Peace & Justice Film Series

This film series features documentary and historical films most Thursdays. The films examine many important questions of our time from a variety of perspectives. Admission is by donation. and no one is turned away. All showings will be held in the UC Theater in the University of Montana's University Center, 3rd Floor.
There will be a lively and respectful discussion after each screening of every film. All of these movies are thought provoking, so please stay afterwards and share your thoughts with other members of the community. We encourage participants with all points of view to attend: diversity of opinion leads to richer discussions and deeper understanding.

For more information please log on to: http://www.peaceandjusticefilms.org/2008fall/index.html

Cultural & Environmental Film Festival

The annual Cultural & Environmental Film Festival will be held Monday, October 6th - Sunday, October 12th at the Roxy Theatre. For the film schedule & descriptions please log on to www.wildlifefilms.org

This year some of the films featured are:
CINE Award Winners:
Best of Festival Golden CINE - Burning the Future: Coal in America
Focus Award - Flowers of Rwanda (Monday at 7 pm)
Hands Around the World - CRASH: A Tale of Two Species (Tuesday at 7pm, HD)

Tuesday, October 7th will also feature the Historic Roxy Restoration Open House.

Importance of Local Food Lecture and Benefit in Hamilton

Friday, October 3rd Bruce Smith, Glendive MT, extension agent, will speak on "Why Local Food and What We are Doing About It." Here are some of the things he is doing about it: a producers' marketing co-op with online ordering, a local food restaurant, microbrewery, and local food store, a culinary/cooking school, a shared-use commercial kitchen starting local brands of value-added products, community gardens with high tunnels. Bruce's talk is free and open to the public.

There will also be a catered dinner and silent FOOD auction (benefit for Sustainable Living Systems). The dinner starts at 6:30 pm, at Hamilton City Hall, 223 S. 2nd St. Dinner Tickets ($30) must be purchased (or reservations made) by September 27 & will be on sale at Chapter 1 bookstore and at the Bitterroot Star, and on the SLS website/events page as well. People coming for the free talk and silent food auction may arrive at 7:30pm, the talk will be at 8pm. Call Jill for more info: 642-3601

Earth Folk Free Eco-Film Series in Missoula

Friday October 17th, 7:00pm: How to Save the World
One Man, One Cow, One Planet. How to Save the World exposes globalization and its mantra of infinite growth in a finite world for what it really is: an environmental and human disaster. But across India merginal famers are fighting back. By reviving an arcane form of agriculture, they are saving their poisoned lands. This documentary tells their story through the teachings of an elderly New Zealander. 104 minutes.

Friday November 14th, 7:00pm: Human Footprint
In a National Geographic special event The Human Footprint reveals the extraordinary impact that each of our lives has on the world around us. In a playful surprising and thought-provoking portrait of our time on earth National Geographic demonstrates in a series of remarkable visuals what makes up an average human life today and how everything we do has impact on the world around us. In this unique journey through life it shows all the people you will ever know how much waste you will produce the amount of fuel youll consume and how much youve got to pack in during your 2475526000 seconds on Earth. 90 minutes.

All films will show at the Open Way Mindfulness Center, 702 Brooks, next to Rose Memorial Park.

Harvesting Clean Energy Conference

On Sunday, January 25th through-Tuesday, January 27th Billings will hold a Harvesting Clean Energy Conference. The Harvesting Clean Energy Conference is the Northwest’s premiere gathering to advance rural economic development through clean energy production. Clean energy offers practical, profitable opportunities for our farmers, ranchers, rural utilities and towns, tribes, and regional economy.
The conference charts the future of rural clean energy in the Northwest. Discussions focus on the steps to successful project development, including financing, to cut costs on the farm and produce power or feedstocks for market. Technologies covered include wind power, biofuels, biopower, geothermal, solar, and energy efficiency.
Harvesting Clean Energy is designed for Northwest farmers and agriculture leaders, tribes, rural utilities and economic development officials, lenders, elected officials and public agencies, as well as energy developers and consultants. For more information please visit www.harvestcleanenergy.org/conference or call 253-445-4575.

Bioneer Conference in Bozeman October 16-19

This weekend conference is packed full of inspiring, educational and illuminating workshops, panel discussions, musical performances, film, food and more! View 15 of the top “innovative leaders” speaking from California. Participate in over 25 workshops over the course of the weekend including: a Biomimicry Workshop, Mushroom Cultivating, The Importance of Pollinators, Alternative/Green Building & Energy Panel Discussion, Wildcrafting Medicines in the Rockies,“City Repair” and many more. Network with individuals, businesses and non-profits from throughout the Northern Rockies in our Exhibitors Hall.
For the agenda, workshop schedule, and speaker bio's please visit www.bornnetwork.org for local information or www.bioneers.org for the national site.

