Sunday, June 05, 2011

Energy (and Other) Events - June 5, 2011

Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston area that catch the editor's eye.

Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.

If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events email gmoke@world.std.com

My notes from three recent presentations on the Arab Spring are at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/13/975618/-Notes-on-the-Arab-Spring

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The FuturICT Flagship - A talk with Prof. Dirk Helbing
what Discussion, Workshop
when 2011-06-06 from 18:00 to 20:30
where swissnex Boston, 420 Broadway, 02138 Cambridge, MA
contact name Sabine Ledermann
contact email sabine@swissnexboston.org

Discover an European Platform to mitigate techno-socio-economic crises!
Today, we know more about the universe than about our society. It's time to use the power of information to explore social and economic life on Earth and discover options for a sustainable future. Together, we can manage the challenges of the 21st century, combining the best of all knowledge. Please join us for a unique and fascinating lecture about the future with modern information technology with Prof. Helbing*.

The ultimate goal of the FuturICT flagship project is to understand and manage complex, global, socially interactive systems, with a focus on sustainability and resilience. Revealing the hidden laws and processes underlying societies probably constitutes the most pressing scientific grand challenge of our century and is equally important for the development of novel robust, trustworthy and adaptive information and communication technologies (ICT), based on socially inspired approaches.
Integrating ICT, Complexity Science and the Social Sciences will create a paradigm shift, facilitating a symbiotic co-evolution of ICT and society. Data from our complex globe-spanning ICT system will be leveraged to develop models of techno-socio-economic systems. In turn, insights from these models will inform the development of a new generation of socially adaptive, self-organized ICT systems.

FuturICT as a whole will act as a Knowledge Accelerator, turning massive data into knowledge and technological progress. In this way, FuturICT will create the scientific methods and ICT platforms needed to address planetary-scale challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. Specifically, FuturICT will build a sophisticated simulation, visualization and participation platform, called the Living Earth Platform. This platform will power Crisis Observatories, to detect and mitigate crises, and Participatory Platforms, to support the decision-making of policy-makers, managers, and citizens.
Swiss style reception to follow.

Please R.S.V.P., seats are limited!

*Dirk Helbing was born on January 19, 1965. He studied Physics and Mathematics, but was always interested in other fields of science as well. In the year 2000, he became Professor and Managing Director of the Institute for Transport & Economics at Dresden University of Technology, and in 2007 he was appointed Professor of Sociology, in particular of Modeling and Simulation, at ETH Zürich. Since 2008, he is elected member of the German Academy of Sciences "Leopoldina".
More than 200 publications in different scientific fields, 300 talks and more than 300 reports in the public media reflect his wide field of interest, reaching from traffic science over crowds and disaster management to biologically inspired logistics. He also had projects with Xerox PARC, Volkswagen, SCA Packaging, Siemens, PTV, further companies, and various foundations.

Helbings's team developed a traffic assistance system and patented the principle of a self-organized traffic light control, which implements massively parallel, decentralized control concepts for the optimization of traffic flows. The resulting increase of performance and the higher flexibility are based on latest developments in the understanding of complex systems. Companies and societies are other examples of such complex systems. This is also the reason why Dirk Helbing is interested in sociology.
Apart from developing information portals to accelerate scientific innovation, he is particularly interested in techno-social systems, which will determine the future of Web2.0. Furthermore, he is the chairman of the newly established ETH Competence Center "Coping with Crises in Complex Socio-Economic Systems", which will develop computer models of crisis scenarios and finally provide decision support for politics and economy.

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*Skillshare: Time Banking in the Time Trade Circle****
Monday, June 6
6-8:30PM*
The NonProfit Center by South Station
Looking for an alternative economy? Need a ride to the airport, help with your garden or a massage? This workshop will talk about time banking - exchanging services based on time - and tell you all about the Time Trade Circle (TTC), a local time bank with 800+ members all over the greater metro-Boston and Eastern-Mass area. The workshop will explain how to join if you are interested, and forms will be available. I'll explain how time banking is different from bartering, how our local Time Trade Circle time bank works, what kinds of services people trade, and how members participate through their online account.
www.TimeTradeCircle.org
*Learn more and RSVP:** *http://www.sojust.org/events/17664391/* *(bring your own dinner)

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New England Wind Energy Education Project (NEWEEP) Conference/Workshop Volunteer Opportunities

June 07, 2011 8:00a–8:00p

The conference/workshop will focus on presenting balanced information relevant to issues of importance to individuals and communities affected by wind energy proposals throughout New England, including environmental and economic benefits as well as siting concerns. Our goal is to ensure that participants know where to go to obtain the latest research, identify areas where more research is needed, and identify strategies for continuing the NEWEEP effort.

This one-day conference/workshop will start with presentations and discussion panels. In addition, facilitated breakout sessions will allow participants to collectively brainstorm issues associated with wind development, siting, and permitting, and to identify areas where more credible research is needed and how to oversee and fund it.

NEWEEP's premise is that wind energy has benefits and that responsibly-sited wind power has a role to play in New England, but, not every place is the right place for wind generation. NEWEEP's mission is to seek and make available the best information possible to support good decisions.

