that people become engaged in a conversation about possible solutions, needed support, and different trajectories of our future. Susi Moser invited us into dialogue about global warming, its implications and ways to address it, and about what future we would like to create for ourselves and our children. Moser is a Research Scientist in the Institute for the Study of Society and Environment (ISSE) at NCAR; Visiting Professor at Marsh Institute (AY2007-08), and the editor of Creating a Climate for Change (Cambridge University Press, 2007).

Bridging the Impossible
Confronting Barriers to Dialogue between Germans/Jews/Palestinians

Thursday, November 1 @ 7:30pm
Dana Commons, second floor lounge

The trauma of the Holocaust and the ever-present Palestinian-Israeli conflict make dialogue between Jews and Germans and between Jews and Palestinians extremely difficult, if not impossible. Is it yet possible to bridge ‘the impossible’? Julia Chaitin, Senior Lecturer, Sapir Academic College, Hof Ashkelon, Israel, looked at the barriers that often confound dialogue – such as opposing narratives of the past and present in the Jewish-Palestinian case, and the boundaries of ‘perpetrators’ and ‘victims’ that rigidify relations between Jews and Germans. She then explored techniques that can open up dialogue for deeper understanding of self, and of the other, creating a new way of relating to one’s ‘enemies.’ Following the talk, Thomas Kühne, Strassler Professor in Holocaust History at the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies moderated a panel including Debórah Dwork, Rose Professor of Holocaust History and Director, Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies; Rebecca Phillips, Doctoral Student, Department of Psychology; Srinivasan Sitaraman, Assistant Professor, Department of Government; and Pamela Steiner, Project Director, Inter-Communal Violence and Reconciliation Project, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Cosponsored by the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

LEARN MORE
VIEW video of this event

A Life in Two Genders
Women's Voices: Past and Present / part one

Tuesday, November 6 @ 7:30pm
Atwood Hall

Jennifer Finney Boylan is the author of She’s Not There, the first bestselling book by a transgendered American. By turns hilarious and deeply moving, Boylan’s book examines the territory that lies between male and female, as she did in her talk. A three-time guest of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Jenny has also appeared on Larry King Live, the Today Show, and been the subject of a documentary on CBS News’ 48 Hours. In March of 2007, she played herself on several episodes of ABC’s All My Children. Jennifer Boylan is Professor of English at Colby College in Maine, where she teaches American literature, cultural studies, and fiction writing. Sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Affairs.

LEARN MORE
VIEW video of this event

Regendering History
Women's Voices: Past and Present / part two

Wednesday, November 7 @ 7:30pm
Dana Commons, second floor lounge

Lisa Kasmer, Assistant Professor of English, explored eighteenth-and nineteenth-century women’s history writing, which she argues was one of the greatest intellectual achievements of the time-period. During a time we usually view as particularly bereft of women’s political engagement, women’s histories and historical fiction extended the political and generic possibilities of history writing, or “regendered” history, and, in doing so, attempted to legitimize women’s participation in the public sphere. This writing, then, interrogates both our understanding of gender and of women’s writing in the past. Following the talk, a panel of Clark faculty who research the topic of gender, including Professor Amy Richter (History), Professor Kristen Williams, Professor Valerie Sperling and Professor Srinivasan Sitaraman (all Government) will continue the conversation.

Power, Ethics, Science & Technology at the Dawn of the Nuclear Age
a reading and conversation

Tuesday, November 13 @ 7:30pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

Les Blatt, Professor of Physics, and Gino DiIorio, Associate Professor of Theater, presented excerpts from Michael Frayn’s controversial play Copenhagen, a multi- faceted musing on the enigmatic 1941 meeting of peacetime research colleagues but bitter wartime opponents Werner Heisenberg and Neils Bohr. Between readings, the audience was invited to comment on dilemmas posed by the play, either from historical or contemporary perspectives – or both.

