All events are produced by the Sustainable World Coalition in a collaboration with Sunrise Center, as part of the "Caring for Ourselves, Caring for the Planet" series. They take place at Sunrise Center, 45 San Clemente Dr., Suite 200, Corte Madera, CA (Marin County). Events are from 7:30-9:30 unless otherwise noted.

No more events are scheduled at present.

June 25, 2003

Hydrogen One:
The Answer to the Sustainable Energy Revolution

Hydrogen is a long term solution to our energy needs. Oil will be depleted within our lifetime. Efforts to achieve our energy goals need to begin now. Mr. Bar-Gadda explains the background of our present energy emergency, covering the impact of global warming and fossil fuel pollution. He concludes with a vision of the future world powered by hydrogen.

Film/Video: Dynamic, inspiring and fast moving documentary that explores alternative fuels and vehicles currently available in the US, Germany, Japan and Canada. This film brings to light the importance of eliminating petrochemical fuel, and features the heads of Rocky Mountain Institute, Worldwatch and other key organizations.

Speaker: Ronny Bar-Gadda has worked with new energy technologies ever since his first job with Exxon (now Exxon-Mobil) where he was Exxon's first manager for the Alternative Energy Production from Biomass Program. At Exxon, Ronny invented the first garbage to gasoline process. He has since started three companies, the latest (Bar-Gadda, LLC) concentrating on his latest invention to produce cheap hydrogen from water.

August 21, 2003

Understanding Global Warming

Global Warming is now known to be causing a great deal of destruction and desertification around the globe, and scientists know that this is only the very beginning: average temperatures have increased only about 1º F, but are expected to rise between 3º and 11º by the end of the century. Computer models indicate tremendous upheaval, and now even indicate the possibility of an ice age within just decades.

Expected effects include: rapidly spreading diseases, plant and animal range shifts and population changes, coral reef bleaching and die-off, heavy snowfalls, downpours and flooding, droughts and fires. There is a lot that can be done, but we must make it a collective priority. Clearly the US administration is not doing so.

Film/Video: Powerful documentary that shows the many destructive effects of global warming in a way that heightens the awareness and increases motivation to insist on solutions.

Speaker: Edward Mainland has been part of the Sierra Club's national Global Warming Forum for the past several years, and served as Vice-Chair, Sierra Club Task Force on Global Environmental Security and Survival. He is a local
advocate for Cities for Climate Protection (International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives), and is a co-founder of Sustainable Novato. He promotes the transition to a cleaner, radically efficient, low-carbon energy economy.

September 30, 2003

Campaign Finance Reform:
Rescuing Democracy from the Hands of Big Money

Many of us are aware of the common practice of large corporate campaign contributions in the expectation of favored treatment by politicians – essentially bribery. The extent of the buy-off is staggering, and until we can reform this process, we will not have a government that truly represents the people or that protects the environment. This is a real “tipping point” issue that will unlock many other needed reforms.

Film/Videos: Two complementary Bill Moyer's documentary videos. The first ("Free Speech For Sale: Taking Back Our Democracy") clarifies how powerful corporations, with large monetary recourses, control legislation, public officials, and voters, thereby stripping us of our democracy and free speech. The second film inspires us by demonstrating a constitutional solution to this problem of money and politics.

Speaker: Gary Krane, Fair Elections.

December 9, 2003

When the Whales Stopped Singing:
A Grass Roots Effort to Protect
Sealife from Navy Sonars

At this inspiring and highly informative event, we will present a combination of documentary videos, reports of lobbying, audience question and answer, and storytelling and music.
You will understand the need for the natural quiet of oceans and about the dangers of intense manmade sound,
The presentation will enable you to feel your deep connection with the web of life. From that sense of interconnection, right action to protect the things we love follows naturally. We use art and music to further enhance the experience.

Presenter: George Taylor is co-founder of Seaflow and a long time resident of Marin County, in California. Sheilah Glover, Seaflow board member, is an activist and well-known Marin artist, as a member of Nicholas Glover and Wray, a vocal trio.

May 4, 2004

Protecting the Rainforests & their Custodians, Indigenous Tribes

The rainforests, the lungs of the earth, are absolutely crucial to survival of life on the planet. Home to the greatest biodiversity of plants and animals, much is at stake. Yet they are being destroyed at the breathtaking and incomprehensible pace of a “football field” per second. Oil, timber, mining companies and livestock outfits are all moving in as fast as they can. Protecting the indigenous tribes that inhabit them may be the single most effective strategy.

Speaker: David Tucker, Executive Director of the Pachamama Alliance. David will talk about what can be done based on their own successes in working with the Achuar tribe in the rainforests of Ecuador.

Videos: The Eagle and the Condor