Religious Education ("RE") "...Explore the material and psychological distractions that prevent us from caring for the Earth, and to acknowledge the connection between our lifestyle choices and the condition of the Earth . . . Clarify earth-related values . . .Explore the meaning of sustainability, to consider the ties between lifestyle choices and their impact on the earth . . . Religious education is key to learning about the complexities of the environmental crisis ~ Green Sanctuary Program Manual

December 16, 2012 • Rodd Pemble, Sanitary Services Company Whatcom Waste Reduction and Recycling Rodd Pemble will provide a summary – what’s in place, what’s coming in waste reduction and recycling in Whatcom County. He will also discuss Stewardship (resource management) at BUF – what’s in place, what is possible and BUF Outreach Opportunities – expanding the message to Mon-Sat, Smart Trips, etc.

November 18, 2012 • Jeremy Freimund and Victor Johnson, Lummi Dept. of Natural Resources Lummi Water Rights Victor Johnson and Jeremy Freimund from the Lummi Natural Resources Department provided an introduction to the Lummi Nation, an overview of Lummi water rights, and a summary of efforts to resolve conflicts over water allocation on the Lummi Indian Reservation and in the Nooksack River watershed.

November 13, 2012 • "Green Fire" Film Screening and Discussion See the first full-length, high-definition documentary film ever made about legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold and his environmental legacy! Green Fire shares highlights from his extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation and the modern environmental movement. It also illustrates how Leopold's vision of a community that cares about both people and land continues to inform and inspire people across the country and around the world, highlighting modern projects that put Leopold’s land ethic in action in a multitude of ways.

November 11, 2012 • Todd Jones, Whatcom County Agricultural Advisory Committee The Future of Farming in Whatcom County Agricultural has always been a major part of the local economy, but will it continue to thrive in the twenty-first century? Todd Jones has worked in the local agricultural community for 37 years and is currently the longest serving member of the County Council's Agricultural Advisory Committee. He will present his insider's perspective and look at the challenges facing the agricultural community in Whatcom County.

October 21, 2012 • David Culver, GPT EIS Workshop Trainer Writing Effective GPT EIS Scoping Comments David started by discussing the proper technique to writing a substantive comment. After a few minutes discussing terms and answering questions attendees started writing a comment. Members attending the forum took home a draft of their first comment, a list of "101Reasons You Should Be Concerned About Coal Export", a comment writing guide, and an outline to help them write more comments in the future. The scoping period ends January 21st so we need to start writing comments now.

October 7, 2012 • Laura Plaut, Common Thread Farms Connecting Our Youth with Food Laura Plaut is the founder and director of Common Threads Farm, a Bellingham based nonprofit on a mission to connect young people with healthy food through hands-on, seed-to-table educational experiences. Laura will be joining us on October 7th to talk about Common Threads' history and current programs, and also to engage in a discussion on what is happening both locally and nationally to connect with our food sources in ways that support the health of our bodies, our communities, and our environment. Common Thread Farms will also be the social justice recipient on October 14, 2012.

September 16, 2012 • Jill MacIntyre Witt, Climate Reality Project Climate Reality Project and the Gateway Pacific Terminal Jill MacIntyre Witt shared with us the latest Al Gore presentation from the Climate Reality Project in order to bridge the impacts of climate change to N. America's largest proposed coal export terminal. She will provide concrete action steps at both the personal and local level and leave the audience understanding that their actions do matter and that the time is now for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

June 24, 2012 • Ron Quinn, BUF Member "Land Ethics and Unitarian Universalism" (An alternate title would be "How to save the world without making yourself crazy") Much of the discussion of environmental issues focuses on identifying problems, and then solving them. This popular, and populist, approach is usually not reflective, and the policy battles can be exhausting. The ethics of our relationship with nature is an important part of our UU heritage, and it provides a way to weave together our thoughts, impulses and desires regarding the environment. This fabric of belief, reinforced by contemplation and discussion, can be a safety net for earnest environmentalists, and for the environment.