Category: lectures/conferences

Location: Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough, MA

Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events

Admission: Open to the public

For more information: Contact Kathryn Craddock

kcraddock@seadvantage.com

http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/newengland/neweep/index.asp

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The benefits of Facebook “Friends”: The social capital implications of Facebook-enabled communication practices
Nicole B. Ellison, Dept. of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, Michigan State University
Tuesday, June 7, 12:30 pm
Berkman Center, 23 Everett Street, second floor
RSVP required for those attending in person to Amar Ashar (ashar@cyber.law.harvard.edu)
This event will be webcast (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast) live at 12:30 pm ET and archived on our site shortly after.

This talk will provide an overview of research exploring the social capital implications of social network site use. Specifically, I will report on new research that attempts to identify specific Facebook-enabled behaviors that contribute to users’ ability to access diverse perspective, novel information, and social support. This research explores the link between bridging social capital levels and Facebook-related factors such as time on site, the number of Facebook Friends, and a set of behaviors we call “Cultivation of Social Resources.”

About Nicole
Nicole Ellison is an associate professor in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media. Her research explores issues of self-presentation, relationship development, and identity in online environments such as online dating and social network sites. Nicole received her Ph.D in Communication Theory and Research from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California in 1999. Currently she is exploring ad-hoc collaboration in social network sites, for a project funded by the National Science Foundation, and perceptions regarding the acceptability of profile discrepancies in online dating profiles. Her previous research has examined the formation of virtual communities and the ways in which telecommuters use information and communication technologies to calibrate the permeability of their work/home boundaries, as explored in her 2004 book, Telework and Social Change. Her work has been published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Communication Research, and the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Representative publications can be found on her publications page: https://www.msu.edu/~nellison/pubs.html. Nicole will be a visiting researcher at Microsoft Research New England, working with danah boyd, in the Spring of 2010 and at the Oxford Internet Institute the following Fall.

Links: http://tism.msu.edu/users/nicole-ellison

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Come out tonight for a free screening of the documentary "Who killed the electric car?"
& learn how to make a difference!
Help us kick off the EVboston Initiative with a free screening of, "Who killed the electric car?"
What is EVBoston?
The EVboston initiative is a series of programs aimed at preparing for the growth of the electric vehicle market in the region. Expanding use of traditional gasoline vehicles is a major cause of both local and global pollution. Locally, exhaust fueled air pollution is a public health hazard—decreasing the quality of life for Boston residents and visitors.
When: Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Where: Boston Common- Parkman Bandstand
Time: 8 pm
Contact: Boston Transportation Dept. Rachel Szakmary, 617-635-2755

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Hello friends,

I want to invite you to a FREE conference call with renowned soil biologist and permaculture instructor Larry Korn (www.larrykorn.net) and myself. We're going to be giving a talk on the power of permaculture design, our trainings and spending much time answering questions (so come prepared to ask them!)

If you're thinking about joining us for one of our upcoming trainings, this is a great opportunity to engage with the program co-facilitators and to learn the basics about permaculture and our trainings.

When: Wednesday, June 8th @ 6PM Pacific
Where: Conference call
Cost: FREE [Space is limited - please sign up early]
Sign up to get access to the call and recording of the call:
--> http://commoncircle.com/marketer/link.php?M=6340938&N=99&L=28&F=T

Larry Korn is an educator, consultant, editor and author in the fields of permaculture, natural farming, sustainable landscaping and local food production. Larry is the primary instructor for Common Circle Education Oregon Permaculture Design and Regenerative Leadership Trainings.

After completing his BA degree in Asian Studies at University of California Berkeley, Larry traveled to Japan to see first hand what life was like in Asia. He lived and worked on communes and traditional farms in the Japanese countryside. Among other rural farms, Larry spent several years with Masanobu Fukuoka, a farmer and philosopher, on Shikoku Island. Mr. Fukuoka developed a special no-till way of farming to demonstrate the practical value of his spiritual principles. Larry returned to the United States and helped translate and edit Mr. Fukuoka’s book, The One-Straw Revolution, which was published by Rodale Press in 1978.

Vladislav Davidzon is a social entrepreneur with well over a decade of experience launching innovative social change brands challenging the very boundaries of sustainable design and permaculture. Having studied with some of the world's most renowned instructors, including Bill Mollison, Marshall Rosenberg, Starhawk and Joanna Macy, Vladislav integrates a diverse range of incredible teachings into his work designing and facilitating the Common Circle Education trainings.

When: Wednesday, June 8th @ 6PM Pacific
Where: Conference call
Cost: FREE [Space is limited - please sign up early]
Sign up to get access to the call and recording of the call:
--> http://commoncircle.com/marketer/link.php?M=6340938&N=99&L=28&F=T

We hope you will be able to join us for this call!

