Eco-Bulletin ~ January 22, 2007

The sixth event in the SLO Green Build Educational “LEARN, BUILD, SAVE” series will be held at San Luis Obispo's Temple Beth David on Wednesday, January 24, from 6-8:30pm. A brief tour of this new facility will take place from 6-6:30 p.m. Temple Beth David is located at 10180 LOVR (Los Osos Valley Road at Foothill) in San Luis Obispo.

The event, entitled "The Sun Also Rises," explores the use of passive solar design principles to achieve building comfort, day lighting & ventilation, in the context of one of San Luis Obispo County's premier examples of sustainable design, the new Temple Beth David. Applying these principles to existing structures to improve comfort and efficiency will also be covered. Presenters will be architect, Polly Cooper, from San Luis Sustainability Group, and Professor Robert Pena from Cal Poly's Department of Architecture.

SLO Stewards maintains trails, creeks, and open space. Work parties go out on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. On Saturday, January 27th, trail work will be done on Felsman Loop at Bishop Peak. To reach the trailhead and meeting place, take Foothill Blvd. west and make a right turn at Patricia Drive. Continue north on Patricia Dr. and the trailhead will be on the left just past Patricia Court. For more information, please call the San Luis Obispo City Parks and Recreation Department at 781-7302.

From director Davis Guggenheim comes the Sundance Film Festival hit, “An Inconvenient Truth,” which offers a passionate and inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it. That man is former Vice President Al Gore, who, in the wake of defeat in the 2000 election, re-set the course of his life to focus on a last-ditch, all-out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change. In this eye-opening and poignant portrait of Gore and his "traveling global warming show," Gore also proves himself to be one of the most misunderstood characters in modern American public life. Here he is seen as never before in the media - funny, engaging, open and downright on fire about getting the surprisingly stirring truth about what he calls our "planetary emergency" out to ordinary citizens before it's too late. "An Inconvenient Truth" will be shown on Monday, January 29th at 7pm in Chumash Auditorium in the University Union. This is a Student Life & Leadership co-sponsored event. For more information, contact Erin Echols via email at eechols@calpoly.edu.

Click here for the film's website.

Dr. Gordon F. Hartman will present two lectures based on his recent article in the Jan/Feb issue of HopeDance magazine: "Converging Ecological Crises: Are We Up to the Challenges?" One lecture will be at Cal Poly on February 2.

The public lecture will be held at 7pm on February 3, at the SLO Library Community Room (Palm St., across from City Hall). Passion for Peace and HopeDance will sponsor Dr. Hartman's lecture. Suggested donation is $5.

If any individual or group is interested in co-sponsoring his lecture and thereby helping to defray his air travel expenses from BC to SLO and return, please contact Richard Krejsa at (805) 544-3399, before January 22.

Click here to read Dr. Hartman’s article in HopeDance.

Global warming poses an overwhelming challenge to all of us, and we need you to respond. The population of the US is only 5% of the world’s population, but we emit 25% of the global warming pollution – putting our planet at risk. Join others to be informed and inspired by solutions that make a difference. HopeDance (http://www.hopedance.org) will present a free screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" at the SLO Public Library on Saturday, February 24 at 6:30pm. Light refreshments will be provided. A panel discussion follows the movie:

- Dave Romero, Mayor, City of San Luis Obispo

- Karen Merriam, Executive Director, Sierra Club ~ Santa Lucia Chapter

- Larry Allen, Director, APCD

- Lisa Quinn, Program Coordinator, SLO Regional Rideshare

Bike, walk, take the bus, or share the ride to this event. As bus service ends before this lets out, a free guaranteed ride home will be available upon request. If you are interested in providing a ride or need a ride please call SLO Regional Rideshare at 781-4362.

Click here for the film's website.