War of the Walls
Examining the Power Relationships Behind Political Street Art in Oaxaca

Thursday, November 15 @ 7pm (reception & exhibition preview 6-7:00)
Dana Commons, second floor lounge

Building on the photographs of Oaxaca’s public protest art taken by photo-journalist Aaron Tukey, a panel of observers and activists, including photographer Aaron Tukey, Clark Geography Professor Dianne Rocheleau, and Elizabeth Kubick of the group Witness For Peace, shared their experiences of the larger ongoing struggle in Oaxaca between the citizens and their government – especially since June of 2006 when simmering tensions erupted during an aggressive police raid on striking teachers. They also pointed toward signs of hope as they envisioned Oaxaca’s journey toward meaningful dialogue and a more just sharing of community power.

Encounter Point
film screening and conversation cafe

Tuesday, November 27 @ 7:30pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

What kinds of power are available to those who have borne the brunt of war and loss? Encounter Point is an award-winning feature documentary that follows a former Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother who risk their lives and public standing to promote a nonviolent end to the conflict. The film explores what drives them and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for grassroots solutions.

Talking about the Subtleties of Power without the Paranoia
Some Feminist Clues

Wednesday, December 5 @ 7:30pm
Jefferson 320

Feminists have done much to make visible the myriad forms that power can take – and the surprising, even intimate, sites where power is wielded. Becoming alert to all the forms and places where power might be wielded can make one see it everywhere, and that in turn can, of course, create barriers to trust. Cynthia Enloe, Research Professor in IDCE and Women’s Studies, lead us in exploring that conundrum, and its relationship to our ability to create and participate in dialogue.

LEARN MORE
VIEW video of this event

Into Great Silence
film screening

Our screening of the film Into Great Silence – originally scheduled for December 11th – has been cancelled.

However, Cinema 320 will be screening the film on the following dates: Tuesday 11/27 @ 7:30, Thursday 11/29 @ 7:30, Saturday 12/1 @ 7:30, Sunday 12/2 @ 1:00.

As a part of The Art and Science of Management, one of the Dialogue courses offered this semester, students facilitated Conversation Cafes on a wide variety of topics, from basketball to reflections on Communism and Free Markets. These cafes were open to anyone who was interested in joining the conversation.

11/4 @ 7:00pm

Alternative Menstrual Products Workshop A presentation by Ann Meyer on the choices available to the modern woman. Open dialogue to follow presentation. Click here for a full description of this event. sponsored by CHOICES Please contact Ann Meyer, ameyer@clarku.edu for more information.

11/4 @ 8:00pm

A Conversation about Racial Identifications It will include thought-provoking discussion about your own racial identity and those of others. Session led by Lauren Smith and Ryan Dougherty. Please contact Lauren Smith, lasmith@clarku.edu for more information.

11/5 @ 4:00pm

Sports Ethics and what the reccurance of sports scandals says about our society.

11/6 @ 5:30pm

Screening of the film 'Crash' followed by a dialogue. Please contact Cassandra Roth, croth@clarku.edu for more information.

11/6 @ 8:00pm

Hosted by Kristen Murphy, Sam Rubin, Sam Shearer.

11/7 @ 9:00am

What Are Your Most Embarrassing Moments? Hosted by Elizabeth Walden, Michelle Fabiaschi, and Liza Lourie.

11/7 @ 2:00pm

A Conversation about College. We will address topics such as what students like and dislike about being at college, things learned from college (academically, socially, globally), and why students chose to come to college. Hosted by Katie McCloskey and Emily Skelton.

11/7 @ 7:00pm

Gender Roles We will highlight the interaction and distinctions between males and females as influenced by their upbringing and society. Hosted by Eva Fang and Sarah
Maloney.

11/7 @ 7:30pm

What Are Your Fears About Your Future? One-hour session led by Avery Goldfarb, Joe Griffin and Lauren Cullati

Spring 2008 Calendar

Difficult Dialogues Symposium
on Climate Change

The issue of climate change or global warming interweaves with all aspects of life on earth. Faced with this emerging planetary challenge, we are called urgently to become knowledgeable of its nature, uncertainties and stakes. In the dialogue symposium this spring, we addressed the issue of climate change so that as a community, we might deepen our factual knowledge of the issue, explore its multi-faceted sources and impacts, look into the risks and responsibilities ahead, and see from a range of perspectives (political, economic, scientific, aesthetic, ethical, literary, musical, spiritual) as we seek solutions.