Much gratitude,

Vladislav Davidzon, Founder/CEO

--
Common Circle Education
1-800-376-3775 // www.commoncircle.com
14525 SW Millikan Way, Suite 17760, Beaverton, OR 97005
Love us on Facebook:
http://commoncircle.com/marketer/link.php?M=6340938&N=99&L=29&F=T

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Financing Innovative Clean Energy Technologies
Thursday, June 09, 2011 from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (ET)
Boston, MA

Finance Series Event #5: “Financing Innovative Clean Energy Technologies”
Date: June 9, 2011
Time: 8:00-8:30am – Breakfast and Networking
8:30-10:00am – Panel Discussion
Location: Goodwin Procter, 53 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Cost: Council Members and Sponsors: FREE
Non-Members: $40.00

Description:
For clean energy companies, conventional financing is often unavailable when deploying innovative technologies. Even with government grants, tax incentives, and loan guarantees, innovative technologies often must pursue joint ventures, strategic investors, or projects with specific vendees or stakeholders. Finding the right strategic partner is challenging, and companies then face another hurdle to structure their deal and allocate risk between the parties. Yet, these barriers must be surpassed in order for companies to demonstrate the feasibility of their technologies at scale.
Join us as our panels of experts take a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities for clean energy companies in deploying innovative technologies.
• What factors determine the allocation of risk between strategic partners? What current trends are emerging?
• What role does venture capital play in financing the deployment of innovative technologies?
• Can federal and state funds help bridge the gap? What role can government and non-profit groups play in match-making strategic partnerships?

Moderator:
Peter Rothstein, President, New England Clean Energy Council
Peter is President of the New England Clean Energy Council and has many years of venture, entrepreneurial, executive and deal experience across the cleantech venture market. Previously, Peter was part of the Flagship Ventures team, a leading seed and early stage venture capital firm in Cambridge Massachusetts, and founder of Allegro Strategy, a consultant, advisor and interim executive with early-stage cleantech start-ups. Peter has been in early-stage deal or executive roles with a number of cleantech companies, including Mascoma, Planar Energy Devices, Ze-gen, Novomer, Boston-Power, and Mechanology. Peter is actively involved in a range of leading cleantech and entrepreneurial organizations, including the National Renewable Energy Lab’s VC Advisory Board, catalyst to MIT Deshpande Center solar and energy storage MIT projects, and a Board member of the Cleantech Open.

Panelists:
Robert M Day, Partner, Black Coral Capital
Rob Day is a Partner with Black Coral Capital, based in Boston. He has been a cleantech private equity investor since 2004, and acts or has served as a Director, Observer and advisory board member to multiple companies in the energy tech and related sectors, currently including Digital Lumens (www.digitallumens.com), Next Step Living (www.nextsteplivinginc.com), Powerit Solutions (www.poweritsolutions.com), and Zeta Communities (www.zetacommunities.com).
Rob serves as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Clean Economy Network Education Fund (www.ceneducationfund.org), and also is the Chairman of the Cleantech Open – Northeast Region. Rob was previously a co-founder of the Renewable Energy Business Network, a non-profit organization which was acquired in 2009 by the Clean Economy Network. Since 2005 he has also authored the website Cleantech Investing (www.cleantechvc.com), which currently appears on GreentechMedia.com.

R.J. Lyman, Partner, Goodwin Procter
R. J. Lyman is a partner at Goodwin Procter. He represents clients in all aspects of commercial real estate and renewable energy project development, including site acquisition, project permitting, debt and equity financing, and property disposition. Mr. Lyman began his career as a project manager at a consulting engineering firm representing independent power producers and other energy and commercial developers. He has also served as a government policy maker, as Massachusetts Assistant Environmental Secretary. Mr. Lyman earned his B.A. from Harvard University and his J.D. from Vermont Law School.

Kim Stevenson, Manager, New Technologies, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
Kim evaluates proposals and develops and manages programs to support development and commercialization of new clean energy technologies. She has spent over 15 years in innovation and technology management, working with the senior management of Fortune 500 corporations and smaller organizations to conceive, develop and commercialize new products and services focused on energy, industrial and automotive markets. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and a Master of Science degree in urban planning, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Farm Bill Forum

A Presentation & Discussion with Congressman McGovern and the Worcester Food & Active Living Policy Council

The Farm Bill is scheduled to be reauthorized in 2012, but organizing and advocacy has already begun!

The Farm Bill has international, national, and local impacts, including whether our food is nourishing and affordable, what assistance our society provides to feed hungry people, and what crops farmers grow under what conditions. Come learn about the Farm Bill and what we can do locally to advocate for the best possible Farm Bill to support Worcester and Central Massachusetts!