Brewing Justice, Fair Trade, Coffee and Sustainable Survival

Beginning at 7 pm on Thursday, October 9th in the UM's North Underground Lecture Hall, author Daniel Jaffee from Washington State University will give a public lecture entitled "Brewing Justice, Fair Trade, Coffee and Sustainable Survival". Learn about the social, economic, and environmental implications of fair trade, based on extensive field work in indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico. Jaffee follows the members of the Michiza cooperative, whose organic coffee is sold on the international fair trade market, and compares their experiences to their conventional counterparts. Jaffee also explores the changing politics of the international fair trade movement, including challenges posed by the entry of transnational corporations and recommendations for strengthening this alternative system.

AERO's 34th Annual Meeting

AERO will be holding their annual meeting on the West Shore of Flathead Lake at the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp on Friday, October 31st through Sunday, November 2nd. The keynote speech will be "Living In A Post Carbon Era"delivered by Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute. Please visit their website for further information: www.aeromt.org

Gather with AERO members and friends from across the state and region to eat local food as well as tour AERO member farms, sustainable businesses, and renewable energy projects. Join Montana’s most innovative thinkers and practitioners in the sustainability movement for workshops, seminars and discussion. Open to the public, child friendly and affordable! Registration info coming in early September or call AERO at 406-443-7272.

Green Home Living Expo -CANCELLED

Exciting, interesting and challenging times are here! Definitely more expensive too! How can we adapt, accommodate and grow with a minimum of stress and a maximum of ingenuity and creativity? Now is the time of the engineer, the inventor, the builder, the visionary ~ those who know how to live green, and the communities they live in. You are invited to the Green Home Living Expo to share your green knowledge, visions, skills and products! For a registration form, call 406-961-0004 or write GHL Expo, PO box 434 , Corvallis , MT 59828.

When: Saturday, November 1 from 9am – 4pm

Where: 1st Interstate Building , Ravalli County Fairgrounds, Hamilton MT.

Wind Development Presentation Thurs. Oct. 16, 2-4pm, University Center

Mike Carlson of the USDA, Eastern Plains RC&D in Sidney, MT, and New Harvest Energy will be making a presentation entitled "Wind Development in Eastern Montana". Mike has worked for many years to help increase awareness of the wind development opportunities available in the Eastern part of the state. His main focus has been on assisting rural landowners to diversify their economic opportunities by developing their wind resource.

The presentation will be held Thursday, October 16th from 2 pm - 4 pm in UC Room 333, third floor of the University Center on the Mountain Campus.

Mike's Description of the Presentation:
This presentation will discuss the tremendous wind resource we have in this state and especially in the rural areas. I will discuss the tools and techniques we need to use to investigate this wind resource and the research data that needs to be done first. I will present the four major challenges this state has to overcome to fully develop our wind energy projects. I will show some of the grass roots research being done in the eastern part of Montana and the impressive results. The many benefits of wind development to our small counties to improve our tax base and future jobs in this emerging energy field will be discussed. My hope is to stimulate the university system to help with research and development of Montana's wind for future jobs and improved economic development. I also will stress the need for enhanced educational opportunities through our community and major colleges in this state for wind energy development.

Alternative Fuels Vehicle Day

On October 3rd, Paul Williams of MonTec is organizing an alternative Fuels Vehicle Day on the Mountain Campus. Paul will be focusing on innovations within the transportation sector so if you are interested in getting involved, he is still looking for volunteers to help set up the event and possibly assist with running certain aspects. Please contact him at WilliamsonRP@mso.umt.edu or 532-3227 if you are available to volunteer.

The event is scheduled form 1 pm until 4 pm at the UC & UM Library Mall. Workshops will be available on alternative fules and how to convert your vehicle (biodiesel, hydrogen, electric) and there will also be displays of alternative fuel vehicles.

Anemomter "Raising" -- Updated!

Brian Kerns of Alternative Energy Technologies is planning to install one anemometer tower on Waterworks Hill this Thursday, 10/2/08, with assistance from Sonny Kless and some other motivated EVST students. He welcomes interested students in the Energy Tech program to come along and join in. Activities will commence at 10:00 a.m. at the northern terminus of the Waterworks ridge trail, where you would run into a fence line if you kept going straight north. It’s a bit over a mile hike from the usual trailhead off Greenough Drive. Alternatively, folks could car pool over to the Randolf Homestead out near the landfill but parking is constrained there and issues with surrounding landowners make this the less preferable option. Brian will access the site with a vehicle from the Randolf property but one vehicle will be permitted up this road. The hike from either point is about the same. It will likely take 4 to 5 hours to get this installed. It will be a good hands-on learning experience about the practical and sometimes sweaty work that goes into renewable energy projects. Contact Brian Kerns either via email or at the office phone 532-3228 so he knows how many may be attending. If you come, bring work gloves, sturdy shoes, and work clothing. Bring water and maybe a snack. Event may be postponed due to weather.