May 20, 2012 • Gigi Berardi, WWU Gigi Berardi's work explores how we think about growing food and choosing the food we eat. For example, in our imagination, we might link good food and fine eating with good farming. But often the way we eat has little to do with the way we think food should be produced (or, the way it actually is produced). For example, our sustainable farms in Whatcom County continue to be threatened by a range of extreme events and by rapid economic changes. Indeed, many farms may be vulnerable, as they operate close to resilience thresholds that threaten their long-term viability. At the government end of the food chain, regulatory and corporate presence can demoralize farmers who are trying to do the right thing—tomato growers do not get paid a cent for flavor, for instance – to the point where well-meaning farmers sometimes give up and do something else with their lives. At the consuming end of the chain, we often let businesses make our decisions about what we buy and eat. Such activity is inevitable as institutions of various sorts become less empathetic and more focused on turning a profit. Berardi's work is about changing the way we think about food, advocating a curiosity about all that is important about food, all that food production entails, and all that food means to our bodies and our lives. It is a story about what is good for our soul, as well as the global political economy. .

April 22, 2012 • Terry Meyer of Cascade Community Wind Company Terry spoke about alternative energy and about his efforts to bring wind power to Whatcom County. Terry also provided BUF with a carbon offset certificate! From Terry: "That Certificate basically confirms that a Megawatt Hour of energy we generated from our turbine was generated on your behalf to offset the carbon and electrical use of that service. We would all like to not be emitting carbon with our regular activities, but we all have cars that burn gas and our electricity is 1/3 from coal. What we can do is make sure that we have done something else that removes or avoids the emission of carbon. That certificate says that about 1000 pounds of carbon were saved by our wind turbine to compensate for the driving and electricity that was required for your service. The certificate's value now is potentially as something to display to remind people that the church takes carbon and renewable energy seriously. I know you recently stopped buying green power, I wanted to give you this (it is worth about $40) to fill the gap until the church can afford to and decides on another carbon mitigation strategy. I don't know what your electrical usage is but if you wanted to see this as only offsetting your electricity, and not congregant's driving, then my guess is it will supply the renewable energy for your church for a couple of months (look at your bill, this is 1000 kWh). This certificate shows that, assuming you stopped PSE's program recently, you have not lapsed in your committement to renewable energy powering your church." Thank you ever so much Terry!! .

April 15, 2012 • Adam Karp, Animal Rights Attorney Adam Karp exclusively practices animal law statewide from Bellingham, Washington. He has been very active in a number of legal arenas promoting animal rights. He will be giving us an introduction to animal law, discussing religious slaughter and the evolution of animal cruelty law in the state of Washington. .

April 1, 2012 • Lindsay Taylor, Program Coordinator, RE Sources Currently, the world's largest coal company Peabody Energy is working with the world's largest cargo terminal operator, SSA Marine, to build North America's largest coal export terminal here in Whatcom County - right in our backyard.  Coal is the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fossil fuel on the planet. Being a gateway for coal export would fly in the face of our region's leadership  in the clean energy economy. Shipping up to a 48 million tons of coal a year to Asia through this port would spread toxic coal dust along the rail lines in across Whatcom County, risk our families' health, pollute our air and water, and continue to stoke the climate crisis. We need to power past coal. We can do better, keeping our local economy strong and  the place we love intact for our families. We won't sell the soul of our community for coal. The costs to our health, quality of life, and our home town is just too high.

February 12, 2012 • Tom Anderson, former general manager of the Whatcom County Public Utility District As a former Whatcom County Public Utility District manager, business owner of Advanced Solar Energy LLC and an active member in Transition Whatcom, Tom has seen where Whatcom County has been, where it is and where it's headed when looking at the issue of energy use and alternatives.