Thursday, June 9th 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Worcester Public Library
Saxe Room

Open to the Public, please RSVP to Liz Sheehan Castro
hungerfree@worcesterfoodpolicy.org
508-757-5631 ext. 304

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Thursday, June 09, 2011
The First Week in Space
Speaker: Dr. Paolo Zuccon, University of Perugia, Italy
Time: 11:00a–12:00p
Location: MIT 26--414, Kolker Room
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Laboratory for Nuclear Science
For more information, contact:
Miller, Randyn
617-253-2395
randyn@mit.edu

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Blogging While Brown Boston Meetup
Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 5:30 PM (ET)
Cambridge, MA

Event Details
The purpose of Blogging While Brown is to give Bloggers of Color an opportunity to meet each other for the first time, discuss current issues affecting Bloggers of Color, and learn about the latest technology that will assist them with publishing their work.
The Blogging While Brown Boston Meetup will provide an opportunity for local bloggers in the Greater Boston Area to meet, connect, and further the development of their respective blogs.
This event is open to everyone and FREE to attend!
Agenda
5:30 - 6:00 Connect
6:00 - 7:00 Introductions and updates (everyone gets 3 minutes to introduce themselves, their blog, any current needs, and a goal to meet by our next meetup)
7:00 - 8:00 Guest Speaker and Discussion (TBD)
8:00 - 9:00 Connect

For additional information about the event or if you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact: Atinuke Diver at tinu@yesweretogether.com.
Twitter Hashtag: #BWBBOS
RSVP at http://bwbbos.eventbrite.com/

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June 10, 2011
New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable:
Better Integrating Policy, Planning, and Electricity Markets in New England

Raab Associates presents:
The 123rd NE Electricity Restructuring Roundtable
Date: Friday, June 10, 2011
Time: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Foley Hoag LLP
155 Seaport Boulevard, 13th Floor
Boston, MA 02210

June 10, 2011
New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable
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Better Integrating Policy, Planning,
and Electricity Markets in New England

New England has spent nearly two decades restructuring its electric utility industry, and developing more competitive market structures, ostensibly to bring enhanced benefits to customers. During the same time period, federal, state, and even local governments have developed a multitude of energy policies to encourage the development of particular resources, such as energy efficiency, demand response, and renewable energy (think RPS, energy efficiency and renewable energy system benefit charges, demand response initiatives), while discouraging other resources (think RGGI, various environmental regulations, etc.). Other types of policies and planning frameworks impact the choice between building more wires or more resources. Some states are even putting out RFPs to develop very specific types of resources. This Roundtable will explore the tensions between the desire for both workable markets and a variety of public policy objectives, and will consider how we can move forward to forge a more workable system here in New England.

Our first panel takes a step back from the specific struggles within New England to explore how these issues are playing out on the ground nationally, providing some bold ideas for New Englanders to consider. Former FERC Commissioner Nora Brownell will kick off the panel by discussing how markets can successfully accommodate a wide range of policy/planning objectives. Rich Sedano, Principal at the Regulatory Assistance Project, will share work RAP is currently undertaking to redefine the way markets and policy/planning should be integrated in pursuit of "Responsive Resources." Finally, Mauricio del Valle, Vice President, Global Power and Utility Group, Morgan Stanley, will provide some reality-testing from Wall Street about what's actually needed from markets and policy to get energy projects funded and built.

Our second panel focuses specifically on the current situation in New England, and offers some thoughts on what we should do over the next five to ten years to better integrate electricity markets and policy/planning. Leading off the panel will be Gordon van Welie, President/CEO of ISO New England, which is responsible for keeping the lights on and operating the markets in the face of increasing complexity. Massachusetts DPU Chair Ann Berwick will provide a state regulatory perspective, followed by Daniel Weekley, Vice President of Government Affairs at Dominion Resources, who will provide a generator perspective (and reflect on Dominion's just-announced decision to close Salem Harbor). Rounding out the panel will be Mary Healey, Consumer Counsel for the State of Connecticut and immediate past president of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates.

The Restructuring Roundtables are free and open to the public. Advanced registration is not required.

The Restructuring Roundtable has been meeting bimonthly since 1995, to discuss current topics related to revolutionary changes in the electric power industry in Massachusetts and throughout New England. It is supported by over 25 generous sponsors.

Jonathan Raab, Ph.D, moderator of the Roundtable, is president of Raab Associates, Ltd, a Boston-based mediation and facilitation firm specializing in energy and environmental issues. He also teaches the sustainable energy policy class at MIT.

Raab Associates, 118 South St. 3A, Boston, MA 02111
tel. 617-350-5544 fax 617-350-6655
http://www.RaabAssociates.org

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Greater Boston Connected and Consequential Conference: June 10, 11 and 12
June 10 & 11 Egan Center, Northeastern University
June 12 Design Studio for Social Intervention?

A place for artists and other creative thinkers and practitioners to gather and explore the intersection of art and other fields, including Health, Nature, Consumption and Justice. Through case studies and moderated discussions, conference participants will?learn how artists and their collaborators are using their creativity and finely honed skills to intervene in the major issues of our time to produce positive social outcomes.? The proceedings will focus on the best ways to develop successful?"integrated or hybrid?practices", including the role of collaboration, research, technology and sustainability.

