URI's fall Honors Colloquium, “People and Planet - Global Environmental Change,” will explore human-caused global change, its consequences and potential responses through a series of lectures, films, exhibits and a cabaret. The series of free, weekly events, open to all, will feature international experts and URI faculty members.

The series launches Tuesday, Sept. 9, with a talk by Elizabeth Kolbert, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change. She will talk about the historical background of global climate change. Click here for background info on Kolbert. The talk will start at 7:30 in Chafee Auditorium on the Kingston campus.

Click on "More..." for the rest of the URI news release about the series. Click here for the full schedule of events and speakers. Many local libraries are also organizing book groups and speakers in conjunction with the event, check the URI site or your local library for more info.

“Humans have been affecting our environment on a global scale for millennia,” said Steven D’Hondt, URI professor of oceanography who is coordinating the colloquium with professors Art Spivack and Judith Swift. “This year’s Honors Colloquium is going to examine those changes and outline the kinds of choices people might make collectively to minimize their effects.” 

The University of Rhode Island will host the 2008 Rhode Island Energy Expo on Sunday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus.  “We are currently seeking vendors, exhibitors and sponsors for what will be a very high-profile event of interest to residents and business owners throughout the state,” said Marion Gold, co-director of the URI Energy Center, which is organizing the expo. For more info, click on "More...".

Whenever land is preserved for conservation in RI, that's big news and great news -- as they say, they are not making any more of it (land, that is!), so any acres that we can save are a precious gift to the future of the state.

Today, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island announced that 73 acres have been added to the beautiful Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter. The acreage will protect the headwaters of the Queen River, one of the most pristine streams in the state. Native trout, rare freshwater mussels and rare dragonfly and damselfly species thrive here, thanks to clean, cool waters and landscape-wide watershed protection.

To read the full news release from Audubon, click on "More...".

At least we have three whole days to say so long to summer. Here are lots of ways to get outdoors and enjoy.

On Saturday, you can learn how to tuck in your garden for the winter, at City Farm; hike at Buck Hill in Burrillville with the Appalachian Mountain Club; catch Waterfire in the evening. If you haven't checked out the butterfly exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo, this weekend is your last chance, it closes after Monday. It's also your last chance this year to visit Save The Bay's Exploration Center at First Beach in Newport -- for this weekend, buy one admission, get one free.

Check out NNN's Community Calendar for details on these events, listings of farmers markets, and lots more.

If you've been thinking about taking up kayaking, this weekend is a good time to buy one of your own at a discount. Check out the sale at the Kayak Center.

You can try it out next Thursday -- the Woonasquatucket River folks are leading an evening paddle along the river, click here for details. There are tons of events coming up in September, all across the state -- Audubon's raptor event, hikes and kayak trips and classes and lots more, so be sure to keep checking in with NNN!

You can also find event listings at the projo's Green Calendar.

On Tuesday night, Newport's new Energy and Environment Commission introduced itself to the local community, and NNN correspondent Susan Genett was there. Here is her report and her reactions to the event.

Ticks that spread Lyme disease are our most dangerous local wildlife. On Sunday, you can learn more about Lyme disease and how to prevent it in a free program at Ledge Ends Learning Center in East Greenwich. Dr. Michael Poshkus, an attending physician at Rhode Island Hospital and a professor at Brown, will lead the discussion.

The farm is located at 830 South Road in East Greenwich (click here for a map). It's this Sunday, August 31, at 11 a.m. To sign up, or for more info, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 884-5118.

It's not just a new president on the ballot in November -- there are also local races coming up, and when it comes to our local environment, these choices can be very important. Think about all the decisions that get made on a local level -- about recycling, land conservation, water quality, and more -- and you'll see what we mean.

The other compelling reality about local races is that each vote really matters, and there is a lot that you can do as an individual to work for your candidate. And here is an easy way to start -- jump in and help out the hardworking folks at Clean Water Action, they will coach you on how to be an effective advocate, and they will even feed you for free! They are working to support David Segal, Bill Hall, and Chris Fierro, all running for seats in the RI House of Representatives.

Segal, a state rep for Smith Hill, has been working hard on progressive issues including renewable energy and public transit. Click here for his Web site. Fierro, state rep in Woonsocket, has focused on trying to bring solar and wind technology jobs to his city. Click here for his Web site. Bill Hall is running to fill a vacant seat in Coventry, and has pledged to support renewable energy and environmental issues. Click here for his Web site.

Just show up at the CWA Providence office and pitch in on the phone bank. Sessions are planned for Thursday, August 28; Wednesday, Sept 3, and Thursday Sept 4, 530 to 730 p.m., catch some free food and pitch in. If you're not sure phone calling is for you, show up anyway or give them a call, and they'll find something for you to do. There's not much time -- the Rhode Island Statewide Primary is coming up soon, Tuesday, Sept. 9! Since many local seats have no viable Republican opposition, this election in effect determines who will hold most of the local offices.

To RSVP, or for more information, call (401) 331-6972 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . CWA is located at 741 Westminster St. in Prov (click here for a google map).

         

Late August often brings fine weather to Rhode Island, but this last week or so seems extraordinary. Day after day of blue skies, cool breezes, perfect nights, bright stars.

Try this: turn off your electronic devices, find a shady spot, take your shoes off, and hang out with the Earth.

Lisa Sussman, NNN's Natural Mom, explores the ups and downs of life in the bike lane.

Life from behind the handlebars looks different.

We are a biking family. Although there are only four of us, we have at least six working bikes – just in case. We have conquered every bike path in Rhode Island and done the one on the Cape as well as a few on other continents. My husband often bikes to work in the summer. My children learned how to first sit up in a bike seat (sing up was another matter). The day the kids lost their training wheels was cause for giddy celebration in our house. Graduation to “big bikes” was a three-day fest with The Eagles’ Life In The Fast Lane as our theme song.

Click on "More..." for the rest of Lisa's story.

Click here for the full text of the Senator's opening statement and the printed text of all the testimony from the panel. Found only on NNN!

Last Thursday, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse drew an overflow crowd to the URI Bay Campus when he convened a panel of experts to report on the state of Narragansett Bay and the impact of global climate change on our local ecosystems. The senator represented the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the event was run like a formal Senate hearing -- each speaker had just five minutes to make a statement, and there were no questions from the floor or the media.

The speakers were Dr. Kate Moran, of URI's Marine Geomechanics Lab; Grover Fugate of the Coastal Resources Management Council; Dr. Jon Boothroyd, state geologist; John Torgan of Save The Bay; and Dr. Caroly Shumway, of the Nature Conservancy.

Also, NNN contributor Susan Genett was on the scene, click here to read about her impressions of the event.

Read more:

Click here to see a video of Save The Bay Baykeeper John Torgan's testimony (turn up your sound all the way). 

Click for local news reports: The Providence Business News, The Providence Journal, The Woonsocket Call.

Learn more about the scientists on the panel:

A recent slideshow and interview with Dr. Kate Moran via Public Radio International. Grover Fugate is chair of the Coastal Resources Management Council.  John Torgan blogs at the Save The Bay site.  Jon Boothroyd is a professor emiritus at URI. Caroly Shumway studies aquatic systems at the New England Aquarium in Boston.