January 22, 2012 • Eric Holt-Giménez, Executive Director for the FoodFirst/Institute for Food and Development Policy In addition to being the Director for FoodFirst/Instititue, Eric is a food system advocate and author/editor on sustainable agriculture. Food Justice describes all those aspects of our food system. It encompasses the environmental, social and economic aspects of a system that impacts everyone, from the small local community to the global community. From sustainable agriculture to farmer and farm worker rights, domestic and international fair trade, Food Justice is a growing and necessary response to saving our planet and ensuring the people of the world have access to healthy food in a way that is economically just. Join us as we take this first, formal step with Community to Community into the world and work of Food Justice. Co-sponsored by Green Sanctuary, Immigration Rights Team and Community to Community

January 15, 2012 • Jean Rogers, Community Food Co-op Farm Fund Whatcom County is fortunate to have a strong local food movement, talented and dedicated farmers, and good growing conditions. At the time, our county faces some unique challenges, as well as issues many communities are facing across the US as we try to build a healthier, more secure relationship with our food systems. This forum will look at barriers our farmers face, and some of the innovative solving going on, both on the farms and in the community. While there are some tough issues, there is great momentum right now, and a whole variety of ways for folks to plug in, as Whatcom County continues to break new ground in sustainable food and farming practices. Sponsored by Green Sanctuary.

December 4, 2011 • ForestEthics with Adam Gaya ForestEthics believes that protecting our planet is everyone's business. Because of our work, environmentally responsible corporations and governments will thrive. Natural systems will be protected, and the people and wildlife that depend on them will prosper. Markets will be more transparent and ethical.

November 20, 2011 • Dr. Kimberly Sandstrom, ND, LMP, Bellingham Natural Family Medicine Health care in the U.S. today is often rushed, impersonal, and cost-prohibitive. The focus of medical visits is on management of diseases and prescription medications rather than on the foundational lifestyle factors that profoundly influence health. What is naturopathic medicine? How are naturopathic physicians trained and what can they do? How are they similar and different from family practice medical doctors and other primary care providers? What role will they likely play in the future of medicine? Hear Dr. Kimberly Sandstrom discuss her perspective as a local naturopathic physician, ask questions, and share your ideas and opinions.

November 13, 2011 • Living Democracy with Michael Lilliquist Explore how large corporations have more rights than American citizens and cities. Examine the way the US constitution allows laws that shift power from real people to "corporate persons" and the impact that has on natural and financial resources of citizens and communities. See how some communities, beginning with tiny, farming communities in Pennsylvania, are fighting back to protect their lives and livelihoods. Hear how Bellingham has joined the battle to protect our natural and financial resources through a new group called the "Living Democracy".

October 16, 2011 • Cathy Lehma, Futurewise How will Whatcom County encourage economic development, provide housing and transportation and protect property rights and natural resources? The Growth Management Act is a action plan that requires the county to look at and address several issues and goals related to current and future land use throughout the county. It requires the county to look at urban sprawl, rural areas, economic development, transportation and a host of other concerns. Cathy Lehman, Whatcom County Chapter Director of Futurewise provided a basic overview of the Growth Management Act and growth management in Whatcom County, including basics like terminology, required planning, a general timeline of pertinent events that got us to where we're at now, and more. Futurewise works to protect forests, farms and shorelines by limiting development on critical rural and resource lands and habitat. It advocates and promotes vibrant, compact, livable development in our urban communities by supporting housing options, transportation choices and smart development patterns. It fosters distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place.

October 2, 2011 • Whatcom Farm to School with Mardi Solomon BUF members explored the many challenges and opportunities the farm-to-school movement faces in the effort to incorporate healthy, fresh, and local food in the public school meal programThe goals of farm-to-school are to improve children's nutrition, support local and regional farmers, boost the local economy, and encourage lifelong healthy eating habits for children and their families. Over 30 million children eat school food five days a week, 180 days per year, and school kitchens have evolved over time to provide these meals efficiently on very tight budgets. School meal programs have become well-integrated with national industrialized food production and delivery systems. To make an impact, the farm-to-school movement must address the existing situation from multiple levels, focusing on infrastructure development for local food production, distribution, and preparation in institutional settings; education of students, families, and cafeteria staff; and policy issues that affect the food system. We will explore some of the complexities of this multi-faceted approach to achieving the seemingly simple goal of making a healthy, fresh, and local school meal available for our kids.

