There is too much fun going on in the next few days… I can’t handle it. I wish I could be multiple places at once… and influence climate change legislation by sheer will power.. and attach documents to e-mails telepathically. Ah well, if wishes were horses, I’d have gotten that pony when I was six.
Here’s a quick breakdown of all the good stuff going on over the next couple days:
Old Settler’s Music Festival, Thursday March 16 – Sunday March 20
Old Settler’s Music Festival is a nationally known music festival featuring the best in roots and Americana music. The festival is held in the gorgeous Texas hill country, at the height of the Bluebonnet and wildflower season. Old Settler’s Music Festival offers great music and activities for the whole family.
The Festival is held at Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch, just minutes from Austin, located 11 miles south of Highway 290 West on Farm Road 1826.
Public Citizen is an official sponsor of the event, so keep your eyes out for our table, banners, and slide-shows in between sets. We hope to live blog the festivities, so be on the lookout for artist interviews and sneak peaks of shows. And don’t forget your sunscreen, that hill country sun can be brutal!
Fighting Goliath screening, Thursday April 16
When: Thursday, April 16 at 7:00pm
Where: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, 14311 Wellsport Drive (one block west of the Wells Branch exit off of I-40).
Narrated by Robert Redford and produced by The Redford Center at the Sundance Preserve and Alpheus Media, FIGHTING GOLIATH: TEXAS COAL WARS follows the story of Texans fighting a high-stakes battle for clean air. The film introduces the unlikely partners-mayors, ranchers, CEOs, community groups, legislators, lawyers, and citizens-that have come together to oppose the construction of 19 conventional coal-fired power plants that were slated to be built in Eastern and Central Texas and that were being fast-tracked by the Governor. (34 minutes)
Public Citizen’s Ryan Rittenhosue will do a short presentation on Texas’ current coal threat and have a Q&A session afterward.
Environmental Justice & the Multicultural City: The Transformative Role of Urban Planning City Forum, Friday, April 17
People of color and low-income communities have disproportionately suffered from the environmental burdens generated by consumption and production choices made by others. Responding to these injustices, neighborhood activists have been fighting for over 30 years for the right to live, work, and play in healthy environments. In this City Forum, the panelists will share their insights from research and activist work, and discuss the potential role of planning educators, students and practitioners in addressing environmental justice concerns.
Susana Almanza is co-founder of PODER, Austin’s leading environmental justice organization. Martina E. Cartwright, professor, Texas Southern University, is an attorney who advocates on behalf of environmental justice communities through the legal system. Wendy Jepson, assistant professor, Texas A&M University, addresses environmental inequities through community-action research and teaching.First-come, first-served light lunch will be provided.
City Forum is an urban issues speaker series hosted by the Community and Regional Planning Student Organization and the School of Architecture’s Community and Regional Planning Program.
Time: Noon to 1:30
Location: Texas Union, Sinclair Suite (UNB 3.128) [MAP]
Green Apple Festival and Earth Day Weekend at The Hundred Acres, Friday April 17 – Sunday April 19
The Green Apple Festival is a nation wide volunteer weekend supporting green non-profits. Volunteers will receive a free gift bag and a ticket for a free concert with Travis Tritt live at Antone’s on April 20th. The deadline to register as a volunteer is today, Wednesday the 15, at 5pm — so get crackin’!
The Hundred Acres is also providing food and camping space for volunteers, not to mention some good tunes to listen to.
The Green Apple Festival is a great way to get involved at the local level on a whole host of environmental projects — well worth checking out. Looks like a great way to celebrate Earth Day with the family!
Focus the Nation Climate Change Town Hall Meeting, Saturday April 18
St. Edward’s is hosting the Austin chapter of the Focus the Nation town hall meetings that are to take place nationwide on April 18th. The purpose of the event is to bring together local politicians, scientists/experts, organizations, and the public to discuss climate change as it relates to Austin and the national picture.
The event will be featuring keynote speakers and panel discussions followed by questions. Speakers include:
This is a great opportunity for people to hear some really awesome speakers, ask questions, and learn about climate change solutions both here in Austin and at the national level. We really want to bring in a lot of young people to stress to the politicians how important these issues are to our generation so we would like to invite everyone who is getting this to come out to the event.
When: April 18 from 9:30 am to 2:00pm
Where: downtown Austin at the Hobby Building,4th and Guadalupe, (across the street from other Earth Day festivities taking place at Republic Square Park).
*Although you are encouraged to take public transport or ride your bike, free parking will be available in the garage on the bottom level.
For updates on agenda, visit focusthenationaustin.org