The conference is free, but please pre-register online at
http://www.artistsincontext.org/index.php/connected-a-consequential/greater-boston/greater-boston-conference.html

Friday, June 10 at Northeastern University, Egan Center,120 Forsyth Street,
Boston, MA 02115
6:30-8:30 p.m. Stories from the Field, with artists and community practitioners Gail Burton, New Freedwoman Project; Michael Dowling, Medicine Wheel Productions; Mariama White-Hammond, Project Hip Hop; Andi Sutton, National Bitter Melon Council; John Osorio-Buck; moderated by Kenneth Bailey, Design
Studio for Social Intervention

Saturday, June 11 at Northeastern University, Egan Center,120 Forsyth Street, Boston, MA 02115
8:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Introductory Remarks and Video, Marie Cieri and Louisa McCall, Artists in Context

9:15 a.m. Jeremy Nobel, Art and Healing
Jeremy Nobel is an Adjuncy Lecturer on Health Policy and Management Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health and President and Founder, Foundation for Art and Healing

9:30-10:30 a.m. Case Study: SUGAR and Story Circles with artist Robbie McCauley
Moderated by Jeremy Nobel, the discussion of story circles and their impact on diabetics, attitude, care-taking and healing will include Sharon Jackson, Mattapan Community Health Center, and Kathryn, a story circle participant. The case study will also examine how community interest and desire for this type of engagement are determined.

10:35-11:35 a.m. Case Study: Ideas Team with Artistic Director of Artlink, Edinburgh, Alison Stirling, and artists Kelly Dobson, Steve Hollingsworth and Wendy Jacob
How can people with profound developmental disabilities inform an artistic process? How do you bring people together to further inform and realize these ideas? In February, a group of artists, engineers, arts administrators and case workers met in Edinburgh to discuss the creation of a center part ideas laboratory, part university and part day center where individuals from across a range of abilities and disciplines could collaborate on creative projects that challenge normative ways of communication and being in the world. The aim of the center is to use the most cutting edge ideas for the most disadvantaged people.

11:45-12:30 p.m. Open Time networking and resource tables

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch, Judy Meredith, Institute for Public Policy
Negotiating Change with Power

1:30-2:30 p.m. Case Study: Crossing the Rubicon: On Contamination, Tragedy and the Possibility of New Cultures with Dan Borelli, artist; Gavin Kroeber, producer; moderated by Marie Cieri, Artists in Context Environmental contamination may be perpetrated by specific individuals and corporations, but the cultural conditions that permit such disregard are
collectively produced.? Starting from the environmental and social histories of Ashland, MA and the Nyanza EPA Superfund site that it is home to, this talk explores the possibility of an artwork that can trace a society?s failure to address its own excesses, honor the victims and heroes of this history, and finally lay the ground for a fundamentally more complex relationship within our community.

2:35-3:35 p.m. Case Study: The Story Behind with Mario E. Quiroz-Servellon, artist; Franklin Soults, Communications Director, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee and Advocacy Coalition; moderator TBD

3:45-5:00 p.m. Wrap Up Community Discussion

5:00-6:00 p.m. Open Time networking and resource tables

Sunday, June 12 at the Design Studio for Social Intervention, 1946 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (entrance on Thorndike Street)
10:30-1:00 p.m. Conference reflections, discussion and networking

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Come Celebrate Magazine Beach
Saturday, June 11
9 am to 3 pm

9am to 12 pm Cleanup: Meet at Riverside Boat Club (across from Starbucks)
12 pm to 2 pm Picnic/Potluck/Barbecue with music by Best Ever Chicken (behind DCR swimming pool)
1 pm to 3 pm Learn to Row at Riverside Boat Club
RSVP for clean up at lcw@thecharles.org
For further information, including rain date updates (rain date is Sunday, June 12), go to http://www charlesriverconservancy.org, http://www.riversideboatclub.com, or contact Cathie Zusy at cathzusy@gmail.com or 617-868-0489

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Upcoming

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Science in the News Spring Lectures — The War on Cancer: Where We Are in the Battle, and Why We Haven’t Won
WHEN Wed., June 15, 2011, 7 – 9 p.m.
WHERE Pfizer Lecture Hall, Department of Chemistry, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Lecture, Science
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Harvard Science in the News
COST Free
NOTE Join Science in the News for a series of provocative and fascinating talks! Science in the News is a graduate student organization dedicated to science outreach for the general public. Speakers for our lecture series are graduate students who are working directly with the topics. This talk will review the history of cancer and our current progress in fighting it.
LINK http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu

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Global Pitchfest" - International Start-up Competition
Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (ET)
Boston, MA

Switzerland’s most outstanding young innovators journey to Boston every year for an entrepreneurial “boot camp” called venture leaders, and you are invited to this year’s finale.
Coordinated by venturelab and swissnex Boston, this year’s 20 selected startups range from medtech to iPhone apps. They will undergo ten days of training culminating in the Global Pitchfest 2011 at MassChallenge on June 16.

Over drinks and high-powered networking, come out to see the venture leaders show off the skills they learned in Boston. They will pitch their ideas to the top start-ups and investors from the Boston area, while competing against 20 local counterparts for airline tickets courtesy Swiss International Airlines. You choose the winners with your votes!

Come and join us for this exiting "Global Pitchfest" and have a chance to select the winner of the night.