September 18, 2011 • Sustainable Connections with Derek Long, Executive Director "The Challenges and opportunities of building a sustainable local economy and how BUF's membership and active participation in Sustainable Connections contributes to that goal." In keeping with Moving Planet Day, GSP is hoping to host the adult forum class with Sustainable Connections. Hear a brief background on Sustainable Connections as well as how diverse stakeholders such as businesses, government, non profits and the public at large are putting our community in an important leadership position as we attempt to model an economy that serves our community better. Also learn about how over the past several years BUF has implemented programs from the Green Power Community Challenge to Toward Zero Waste to the Community Energy Challenge to save energy to save money and reduce our environmental impact.

March - May, 2011: Northwest Earth Institute Courses: "Discovering A Sense of Place" We had two discussion groups that formed around the NWEI course "Discovering A Sense Of Place." This was a seven to nine session discussion guide focusing on knowing and protecting our place. Discussion course goals included 1) understanding the meaning of a bioregional perspective, and what it would mean to develop 2) considering the benefits of consciously developing an intimate relationship with your place and 3) exploring what it might mean to protect the place where you live. Topics include: A Sense of Place, Responsibility to Place, Knowing Your Bioregion, Living in Place, Mapping Your Place, Building Local Community and Empowerment. About 15 people participated.

March 2, 2011 - March 2011 Water For Life – "Beneath the Salish Sea: An Underwater Odyssey through Puget Sound" Movie Presentation As part of BUF's "March 2011: Water for Life" events in celebration of our water theme for this year and in recognition of World Water day, BUF"s Film night (after the Community Dinner) featured "Beneath The Salish Sea": An Underwater Odyssey through Puget Sound. This film is a spectacular hi-def video tour of the waters around Whidbey. Starting in Holmes Harbor, international cinematographer and marine biologist Florian Graner, filmed the beautiful, the frightening, and the just plain weird denizens of our inland waters. Sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Program and Religious Education. The program was an multigenerational event and was attended by folks of all ages.

Sunday Morning Adult Forum - Fred Berman "Homegrown Security: Agriculture" February 20, 2011 Fred and his wife, Lynne, were early organic farmers before establishing Pastazza restaurant in Bellingham. He is now a coordinator for the Small Farm Program of our state's Department of Agriculture.

"(In) the early '60's I realized that the world was being turned into a poisonous garbage dump. By the time the meek inherited it, it might not be worth inheriting." — Pete Seeger, folk singer and activist "You can't expect people to fight for a cleaner river unless they learn to love it." – Pete Seeger, folk singer and activist This final class focused on Pete Seeger, his music, and his work with the Clearwater cleaning up the Hudson River. Activities included: adding Boats to the Water Mural, the story of Pete Seeger and the Clearwater, writing letters of Commitment and a sing-along with musical assistance from Dan Sobel.

"This we know. The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth... All things are connected like the blood which unites one family... Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth... Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." – attributed to Chief Noah Sealth, Reading 550 in Singing the Living Tradition "We name ourselves after the land we live with. Because, not only are we breathing in, we are also drinking from the water that is flavored by that very land. Whatever is deposited in the soil is in that water is in us. So we are all one thing, and we name ourselves after the place that is our nurturing. That sustains our life." — Ramona Peters, Mashpee Wampanoag artist This workshop's activities included a Meditation for Two Voices, a story about "Mabouya, Chief of the Well," an exercise in water ownership and defining boundaries on our Water Mural.

"Filthy water cannot be washed." – African proverb "There is a silent holocaust occurring around the world caused by lack of water and sanitation. People are dying because the international aid community and national governments are not listening to the poor or looking at the overwhelming evidence. — Barbara Frost, chief executive of WaterAid This workshop will explore the importance and scarcity of clean, fresh water and how we can keep it that way. Activities include a short meditation, an exercise in freshwater scarcity, a game of Turdlywinks and the story "Why Toilets are so Important." We'll be adding signs showing the way to the toilets on our Water Mural.

