[OKC] Oklahoma Sustainability Network conference reminder

[Shauna Struby]

Oklahoma Sustainability Conference to be held March 20-21


Green cities, green lifestyles and ways to get involved among the topics of
discussion

OKLAHOMA - How to live an eco-friendly life, reduce consumption, increase
profits and preserve the environment locally and nationally will be among
the many discussion topics at the 8th annual Oklahoma Sustainability
Conference March 20-21.

City and state leaders, professors, business owners, agricultural producers
and other individuals interested in learning about or sharing their
experiences in sustainable and environmental issues will be among the
participants at the two-day conference, which will be held at the Nigh
University Center at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

The Oklahoma Sustainability Conference will provide resources and
information on a variety of topics such as environmentally-friendly building
processes and business practices, water resources, farming, purchasing local
products and transportation.

"Today's global challenges have caused our society to become increasingly
aware of the need to utilize resources more sustainably," Oklahoma Secretary
of Environment J.D. Strong said. "In the midst of these disconcerting
times, the Oklahoma Sustainability Conference offers Oklahomans an excellent
opportunity to stake their place in the more empowering green economy to
come."

Friday conference speakers will include city leaders from Greensburg, Kan.
who will discuss their "green" rebuilding efforts after a May 2007 tornado
leveled nearly the entire city. After the storm, the city decided to build
all city buildings to LEED certification, meeting a variety of standards for
sustainable construction. Greensburg will have the nation's first LEED
Platinum city hall, which will be built from reclaimed brick and recycled
wood and will include solar panels, geothermal technology and a roof with
vegetation growing on top. LED streetlights and the goal of powering the
city on 100 percent renewable energy are also part of the city's green plan.

A reception dinner will be held Friday evening followed by an acoustic
concert by Portland, Ore. musician and environmental activist Garrett
Brennan.

On Saturday, William Greider, former Rolling Stone and Washington Post
editor, will be the keynote speaker. Greider, a national best selling author
who is currently a national affairs correspondent for The Nation, a weekly
paper dedicated to politics
and culture, will be discussing his latest book, Come Home America: The Rise
and Fall (and Redeeming Promise) of our country. Greider will discuss
relevant and timely topics such as how economic and political forces have
brought the nation to the financial crisis of the day and how a return to
our nation's core values will bring a better, more fulfilling society.

Speakers and topics will include:
. Sustainable daily living featuring Trathen Heckman, founder and
executive director of California-based Daily Acts, an organization that
promotes and educates on earth-friendly lifestyles.
. Transportation including sessions on electric vehicles, transit
oriented development and freight and passenger railroad transportation.
. Energy sessions will explore the latest developments in alternative
energy and coal burning power plants.
. Water rights and the importance of water quality for recreational
use. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmonson will discuss protecting water
resources.
. Business and Nonprofit will explore marketing green business real
estate, green building codes, alternative business structures, business
pollution prevention and marketing nonprofits.
. Agriculture sessions take a look at urban farming, the Community
Food Project and agriculture market concentration.
. Education topics focus on sustainability and the student body,
sustainable university curriculum, the sustainable campus and the Oklahoma
Farm to School Program featuring representatives from Tulsa University,
Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City University and the University of
Oklahoma.
. Farmers markets and food cooperatives will be one of several panel
discussion topics. Bob Waldrop, founder of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative and
local advocate for social and environmental responsibility, will lead the
panel.

The Oklahoma Sustainability Conference will be March 20-21 at the Nigh
University Center at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond with
registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. each day. Admission is $75 for both days
or $42.50 for single day registration. The Oklahoma Sustainability Network
Conference is presented by the Oklahoma Sustainability Network and hosted by
Sustainable Edmond. For more information, visit www.oksustainability.org.



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