Ellen M. Taylor

Poetry, Politics, and Economic Values in Nicaragua

Ellen M. Taylor will talk about her sabbatical trip to Nicaragua, and the importance of poetry there as social and political expression. She will also read selections from her own poetry generated by her experiences there.

Wendy Hazard

Water for Profit? Water for Life?
The Struggle for Control of Maine's Water Resources

Today, the Nestle / Poland Spring controversy happening in towns all over Maine is familiar to most. But the controversies over water rights have roots in 19th and 20th century Maine history;, pitting water conservation activists against powerful corporate interests for control over Maine's vital resource. I will review some of that history, and look forward to discussion about its implications for today.

Dr. Sheila Bennett - UMA's Climate Action Plan

The President's Council for Environmental Sustainability completed UMA's Climate Action Plan http://www.uma.edu/campusgreen.html

High heating oil prices, increased electricity costs, and creeping gasoline prices are but a few of the challenges in keeping UMA affordable.

At the same time UMA is committed to reducing its carbon emissions and providing leadership in the global effort to realize an atmospheric goal of 350 ppm carbon dioxide. UMA's Climate Action Plan (CAP) provides a guide in negotiating reductions in carbon emissions while at the same time reducing student costs in obtaining a post-secondary degree. Since the CAP requires annual adjustments not only in terms of achieving benchmarks, but in evaluation of appropriate technological advances, this RaP session provides an opportunity to respond to recommendations and to make new ones so that UMA will indeed provide the needed leadership.

UMA's emissions are categorized as short, mid-, and long term and lead to climate neutrality by 2050. Since commuting by students, faculty, and staff generates 54% of UMA's emissions, the strategies focus on the use of public transportation, car and van pooling, use of fuel efficient vehicles, and accelerating the development of courses at distance (ITV, polycom, online).

Norma Bisulca, Mary Jo Jakab and Kathleen King
Mason's on a Mission-Service Learning

Come hear about this exciting program and about the organizations with whom we have become acquainted. Find your place in "global community building" while learning the opportunities that service learning and travel provides students and educators.

University of Maine at Augusta faculty, staff, students and alumni have traveled to Guatemala twice with plans for a third trip in spring 2010. With community outreach as a key component, the first visit was a survey of service oriented organizations - Common Hope, Safe Passage, Namaste, Masons on a Mission, and the Center of Mesoamerican Research. Each organization, unique to its service, attends to the needs of the communities they serve based on a sociological understanding of Guatemalans, their history, their environment, and their language. All the organizations facilitate sustainable independence. The second trip (February 2009) was a week of stove building with other community members and Masons on a Mission. Spring 2010 will be the best of both trips - an active service component, a survey of service opportunities, and an exploration of Guatemala.