Over the course of the semester, we offered 17 public events related to issues surrounding climate change: hearing from Environmentalist David Orr who gave our keynote address on the Changing Climate of US Politics; hosting a day-long Focus the Nation teach-in, at which over 20 Clark faculty members presented research from a wide range of academic disciplines; looking at the issue of climate change from an arts perspective with screenings of Art from the Arctic and The Day After Tomorrow, and from Indigenous perspectives with a screening of the documentary Yakoana; hosting a forum with state officials including Congressmen James McGovern and Barney Frank; and holding dialogues about Clark's own commitment to climate change with help from the Clark Sustainability Initiative and members of the Clark community.

Thank you to everyone who particpated in the program this semester – through participation and planning of our symposium events, through teaching and enrolling in Difficult Dialogues courses, and in all the other ways in which our program continues to grow.

photos clockwise from top left: Geography Professor Ron Eastman; Clark student Erica Getto and Director of the Difficult Dialogues initiative Sarah Buie; audience members at the Focus the Nation teach-in; Professor Brian Cook of the Government department

Some Like it Hot . . . but Lots More Don't:
The Changing Climate of US Politics

On Tuesday, January 22nd, Tilton Hall was filled to capacity for the Climate Change symposium's keynote talk by David Orr – Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics, and Chair of the Environmental Studies Program at Oberlin College. His talk was part of the President's Lecture Series at Clark and was cosponsored by the Higgins School of Humanities.

Orr addressed the politics of climate change – in the context of his extensive work on sustainability – and spoke particularly of his involvement in the Presidential Climate Action Project, which has been developed to address "one of the most important challenges facing the 44th President – arguably the most important challenge – the three interrelated problems of climate change, energy stability and national security."

LEARN MORE
VIDEO of David Orr's talk at Clark University

Focus the Nation – 2 day event

On January 30th & 31st, Clark University participated in a nationwide event focused on Climate Change, Focus the Nation – a national teach-in on global warming solutions for America that opened dialogue at over a thousand colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses, to directly engage millions of students and citizens with the nation’s decision-makers.

The 2% Solution – live interactive webcast
Originally aired on Janury 30th, the webcast was a kick-off event for colleges and universities participating in Focus the Nation. The webcast features Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins, green jobs pioneer Van Jones, actor Edward Norton and youth climate leaders discussing global warming solutions.

LEARN MORE
VIDEO of the 2% Solution

Focus the Nation Teach-in

IDCE faculty Jennie Stephens presents during a teach-in session; audience members particpate in a discusssion with one of the faculty panels; faculty panel with professors Ron Eastman (Geography), Jennie Stephens (IDCE), Heidi Larson (IDCE) and Bill Turner (Geography)

On Thursday January 31, Clark University joined over 1,200 other colleges, universities, and schools around the country in a national “teach-in” event on climate change. In a series of sessions throughout the day, twenty-eight Clark faculty members, representing 15 different academic departments, presented and shared insights related to the climate change challenge based on their scholarly perspectives. During each session, faculty presented very briefly (10 minutes or less) and the remaining 30-40 minutes in each session was an open forum for dialogue and interaction among the presenters and the audience.

During the course of the day, over 500 Clark students, faculty, staff and community members participated in the teach-in – a testament to the interest in the topic of climate change, on our campus and beyond.

An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth brings home Al Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue – rather, it is the biggest moral challenge facing our global civilization. Since the film's release in 2006, it has grown in notoriety to be called by some the 'Silent Spring' of our times, and has undoubtedly brought Global Warming and Climate Change to the forefront of global issues.

