Food for Thought: Why Sustainability?

Title: Food for Thought: Why Sustainability?
Location: Multipurpose Room of the Oberholtzer Residence Hall. 108 Oberholtzer Hall, University of Houston, Central Campus. For directions see link at www.urbanharvest.org.
Event Link: Click here
Description: : As a national movement to create resilient local food systems that are truly sustainable continues, ushering in a new call for victory gardens, backyard chickens, edible schoolyards, farmers markets, and small family farms, Urban Harvest presents the panel discussion Why Sustainability? to be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. This discussion is a continuation of Urban Harvest’s successful Food For Thought series which began in spring. The panel will explore one of the hottest global issues of the twenty-first century – Sustainability For the event, a six-member panel will tackle two topics: Why is sustainability becoming increasingly important? And, how we can respond locally to the widespread global changes? The challenges of the future, including changing weather patterns and rising energy costs, will require ordinary people to reconsider the reliability of their food sources. Industrial agricultural practices produce surpluses and exotic food year-round, but with significant costs. Huge carbon emissions, topsoil fertility depletion, groundwater contamination and depletion, a food supply chain that is highly vulnerable to fuel price increases, the widespread presence of pesticides in our food, and even the rise of obesity have been traced to the way we grow our food. Or rather, to the way we don’t grow our food, but have handed that responsibility over to multinational corporations. Submission of relevant questions is encouraged, and can be sent to gary@urbanharvest.org.

Speakers

Jim Blackburn, Environmental lawyer, Blackburn & Carter. Professor at Rice University.

Dr. Barry Lefer, Professor at University of Houston, Earth and atmospheric sciences.

Randall Morton, Moderator.  President of The Progressive Forum

Dr. Bob Randall, Formerly Executive Director of Urban Harvest

Laura Spanjian, Director of the Office of Sustainability, Office of the Mayor

Maria Honey, Marketing Manager of University Services, University of Houston, including Green UH

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-09-07
End Time: 21:00