Climate change is focus of areawide series of events

KALAMAZOO—About 20 public presentations and other activities related to climate change are being held on the Western Michigan University campus and in the Kalamazoo community this fall.

Now underway, this series of free public events is part of an interdisciplinary effort to raise awareness about the biological, social, political and economic consequences of climate change as well as the potential responses to these consequences that can be taken.

They are being organized by the WMU University Center for the Humanities, Kalamazoo Nature Center and People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo. Some of the events are included in previously announced lecture series at WMU.

Events

Tuesday, Oct. 1

• "Climate Change, Sustainability, and WMU's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Efforts," by Harold Glasser, WMU executive director for campus sustainability, 7 p.m., Office for Sustainability, WMU.

Thursday, Oct. 3

• "Five Things Everyone Should Know About Climate Change," by Dr. Dave Karowe, WMU professor of biological sciences, 7 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Library.

Thursday, Oct. 10

• Speaker, Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author of "The End of Nature, Notes from the Front Lines of the Climate Fight," 7 p.m., Miller Auditorium, WMU. Registration is required by contacting the University Center for the Humanities at WMU.
• (through Thursday, Oct. 17) "Spare Change: The Art of Climate," art exhibit sponsored by WMU's Environmental Studies Program and Frostic School of Art, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 1206 South Kohrman Hall, WMU.

Tuesday, Oct. 15

• "The Politics of Climate Change," by Dr. Paul Clements, WMU professor of political science, 7 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Library.

Wednesday, Oct. 16

• "Home Energy Efficiency: New Home Construction and Retrofitting Existing Homes," by Community Homeworks and Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, 6 to 8 p.m., Homeworks warehouse, Kalamazoo. Registration is required at habitatkalamazoo.org or (269) 344-2443 ext. 206.

Thursday, Oct. 17

• "A Faith-Based Response to Climate Change," by Cybelle Shattuck with the Rev. John Boley, Kalamazoo Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice, 7 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Library.

Friday, Oct. 18

• Town hall meeting on climate change, with elected officials, sponsored by the WMU Institute of Government and Politics, 7 p.m., 208-09 Bernhard Center, WMU.

Saturday, Oct. 19

• "Public conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change: Toward a Climate Action Plan for Kalamazoo," sponsored by the Kalamazoo Nature Center and Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Kalamazoo Nature Center. Registration is required at naturecenter.org or (269)  81-1574.

Sunday, Oct. 20

• "Home Energy Efficiency: New Home Construction and Retrofitting Existing Homes," by Community Homeworks and Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, 2 to 4 p.m., Homeworks warehouse, Kalamazoo. Registration required at habitatkalamazoo.org or (269) 344-2443 ext. 206.
• "Dirt! The Movie," with panel discussion following each showing, sponsored by the People's Food Co-op and Kalamazoo Film Society, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., the Little Theatre, WMU.

Thursday, Oct. 24

• "Climate Change and the Transition Movement to Resilient Community," by Dr. Tom Small, WMU professor emeritus of English, 7 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Library.

Sunday, Oct. 27

• "Global Warming and Food: A Roundtable Discussing Emerging Alternatives to the Mega-threats of Industrial Food and Agriculture," by Dr. Jim Bingen, Michigan State University professor emeritus of community, food and agriculture; Dr. Ken Dahlberg, WMU professor emeritus of political science; and Dr. Maynard Kaufman, WMU professor emeritus of religion; 2 p.m., People's Church, Kalamazoo.

Tuesday, Nov. 12

• "Divesting from Big Oil: Building the Movement," by Dr. Don Cooney, WMU professor of social work and Kalamazoo city commissioner, 7 p.m., 3301 Friedmann Hall, WMU.