We presented the film on three consecutive nights as part of the Climate Change symposium, to provide us with a baseline understanding of the science behind this issue. Two of the screenings were followed by Conversation Cafes, and one by a panel discussion with Clark faculty – Karen Frey, Colin Polsky and Bill Turner – who helped clarify information presented in the film and offered updated analysis of the science behind the issue. The event included an open conversation with the audience.

The 11th Hour   film screening & Conversation Cafe

'The 11th Hour' is the last moment when change is possible. The film explores how we’ve arrived at this moment – how we live, how we impact the earth’s ecosystems, and what we can do to change our course. Featuring ongoing dialogues of experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey and sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau in addition to over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders. The 11th Hour is produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. After the screening on February 21st, the film was followed by a Conversation Cafe.

Climate Care: Spirit, Prayer and Song

What makes global warming a moral and spiritual issue? Upon what spiritual resources do we draw for courage, inspiration, and hope as we tackle perhaps the most daunting challenge that human beings have ever faced? On February 26th, we were joined by climate activists, Rev. Fred Small, Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, and Zo Tobi '07 for an evening of conversation, song, and prayerto discuss the spirituality of protecting Creation.

Rev. Fred Small is minister of First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA, and co-chair of Religious Witness for the Earth, a national interfaith network dedicated to public witness on critical environmental issues. The Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Ph.D. is Priest Associate of Grace (Episcopal) Church, Amherst, MA. She has been active in the environmental movement for 20 years and with Religious Witness for the Earth since 2001. Her website is holyhunger.com. Zo Tobi is currently serving the Youth Clean Energy Movement as the Northeast Organizer for the Sierra Student Coalition. Visit his blog at Climate Summer.org

The Day of Listening

The Day of Listening highlights listening as an essential element of effective dialogue. During this semester's Day of Listening event on March 12th, we had the chance to listen together about our individual relationships to the issue of Climate Change. Each one-hour session was hosted by trained faculty, staff and students. The entire Clark community was invited to attend.

The Day After Tomorrow  
film screening & panel discussion

From the director of Independence Day comes a roller coaster ride that boasts pulse-pounding action and special effects. When global warming triggers the onset of a new Ice Age, tornadoes flatten Los Angeles, a tidal wave engulfs New York City and the entire Northern Hemisphere begins to freeze solid. Now, climatologist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid), his son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal) and a small band of survivors must ride out the growing superstorm and stay alive in the face of an enemy more powerful and relentless than any they've ever encountered: Mother Nature!

After the screening on March 13th, a panel of Clark faculty including Scott Hendricks (Philiosophy), Betsy Huang (English) and Stephanie Larrieux (Screen Studies), examined the film as a work of science fiction, and discussed how it represents the issue of Climate Change within the popular media culture.

In Search of the Good Life
panel & dialogue

What constitutes "the good life" in relationship to global warming – personally, for our families, for Clark, for Worcester, for the U.S., for the world? What does it mean in times of deep CO2 reductions? Can we talk about a “good life” in relationship to everyone on the globe, rich and poor? Can we reconcile poverty alleviation (here and in developing countries) with CO2 reduction goals? On March 18th, Halina Brown (IDCE), Philip Vergragt (Marsh Institute) and others joined those gathered in Dana Commons in a conversation based on these questions.

Global Warming and American Politics
panel discussion

The United States is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. If global warming is to be slowed and ultimately halted, the U.S. needs to be a major part of a global move toward more sustainable practices. However, for this to happen will require serious actions by the federal government, which so far has resisted calls for change from scientists, citizen organizations, and other nations. On March 20th, a panel of elected officials including – Congressman James McGovern; Congressman Barney Frank; Kevin Knobloch, President of the Union of Concerned Scientists; and Professor Brian Cook, Government – explored the relationship between domestic politics in the U.S. and the prospects for policy change. What are the factors that have prevented an effective groundswell of political support for action on global warming? How can our domestic political dialogue be altered to make policy change possible? The panel was be moderated by Jim Gomes, Director of the Mosakowski Institute.