Anyone who can solve the problem of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes—one for peace and one for science." — John F. Kennedy "Water is life. We are the people who live by the water. Pray by these waters. Travel by the waters. Eat and drink from these waters. We are related to those who live in the water. To poison the waters is to show disrespect for creation. To honor and protect the waters is our responsibility as people of the land." — Winona LaDuke, "Like Tributaries to a River," translated from Anishinaabe by Marlene Stately, The Winona LaDuke Reader, 2002 This workshop's activities include adding Animals to the Water Mural, exploring Water Stewardship and Stewardship Pledge and an Aquifer in a Cup demonstration project.

"For many of us, water simply flows from a faucet, and we think little about it beyond this point of contact. We have lost a sense of respect for the wild river, for the complex workings of a wetland, for the intricate web of life that water supports." – Sandra Postel, Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity "The protection of nature depends on more than the organizational strength of stewardship organizations; it also depends on the quality of the relationship between the young and nature—on how, or if, the young attach to nature. — Richard Louv, author, Last Child in the Woods

"There's a river of my people and its flow is swift and strong." — Pete Seeger, Unitarian Universalist folk singer and activist "Between earth and earth's atmosphere, the amount of water remains constant; there is never a drop more, never a drop less. This is a story of circular infinity, of a planet birthing itself. — Linda Hogan, Northern Lights, Autumn 1990 This workshop's activities include starting the Water Mural, creating Water Poetry, viewing "The Story of Bottled Water" video and making Rain Sticks

Religious Education, Social Justice and Green Sanctuary members are working together to present Gather the Spirit, an eight-session, multigenerational program that teaches stewardship with a focus on water. Stewardship can take many forms: donating money to our congregations and to causes we care about; volunteering to teach, to lead or to physically maintain our congregations; helping to meet the needs of others and protecting our shared resources in our local and global communities. Perhaps, today, there is no more compelling focus for our stewardship than the clean, drinkable water all life on Earth requires. Through a lens both scientific and religious, using activities a wide range of ages can do together, this program addresses the importance of water, the inequity of access to clean water, and actions we can take as Unitarian Universalist stewards.

Green Burial May 2009 May 10, 2009 BUF member Bob Keller conducted this seminar discussing the rationale for green burial compared to other methods of interment or scattering of human remains. Topics included a brief overview of conventional cemetery options, environmental costsof traditional burial practices, ethical/theological issues, currrent legal constraints on human body disposal, the nascent U.S. green burial movement, certification, and the role of Whatocm Land Trust. May 17, 2009 BUF members joined Bob Keller on this follow-up to the Adult RE class for a field trip to Greenacres Memorial Park to meet with the director of that cemetery's green burial program. They learned the rationale, examined equipment, toured the new 2009 site, and learned first-hand how this effort in land restoration and protection will operate in our county. For more information on Greenacres, visit their website at http://www.greenacresmoles.com/greenacres/index2.cfm

On March 7th, GSP brought the "Awakening the Dreamer, Changinge the Dream" symposium to BUF. Although geared toward the UU membership, the event was open to and attended by the general public. The Symposium was composed of astonishing and stunning video segments and profound, interactive exercises with a touch of the UU with music and meditations. The Symposium's structure is built on four key inquiries—all developed for our community to ask: • What's the true state of our modern world? • How do we identify and come to grips with the very assumptions that underlie the way we see the world and our place in it? • How do we open up to new perspectives and possibilities that will form the foundation for a bold new future? • What can each of us do—both individually and cooperatively—to move the world in a new direction? Joined by the Social Justice Committee and the Principles in Action Team, although it was a very long day (we planned the full 8-hour symposium) for both attendees and facilitators, it was well-received.