Organizers:
Visit the following link for additional information on the entrepreneurs visiting from Switzerland:http://www.swissnexboston.org/activities/ventureleaders
For local startup teams: We are looking for 20 entrepreneurs who would like to take advantage of this opportunity to get visibility for their companies. If you are interested in joining the lineup of presenters, please contact Thomas Boillat (thomas@swissnexboston.org).

MassChallenge: MassChallenge is running the largest-ever global startup competition and accelerator to catalyze the launch and success of high-growth, high-impact new businesses. Around 100 of the highest-potential entrants will receive intensive mentorship and other free resources, including office space and targeted introductions to customers and funding sources. The very best startups will be identified by expert judges to receive cash awards toward launching their businesses.

swissnex Boston: They act as a physical and virtual environment fostering closer ties between Switzerland, New England and Eastern Canada in academia, industry and society. It places particular emphasis on the next generation of creative thinkers and leaders, through a network that promotes the exchange of knowledge and generates cooperation in an innovative, inspiring, and rewarding atmosphere.

ventureleaders: This year will be the 11th edition of Venture Leaders, an entrepreneurial "bootcamp" that will bring to the Boston area 20 entrepreneurs from Switzerland to visit local high tech companies, attend courses with Babson College professors, interact with experts and most importantly network with local entrepreneurs, investors and other members of the high-tech community. The program is a collaboration between CTI (Swiss innovation agency), venturelab (Swiss entrepreneurship training platform) and swissnex Boston, Consulate of Switzerland

http://pitchfest2011.eventbrite.com/

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Taking Risks: The Journey from Blackjack to Big Blue - a talk with Yuchun Lee
Monday, June 20, 2011 from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM (ET)

IBM Center for Social Software
1 Rogers Street
Cambridge, MA 02142

http://yuchun-lee.eventbrite.com/?ref=enivte?amp;utm_source=eb_email&utm_media=email&utm_compaign=invitenew&utm_term=readmore

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Climate Change Adaptation Workshop

Consensus Building Institute
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
The Trustees of Reservations' Putnam Conservation Institute

present

Local Communities Adapting to Climate Change: Managing Risk in Decision Making
Monday, June 20, 2011
9am-4:30pm
Leominster, MA

This one-day course will introduce municipal and community leaders, and planning professionals to the tools they need to better assess and manage the risks associated with climate change. Our approach helps community leaders to consider how they can alter everyday decision making to better prepare for the risks that may lie ahead. This course is tailored specifically for the needs of suburban and rural communities. The key concepts introduced will be "scenario planning" and collaborative approaches to decision-making.

Presenters/Facilitators:

Patrick Field
is Managing Director of North American Programs at the Consensus Building Institute and Associate Director of the MIT-Harvard Public Disputes Program. Patrick has helped thousands of stakeholders reach agreement on natural resource, land use, water, and air issues across the United States and Canada.

Steve Aldrich
is the founder and President of Bio Economic Research Associates LLC, an independent research and consulting firm specializing in complex issue analysis at the intersection of our emerging knowledge of biology and the economy. Steve studied evolutionary biology and has more than 25 years of experience working in various industries, including energy planning.

Workshop Fee: $45*

For More Information or to Register:
Pre-register online
www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/central-ma/adapting-climate-change-jun20.html
Or contact
Miriam Scagnetti
978.840.4446 x1935
mscagnetti@ttor.org

* Members of The Trustees of Reservations or the MA Association of Conservation Commissions may register for this workshop for $30 - New members welcome!

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Panel Discussion

swissnex Boston
420 Broadway
Cambridge

Tuesday,
June 21, 2011
6 - 9 pm

If you would like to attend this event, we kindly ask you to
RSVP here.
Please feel free to forward this invitation to friends and colleagues who are interested in this topic.

One of the major challenges of the 21st century will be to create an economy that can at the same time provide livelihoods for an increasing number of people and not degrade natural resources or spur climate change. This is also one of the major challenges that the Biovision Foundation encounters in its pilot projects in East Africa and its political work within the Rio+20 process.

A “Green Economy” in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication is one of the main themes of the upcoming 2012 UNCSD Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro. Within the preparatory process the question what green economy actually is and what it should look like is a heatedly debated issue. UNEP’s roadmap to Rio + 20, the Green Economy Report (published February 2011) sees the challenge of agriculture in feeding the world’s growing population without damaging ecosystems and human health and without undermining the sector’s natural resource base. Drawing upon UNEP’s Green Economy Report, experts will debate on what sustainable agriculture could look like and how it could fit within the new Green Economy framework.

Speakers and panelists:
Hans Herren, President Millenium Institute and Biovision Foundation, Author of the Agriculture chapter of the UNEP's Green Economy Report
Katherine Di Matteo, President of the Board of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements)
Eric Chivian, Founder and Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.

Moderator:
Samuel Fromartz, Journalist, Washington D.C.