Yakoana
film screening & conversation

Yakoana is the authorized documentary of the First World Conference of Indigenous Peoples, held in the jungles of Brazil the week prior to the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992. Numerous tribal leaders from around the world share their understanding of sustainability based on their earth-based spirituality. Following the film, which was screened on March 27th, Rachael Shea (Goddard Library) and Octavia Taylor (Marsh Insitute) led a fire-side conversation about the film and the issues it raises.

The Climate Movement: Diverse Actions, Unified Goals dinner & dialogue

Why did 3,000 students lobby their representatives for clean energy on
capital hill this past November? Why did over 20 people choose to get
arrested in Florida for chaining themselves to coal-fired power plants in
early February, while other people are choosing to leave their urban
lifestyles to build sustainable agriculture-based communities in rural areas? Why are others advocating localized urban farming? Why are some people changing their lightbulbs, while others are going vegetarian?

The movement to address global climate change encompasses a wide range of differing opinions, goals, ideas, and proposed solutions. Some of these solutions emphasize working from within the current political, economic, social and cultural systems. Others argue for the construction of an entirely new kind of society, while still others propose that these two "extremes" are not mutually exclusive and a middle ground needs to be found if the climate movement is to succeed. What will be most effective and successful? Which kinds of action will you put your energy towards? It's our world, let's use dialogue to figure out how we want to transform it. What do you think?

On April 3rd, the Clark Sustainability Initiative hosted this dialogue – with Clark professors from various disciplines, local community activists, students, and others – to think critically about these questions and possible solutions to global climate change. Over 50 people attended.

California Takes on the Challenge of Climate Change
Meeting the State's Energy Needs in a Carbon-Constrained World

On April 8th, Jackalyne Pfannenstiel visited Clark to discuss the issues she faces as Chair of the California Energy Commission. She is a member of the Clark Board of Trustees, and a Clark alumna (Economics ’69). Geller Lecture.

Confronting Climate Change on Campus
Striving for Climate Neutrality at Clark

What steps Clark can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to move toward climate neutrality and to enhance our campus community’s engagement on the increasingly urgent sustainability challenges facing society? Panel participants in the April 9th discussion included: Jennie Stephens (convener and moderator), Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy (ES&P), Department of International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE), Clark University; David Angel, Provost, Clark University; Jim Collins, Vice President for Administration and Finance, Clark University; Dave Schmidt, Campus Sustainability Coordinator, Clark University; Kate DelVecchio, BA/MA student in Environmental Science and Policy, IDCE, Clark University; Mattew Most, ’92, Director, Environmental Policy. Edison Mission Marketing & Trading; Tom Wall, Associate Director of Physical Plant, Clark University; Jackalyne Pfannenstiel '69, Member of the Clark University Board of Trustees, Chairman of the California Energy Commission.

Students respectfully raised difficult questions regarding the University sustainability commitments to the panelists, and a serious engagement on all sides took place.

Art From a Changing Arctic
film screening & conversation cafe

Art from a Changing Arctic was shot between 2003 and 2005 by filmmaker David Hinton, as he traveled 2,500 nautical miles on three expeditions aboard the schooner Nooderlicht, filming artists, scientists and educators exploring the pristine environment of the High Arctic as part of the Cape Farwell project. He documents the artists' responses to the harsh environment, and to the impacts of climate change. Some were inspired to make instant artworks, carving optical ice lenses and cameras, making glacial projections, creating habitable snow-rooms, sketching, drawing and writing, whilst others quietly absorbed their surroundings, producing work on their return home. Following the film on April 17th, members of the Clark faculty including Karen Frey (Geography) and Elli Crocker (Studio Art) joined audience members for a Conversation Cafe.

Cape Farewell brings artists, scientists and educators together to collectively address and raise awareness about climate change. Created by David Buckland, Cape Farewell has led five expeditions into the wild, beautiful and icy High Arctic, a place for artistic inspiration and scientific enquiry. Follow this link to learn more about the organization, the film, and the art.