Sustainable Venturing Workshop by the SBC

Located in Missoula Montana, the Sustainable Business Council (SBC) supports businesses that would like to pursue more environmentally and socially sustainable practices, while maintaining or enhancing their economic viability. They are offering a free lecture Thursday, October 2nd from 6 -7 pm and a workshop the following morning.



All are welcome to the Sustainable Business Council Sustainable Business Council’s 6th Annual Sustainability Lecture Series Kick-Off Sustainable-Venturing Free Introductory Lecture on Thursday, October 2nd from 6-7 pm. Social time will take place 5:30-6 pm and again from 7-7:30 pm. The lecture is entitled "Sustainable Venturing: Solving Environmental Problems with Entrepreneurial Business Solutions" and will be given by David Payne. David is an Assiciate Professor of Management at the Leeds School of Business at the Univerity of Colorado an will also lead a worshop Friday, October 3rd. The workshop is entitled "Sustainable Venturing: Discovering and Exploiting Business Opportunities in the Pursuit of Sustainability" and will be held from 9am-noon. Registration forms are available on http://www.sbcmontana.org/.



Both will be held at Missoula Children’s Theater Center for the Performing Arts in the Meeting Room on the Mezzanine

Billings Green Building Tour: Sunday, October 11

The Billings Tour is co-hosted and organized by the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council (http://www.northernplains.org/affiliates/yvcc), a local affiliate of the Northern Plains Resource Council. Tour participants can expect to see great examples of commercial and residential buildings that have energy efficiency features and green building attributes. Passive solar gain, super insulation, water saving measures, and renewable energy systems will all be featured.

Date & Time: Saturday, October 11, 10am-2pm; registration begins at 9am

Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call Merry Ann at (406) 248-1154 x108

Cost: TBA

Meeting location: Tour will begin at the NPRC/WORC Home on the Range, 220 S 27th St

Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant; Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council

Bozeman Green Building Tour: Sunday, October 4

The Bozeman Tour is co-hosted and organized by the Refuge Sustainable Building Center (http://www.refugebuilding.com/) in Bozeman. The guided bus tour will visit residential and commercial buildings that feature energy efficiency measures, renewable energy systems and green attributes like recycled materials, safe-indoor air quality and water saving measures.

Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, time TBA

Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call at (406) 585-9958Cost: $15

Meeting Location: TBA

Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant; Refuge Sustainable Building Center

Helena Green Building Tour: Saturday, October 4

A guided bus tour of 4-6 homes will highlight energy efficiency measures and home-scale renewable energy projects around Helena. Super-insulation, high efficiency boilers, photovoltaic systems, solar hot water systems and passive solar construction will all be on the tour. Also on the tour will be a regular old home similar to a lot of homes in Helena. A professional energy auditor will walk tour participants through, highlighting energy leaks and low-cost or no-cost energy fixes that could be made.

Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 10am-2pm; registration begins at 9am

Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call AERO at (406) 443-7272.

Cost: TBA Meeting Location: TBA

Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant

Green Building Seminar with Steve Loken: Friday, October 2

Green builder and consultant Steve Loken will present an evening seminar on the basics of green building in Helena on October 2. Steve is the president and owner of Loken Builders (http://www.lokenbuilders.com/), a full service construction company specializing in personalized remodeling and new construction, with an emphasis on energy and resource efficiency. Steve's presentation will highlight key elements of green building, including energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water efficiency, recycled or low-impact materials and low-waste construction practices. People interested in retrofits or renovations, potential new home builders, construction contractors and architects will all have something to learn from Steve's dynamic and engaging presentation. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

Date & Time: Thursday, October 2, 7:00pm-8:30pm

Location: Lecture Hall Room 125, UM Helena College of Technology, 1115 N Roberts

Cost: FREE and open to the public, donations welcome

MREA Presentation - Renewable Energy in Montana: Solar Electricity, Solar Hot Water and Small Wind Generation

The Montana Renewable Energy Association and NorthWestern Energy are sponsoring a presentation on October 8th from 7 pm-9 pm at the Best Western Grant Creek Inn in Missoula. Christopher Borton, of Sage Mountain Center in Whitehall and the MREA VP, will discuss solar electricity, solar hot water and small wind generation. This will be an excellent opportunity to network and a great chance to find out the installers perspective on trends in renewable energy for Montana.

MREA Meeting

The Montana Renewable Energy Association (MREA) will hold its monthly meeting on October 8th, 12:30 -4:30, at COT W. campus in room TT11. The meeting is open and free to the public, and they are keen to welcome any and all students who are interested in learning more about RE businesses in MT. Students need not attend the entire meeting, and can stop in as their schedules permit. It’s a great networking opportunity for those who think they might want to work in RE in Montana. More information on MREA is available through the Montana Green Power website.