TECHNOLOGY AND MICRO FINANCE
• Date: 6/23/2011
• Location: Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02142
• Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
• Audience: general public
• Description: This event hosted by the MFC (Micro Finance Club) of Boston will focus on the influence technology has recently had on micro finance organizations including Grameen, KIVA, WOKAI, and ACCION. Technology has played an important role in shaping micro finance in developing countries in a variety of ways. Technology has allowed farmers in rural areas better access to information about agriculture and through technology pregnant women have been able to receive medical updates without leaving their villages. This informative presentation will aim to bring together people in the community to discuss the future of technology and ways in which individuals can help locally, whether that be donating old cellphones or volunteering their time.

http://microsoftcambridge.com/Events/TechnologyandMicroFinance/tabid/754/Default.aspx

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GreenPort Forum

Film and Discussion: The Economics of Happiness
Tuesday, June 21 at 7:00pm
Cambridgeport Baptist Church, 459 Putnam Ave

A powerful new film by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steven Gorelick & John Page

'Going local' is a powerful strategy to help repair our fractured world – our ecosystems, our societies and our selves. Far from the old institutions of power, people are starting to forge a very different future. The thinkers and activists interviewed for the film come from every continent, and represent the interests of the great majority of people on the planet today. Their message is unambiguous: in order to respect and revitalize diversity, both cultural and biological, we need to localize economic activity.

Featuring voices from six continents, including: Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten, Michael Shuman, Juliet Schor, Richard Heinberg, Rob Hopkins, Andrew Simms, Zac Goldsmith, Samdhong Rinpoche

http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org

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Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm
Cambridgeport Baptist Church
459 Putnam Av, Cambridge
(corner of Magazine St. and Putnam Ave)

GreenPort envisions and encourages a just and sustainable Cambridgeport neighborhood

For more information, contact Steve Wineman at swineman@gis.net

*Recess for Justice - Saturday, June 25 - 11am-1pm*
Southwest Corridor across from Stony Brook T station in JP
Bring your favorite outdoor game or check out the assortment of fun we'll have on hand: Frisbees, kickball & chalk (for 4-square!), jump rope, basketball, softball (bring a glove) and whatever other randomness we can think of. If it's hot we can run through the fountain sprinkler to cool off. Around 1pm, we'll likely get out of the heat by going to Ula Cafe for lunch. So look no further if you want to cross-promote your events and campaigns while perfecting your Frisbee forehand, you're seeking like-minded progressives to hang out with in Boston, or are new to the area and looking for groups to get involved in.
*RSVP:* http://www.sojust.org/events/17521346/ *Newcomers always welcomed!*

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Fundraiser for Water for Niger, Africa
When: Sunday, June 25 from 8 pm to 11 pm
Where: 239 Arlington Street, Acton MA 01720
What: African drummers will perform and afterwards a dance party.
Why: To raise funds to help build wells for villages that have been put at risk by the many droughts in the region.
Donation: We are asking people to make reservations with a $25 donation.

Make checks payable to Bokai Inc, 239 Arlington Street, Acton. MA 01720

Bokai Inc: Established by a former Peace Corps volnteer with a direct relationship with town officials in Guidan Roumji. It is a 501 C-3 charitable organization. The towns of Action and Guidan Roumji have become Sister Cities. High School students have exchanged letters. Money has been sent for business micro-loans, farming and tree planting. All money will go towards the well building project.

For more details, contact Michael Klinger #978 263-7925, mklinger@anzuglobal.com

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NO NUKES PARTY

JUNE 25, 1-8PM
WENDELL, MA, TOWN HALL, Common
POTLUCK***CELEBRATE***RE-CONNECT*** SINGING
(And discuss non-violent action plans 3-5:30pm)

Sponsored by: Wendell Conservation Commission
Co-sponsors: Clamshell Legacy and Antinuclear Mobilization (info@clamshellalliance.org)
Citizens Awareness Network (nukebusters.org), Safe & Green (safeandgreencampaign.org)
Green Mtn. Post Films (gmpfilms.com); W. MA AFSC (westernmassafsc.org);

Traprock Center for Peace and Justice (traprock.info); Solar Rollers

More information, contact info@clamshellalliance.org

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Every year, the International Co-operative Alliance, based in Geneva, and the United Nations co-sponsor the International Day for Co-operatives on the first Saturday in July, which is July 2nd in 2011.

This year, Harvest Cooperatives has agreed to sponsor a Co-op Faire, featuring Boston-area cooperatives and their supporters. We will come together in the parking lot adjacent to Harvest from 10 AM to 2 PM and set up tables / canopies / booths with banners and signs, to pass out flyers to the public, talk with interested potential members, share an afternoon with coop-minded people, and celebrate the joy of building the co-op movement. Add a bit of food for the gatherers to share, maybe some acoustical music, possibly a skit or other performance and a demonstration project or two and we will have a marvelous time supporting co-ops and connecting with co-ops around the world.

History shows that the periods of greatest co-op growth are when the economy is coming out of a recession. As people get back on their feet, they work to organize different ways of building economic organizations that will not replicate the previous business disasters. That time is now. As we come out of the "Great Recession", we are already seeing a boom in co-op organizing and now is the time to point the way to a better future -- co-operatively.

If your co-op or supporting organization would be interested in reserving a table space for the Faire, please contact Wayne Clark at rwayneclark@irg.org or 603-512-8015 (cell) or 617-467-4113 (home). You can complete the registration form and prepare to participate.

