Connecticut Environmental Conference

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 20:16:17 -0400
From: Allan Williams <ltruistic@sbcglobal.net>
To: CTEnvLeader@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CTEnvL] Upcoming "Must Go" Conference

A most important environmental conference is coming to Hartford on
Saturday October 21st. Individuals and organizations involved with
Connecticut's environment will find this the most useful, informative,
and stimulating day in a very long time. The agenda is part scientific,
part inspirational, and part practical organizing. This conference
provides a rare opportunity for various components of the state's
environmental movement to discuss both the scientific and political
underpinnings of critical environmental issues. In attendance will be a
number of scientists, key political figures, industrial and utility
representatives, citizens who wish to make a difference in our state's
environment, and students of the environment.

It is important for many environmental groups to support the conference
through relatively low cost ads in the program. It is also important
that environmental organizations participate by setting up tables to
recruit volunteers and supporters and to provide a dialogue on issues
of importance to them.

There will be 15 workshops including the following: asthma and
respiratory diseases; transportation issues and new technology coming
to Connecticut; Green chemistry and other new sciences; health effects
of pesticides; environmental and institutional racism ­ the underlying
disease; starting an organization; plasma arc technology and clean coal
technology; recycling; the status of environmental justice issues in
Connecticut; developing a fundraising plan for your organization; how
to get your agenda through the legislature; and organizing youth for
environmental justice. A special workshop will be presented by a panel
of foundation representatives that will speak to funding for global
warming projects in the Northeast. Workshops are not repeated so bring
your fellow workers and friends to cover the many bases.

Keynote speakers will come from different points of the environmental
spectrum. The National Library of Medicine from Bethesda, Maryland will
teach the attendees how to do research on the health effects of
chemicals. Frank Ferraro, Vice President of Environmental Management
and Public Policy at Wheelabrator Corporation, will speak on host
community benefits of waste and energy plants. Wheelabrator provides
disposal of trash for 11 million people each day. In the morning
session Monique Harden will speak on the environmental aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Monique Harden is a staff attorney at
Earth Justice who does community organizing among residents who live on
the fenceline with toxic industries. A long-time resident of Louisiana,
Harden is a straight-talking woman who can translate legalese into
plain English and deal with contentious issues diplomatically.

While the conference has been organized by the Connecticut Coalition
for Environmental Justice (CCEJ) and aimed at improving the environment
of our region's cities, the information and issues are of importance to
all those seeking to improve the state's environment. It is the only
place you are likely to get much of the information presented.

The conference will run from 8:30 to 4:30 on Saturday October 21, and
will use the facilities of Capital Community College on Main Street in
Downtown Hartford.
To register please contact Dawn Simonsen at 860-548-1133, Fax
860-548-9197, or email her at dawn.simonsen@environmental-justice.org
To purchase an ad in the program for your organization, please contact
Allan Mercado at 860-548-1133, Fax 860-548-9197 or email him at
allan.Mercado@environmental-justice.org Contact CCEJ today if your
organization would like to participate or if you would like to
register. Registration fees are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and
$25 for members.

This message was written by Allan Williams, Volunteer, CCEJ and Leader
Greater Hartford Inner City Outings
Feel free to contact Allan for answers to general questions about the
conference: ltruistic@sbcglobal.net