January 26, 2009 - David Bacon's "Illegal People . . ." Working with the Social Justice Team and Community to Community, GSP supported an event that invited author David Bacon to speak on issues of illegal immigration. An award winning photojournalist who was a union organizer for two decades before he began writing and taking pictures, Bacon examines immigration from the perspective of those whose lives are most affected . . ."All over the world huge streams of migrants are fleeing war, repression, and poverty, journeying from developing countries to the industrial ones of the so-called global north . . . at the same time, the industrial economies have become dependent on the work of migrants, who form a subclass of people working in jobs with the lowest wages, least security, and most dangerous conditions." Bacon examines how corporate interests, government legislation, and economic and trade policy, including the role of NAFTA, have contributed to worker displacement and the denial of immigrant rights to fair wages, housing, health services, and schooling. A traditional mexican dinner was prepared by Las Margaritas, a project of Community To Community and side dishes were provided by Social Justice and GSP. Later, a discussion of immigration issues in our community, a slide show including Bacon's photos and signing of his book, "Illegal People" took place

January thru March 09 - Rise Up and Call Her Name: A Woman-honoring Journey into Global Earth-based Spiritualities During the winter months, several BUF members attended a course entitled "Rise Up and Call Her Name: A Woman-honoring Journey into Global Earth-based Spiritualities that was offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays. "Rise Up" is a multicultural experiential curriculum that provides participants with a unique view of international religious imagery and worldviews, including journeys through Ancient Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, African American, Southeast Asia, China and Japan, Pacific Islands, Mesoamerica and North America. The course is made up of thirteen 2-1/2 hr segments that include a variety of activities such as singing, dancing, rituals, simple art projects, sharing of information and feelings, storytelling, and more. Thanks to Elizabeth Fisher and company for putting together the curriculum, it's been an enlightening journey and highly recommended for both men and women. Although the classes have ended, several of the participants are continuing their journey as a group continuing to explore the goddessess, conduct celebrations and other activities.

October 23, 2008 - "Solar in Bellingham" with Dana Brandt Owner of Ecotech Energy Systems in Bellingham, Dana Brandt reviewed the basics of: How solar energy works; Why it works in Bellingham; What it costs; What the new financial incentives are; and took us on a virtual solar tour of local installations. Dana Brandt has a wide range of renewable energy experience. He holds a Master of Science degree in Renewable Energy and has been involved in renewable energy projects in eight countries on five continents. He is also active in the emerging field of microgrids and distributed generation.

September-October 2008: "Menu for the Future" course by the Northwest Earth Institute.

September 15, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m - "Food Consersations" The new UUA Congregational Study/Action Issue for 2008 – 2012, selected at General Assembly, is "Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice." The Green Sanctuary Program Team felt the issue of eating locally takes a big priority in our combating a myriad of environmental and social issues. For this reason we, chose the month of September for "Local Foods and Food Security." As a part of that effort, we invited BUF members and members from the greater community to join us for a short film "The True Cost of Food" and tackled questions the film raised. About 30 people attended this event.

April 20, 2008 - BUF's Second Earth Day Celebration - We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For BUF's Second Earth Day celebration included William Scarvie, a UU member very familiar with David Korten and his works, conducting a service entitled "We are the Ones We've Been Waiting For." After the service, there was a delicious Earth Day Potluck. About 1:00 pm, Mr. Scarvie conducted the "Change the Story, Change the Future" workshop. "A three-fold crisis looms before us. Today's parents of young children will almost certainly experience the effects of global climate disruption in their lifetime. They will also almost certainly suffer the catastrophic economic consequences of dwindling resources and a possible collapse of the US dollar. Given our grim prospects, is there any hope? The Chinese ideogram for crisis has two components, the characters meaning danger and opportunity. What opportunities exist to shape a positive future for our children and grandchildren? What actions can we take now that will improve the likelihood that their lives will be prosperous, secure and meaningful? What is the role of religious communities in this great work? Inspired by David Korten's recent book, The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community, this workshop will explore these questions through introspection, intimate conversation and group discussion."