Hopefully, the 2011 International Day for Co-operatives, Mass Bay Co-op Faire will begin an annual event where co-ops in our area can promote the benefits of co-operatives and develop our organizations and their members.

Come share the wisdom in the nearly 200 years of the co-op movement.

I hope to see you there, R. Wayne Archer-Clark (rwayneclark@igc.org)

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Opportunity

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From John Bolduc, Environmental Planner, Community Development Department, Cambridge, MA:

"Finally, I wanted to let folks on the list know, if you are interested, that I will be going, on a personal basis, on a study tour of cities in Germany and Holland taking a look at climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives. The tour is organized by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. We will visit Freiburg, Dresden, Bonn, and Rotterdam. We will also participate in the ICLEI Climate Resilient Cities Conference in Bonn. I am leaving today for 2 weeks and I plan to blog along the way as a way to share information. If you are interested, please visit the Energy 2.0 blog hosted by the Cambridge Energy Alliance. You can visit the site athttp://energytwodotzero.org/. You can also subscribe to the blog to be informed of updates. I plan to post 4 or 5 times with photos. So join me for the trip."

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The Medford Farmers Market is looking for organizations, individuals, chefs, nutritionists, educators, musicians, physical activity specialists, gardeners, and other fun people who would like to do educational activities on market days.

We are looking for activities that are interactive and enjoyed by all ages. Demos, how-tos and games are encouraged. Should be somehow related to sustainable living, health, nutrition, farming, gardening, physical activity, sustainability, learning and development, music, art, creativity. Most importantly it should be entertaining for people at the market.

We are looking to fill 1, 2, 3 or 4 hour time slots. The Medford Farmers Market is a great place for you to gain experience and exposure - there are over 20 vendors signed up for the season including local wine, meat, vegetables, honey, bread, art.....Your activity/demo/gig will be well publicized via social media, as well as local newspapers and newsletters sent to hundreds of people.

The market goes from June 16- Oct 13 at the Whole Foods Market Parking Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway (Rt 16), Medford, MA 02155. Plenty of parking and restrooms are available.

Please contact me if you are interested. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to people who you think may be interested. Thanks so much, have a great weekend!

For more info, please see the following:
website: www.medfordfarmersmarket.org
e-mail: medfordfarmersmarket@gmail.com
twitter: MedfordFarmMkt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Medford-Farmers-Market/135452753138491
Address: Whole Foods Market Parking Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway (Rt 16)

Editorial Comment: I have taken some of my solar displays to farmers' markets from time to time and have advocated doing so as a way to change US energy attitudes, policies, and realities as the people who go to farmers' markets are a core constituency for renewable energy. More at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/5/27/870257/-How-to-Change-US-Energy-in-One-Growing-Season

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Resource

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Massachusetts Attitudes About Climate Change – An opinion survey of Massachusetts residents conducted by MassINC and sponsored by the Barr Foundation found that 77% of respondents believe that global warming has “probably been happening” and 59% of all respondents see see it as being at least partially caused by human pollution. Only 42% of the state’s residents say global warming will have very serious consequences for Massachusetts if left unaddressed. The 18 to 29 age group is more likely to believe global warming is appearing and caused by humans compared to the 60+ age group. African-American (56%) and Latino residents (69%) are more likely than white residents (40%) to believe global warming will be a very serious problem if left unaddressed. The MassINC report, titled The 80 Percent Challenge: What Massachusetts must do to meet targets and make headway on climate change (http://www.massinc.org/Research/The-80-percent-challenge.aspx), contains many other findings. MassINC will hold a forum about the report on May 19, 5:00 to 6:30 pm at the City Year Headquarters, 287 Columbus Avenue, Boston. To register, click here. [MetroWest Daily News, 4/14/11]

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The presentations from the recent Affordable Comfort National Home Performance Conference are available online at
http://2011.acinational.org/downloadable_resources

Lots of good information from what some call the best energy conference in the USA on Deep Energy Retrofits to Community Energy Challenges with details on insulation, heat flow, energy metering, ducting, hot water, and many, many other topics. If you are a practical energy wonk, this should make your eyes light up.

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Free Monthly Energy Analysis

CarbonSalon is a free service that every month can automatically track your energy use and compare it to your past energy use (while controlling for how cold the weather is). You get a short friendly email that lets you know how you’re doing in your work to save energy.

https://www.carbonsalon.com/

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Boston Food System

"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships, programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."

The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food, farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health, environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on week-to-week is not always well publicized.

Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and other posting guidelines will be provided as well.

It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs

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Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/

Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios

Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation, contact jmatthaei@wellesley.edu

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Links to events at 60 colleges and universities at Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com

Thanks to

Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html

Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/

http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template

http://sustainability.mit.edu/

http://www.environment.harvard.edu/events/calendar/

http://green.harvard.edu/events

http://microsoftcambridge.com/Events/tabid/57/Default.aspx

http://pechakuchaboston.org/blog/

http://boston.nerdnite.com/

http://www.meetup.com/

http://www.eventbrite.com/

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