Sustainability Workshop

Written by: Brian Sayrs on May 15, 2006 8:24 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Spokane

Sorry for the short notice, but I just got this from Melissa Ahern regarding an all-day community sustainability workshop on Wednesday.

Here is the information:

Community Sustainability and Rising Energy Prices:

What Problems Are We Facing, and What Can We Do?

May 17, 2006, WSU Riverpoint Campus, SCLS 122

8:00am to 4:00 pm



What if energy prices rise substantially, driving the economy into recession over the next five years? What if there are growing numbers of uninsured and unemployed, perhaps substantially growing numbers? What if Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements continue to shrink, possibly shrinking dramatically? What if the cost of natural gas doubles or triples? What if gasoline prices double or triple? What if the transportation cost of food doubles or triples? What if people's incomes here in the Inland Northwest shrink--will there be affordable housing available?

Goals:

Understand future risks for our community and ask tough questions.
Be prepared for what may lie ahead and consider specific action steps.
Look into the future with courage and creativity.

This workshop is designed to facilitate education, understanding, and dialogue about problems and mitigation strategies related to Sustainability and Security in four areas:

Health Care, the Built Environment, Transportation, and Food Production and Distribution

Sponsored by:

WSU Spokane, AVISTA, SIRTI, CH2MHill, Center for Justice, & others to be announced


Agenda:

8:00 Introduction and Welcome--Brian Pitcher, Chancellor, WSU Spokane
8:05 - 8:40 Oil and Natural Gas Depletion and Economic Implications (M. Ahern)
8:40 - 9:20 Sustainable Farming, Local Food Production, and the Bio-Economy (Jim Armstrong, Spokane Conservation District)
9:20 - 9:50 Costs of Current Food Distribution System (Pat Davidson, Peirone Produce; and Chris Batt, Rosauers )
9:50 - 10:15 Break
10:15 - 11:00 The Persistent Paradox: Achieving Balance in the Dynamic World of Supplying Energy (Roger Woodworth, AVISTA)
11:00 - 11:45 Waste in the Health Care System (Bill Bender, MD)
11:45 - 1:00 Lunch (provided)
The Built Environment: Housing and Energy (Bob Scarfo)
Local Solutions: An Overview (Dan Baumgarten)
1:10 - 1:45 Community Transportation: Spokane's Light Rail Proposal and Projected Economic Impact (Phyllis Holmes, Bill Kelley)
2:00 - 3:00 Round Table Break-Outs
a. Sustainability and Security in Health Care
b. Sustainability and Security in Transportation
c. Sustainability and Security in Housing and the Built Environment
d. Sustainability and Security in Local Food Production and Distribution
3:00 - 4:00 Round Table Reports and Dialogue on Next Steps

COST: $25

Register TODAY

capps.wsu.edu/CommunityHealth/... or call 509-335-3530

Tags:
Location: Spokane, WA 99201