March 7, 2008 - Applachacian Treasures BUF's Social Justice Committee and the Green Sanctuary Program helped Whatcom Human Rights Task Force and Re Sources sponsor a program by "Appalachian Voices" entitled "Appalachian Treasures." Launched by Appalachian Voices in March 2005, the Appalachian Treasures project is a national campaign to end the suffering and devastation that mountaintop removal coal mining has brought to the land and communities of Appalachia. Appalachian Voices has sent a full time field organizer out on the road, along with volunteers from Appalachia's coalfields, and together they are traveling the country building a national network of people who will work together to end mountaintop removal. At the heart of this effort is "Appalachian Treasures," a multimedia presentation that features photos that capture the beauty of Appalachia along with disturbing shots of flattened moonscape mining sites, voice recordings of neighbors and friends recounting the daily struggles of life in the coalfields, and traditional music of Appalachia. This amazing presentation leaves a powerful, lasting impression of the beauty and the richness of the culture and heritage of Appalachia, as well as the needless devastation caused by mountaintop removal coal mining.

February 3 & 10, 2008 -"Digital Dump: Exporting Reuse and Abuse to Africa" The photo-documentary report entitled " The Digital Dump: Exporting High-Tech Re-use and Abuse to Africa," exposes the ugly underbelly of what is thought to be an escalating global trade in toxic, obsolete, discarded computers and other e-scrap collected in North America and Europe and sent to developing countries by waste brokers and so-called recyclers. In Lagos, while there is a legitimate robust market and ability to repair and refurbish old electronic equipment including computers, monitors, TVs and cell phones, the local experts complain that of the estimated 500 40-foot containers shipped to Lagos each month, as much as 75% of the imports are "junk" and are not economically repairable or marketable. Consequently, this e-waste, which is legally a hazardous waste is being discarded and routinely burned in what the environmentalists call yet "another "cyber-age nightmare now landing on the shores of developing countries."

" Most citizens, governments and businesses have blinders on concerning sham reuse and recycling of their e-waste. "The Digital Dump" rips those blinders away. Save your breath. Show the film. Then talk. You will have instant allies asking honest questions. That's how change happens." -- Sego Jackson, Principal Planner, Snohomish County, Washington

"Digital Dump pinpoints the horrific impact to human health and the environment in developing countries that results from illegal exports and exploitative practices purveyed by certain segments of the electronics recycling industry today. The right information can help us all make the responsible decision with our e-waste, and Digital Dump delivers just that." -- James W. Kao, President and CEO of GreenCitizen Inc.

November 27, 2007 - "The Great Turning" Video Review and Discussion The Great Turning makes the case that we humans are a choice making species that at this defining moment faces both the opportunity and the imperative to choose our future as a conscious collective act. We can no longer deny the need nor delay our response. A mounting perfect economic storm is fast approaching. A convergence of climate change, peak oil, and the financial instability inherent in an unbalanced global trading system will bring an unraveling of the corporate-led global economy and a dramatic restructuring of every aspect of modern life. "The Great Turning" video was viewed and a discussion, facilitated by Rebecca Cors, was held after the viewing.

October & November 2007 - Climate Change: Changing CO2urse

1. Off Course: Communities around the world are experiencing the effects of global warming. This session explores personal responses to climate change and why society has been slow to respond.
   
   
2. Collision Course:  To better understand the complexities of global warming, this session breaks down the history and science of global climate change and identifies our participation in this ecological crisis.
   
   
3. Changing Course:  Although global warming is a daunting issue, there are accessible and significant actions we can all take. This session explores new strategies for addressing climate change and considers personal action to mitigate the effects of global warming.
   
   
4. Setting a New Course: What will it take to create a sustainable future? Explore our individual and collective power to shape an effective response to climate change, enabling future generations to meet their needs.

"An Inconvenient Truth" Workshop - September 25, 2007, 7:00 p.m. Even having watched the Academy Award winning film "An Inconvenient Truth", we learned more about global climate change when Katie Fleming, RE Sources Education Coordinator, delivered an updated version of the slide show at BUF on September 25th. She addressed current research, information about our region, and most importantly, ways in which you can be a major part of the solution to the growing crisis of global warming. Katie is one of 1,000 international "Climate Change Messengers" for The Climate Project. It was well-attended and very informative. Thanks Katie!