Calendar
A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet is the first big-picture exploration of the environmental movement – grassroots and global activism spanning fifty years from conservation to climate change. Directed and written by Mark Kitchell, Academy Award-nominated director of Berkeley in the Sixties, and narrated by Robert Redford, Ashley Judd, Van Jones, Isabel Allende and Meryl Streep.
Inspired by the book of the same name by Philip Shabecoff and informed by advisors like Edward O. Wilson, A Fierce Green Fire chronicles the largest movement of the 20th century and one of the keys to the 21st. It brings together all the major parts of environmentalism and connects them. It focuses on activism, people fighting to save their homes, their lives, the future – and succeeding against all odds.
6:30 PM conversation, networking, and a light meal
7:00 PM film screening, followed by a panel discussion
Free to the public, though donations are kindly appreciated.
Rice Media Center is located at 2030 University Blvd, near Stockton and University.
The least expensive University parking is in the lot on the West Side of the stadium. Enter on Greenbriar, drive to the most southeastern spot you can find, then walk along University towards Stockton.
The Bayou Preservation Association presents the 9th Annual Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Awards, honoring individuals for their outstanding commitment to aiding in the conservation, preservation, restoration or advocacy of Houston’s waterways. Join us for the 2019 Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award Luncheon honoring Mayor Sylvester Turner, Kevin Shanley and Jackie Young, with a special recognition award to Ed Emmett.
The films presented by the Houston Green Film Series are free to public and funded by volunteer efforts, in-kind contributi
“Whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting over.”
– an American West proverb
“Thirst for Power†is a one-hour long documentary produced by Disco Productions and base on Dr. Michael E. Webber’s first book, Thirst for Power: the Story of Energy. The visualizations and accounts are adapted from Dr. Webber’s book, and based in France, California, and Texas.
Combining anecdotes and personal stories with insights into the latest science of energy and water, the film identifies a hopeful path toward wise long-range water-energy decisions and a more reliable future for humanity.
This month’s panelists TBD.
- 6:30 PM Reception, with complementary refreshments
- 7:00 PM Film screening
- 8:00 PM Panel Discussion
- 9:00 PM The conversation continues at Valhalla, Rice University’s Graduate Student Pub
Free to the public, though donations are kindly appreciated. Rice Cinema is located at 2030 University Blvd, near Stockton and University.
For questions about transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event go to https://park-trans.rice.edu/
The Our Great Region Awards recognize outstanding organizations in the 13-county region working to make the region an even better place to live, work, and prosper. Submitted projects must advance one or more of the Our Great Region 2040 plan’s Big Ideas. For more information on how to register visit www.ourregion.org/awards.
The films presented by the Houston Green Film Series are free to public and funded by volunteer efforts, in-kind contributi
Will the border wall strike a fatal blow to one of richest natural and cultural regions in North America?
“Ay Mariposa†is a one-hour long documentary produced through a collaboration between three award-winning women filmmakers: Krista Schyler, Jenny Nichols, and Morgan Heim.
As U.S. border patrol attempts to seize the National Butterfly Center under eminent domain and Congress considers funding $5 billion more towards Trump’s wall, the Rio Grande Valley is at risk of being walled off and degrading one of the richest natural regions in the country.
This film follows the stories of Executive Director of the National Butterfly Center Marianna Trevino Wright, former migrant worker and long time human rights activist Zulema Hernandez, and la mariposa, as they combat against the destruction of the Monarch butterfly’s remaining habitat.
This month’s panelists includes:
- Marianna Trevino Wright, Executive Director of the National Butterfly Center
- TBD
Free to the public, though donations are kindly appreciated. Rice Cinema is located at 2030 University Blvd, near Stockton and University.
- 6:30 PM Reception, with complementary refreshments
- 7:00 PM Film screening
- 8:00 PM Panel Discussion
- 9:00 PM The conversation continues at Valhalla, Rice University’s Graduate Student Pub
For questions about transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event go to https://park-trans.rice.edu/
The films presented by the Houston Green Film Series are free to public and funded by volunteer efforts, in-kind contributi
“There has to be a fuel revolution.”
-Donnie Tipton of Going Green Grease Recycling
Set in Houston, Texas in the shadow of the nation’s oil industry, Hot Grease tells the surprising story of how the biodiesel industry is turning an ostensibly worthless raw material, spent kitchen grease, into a renewable energy source capable of fueling cars, buses and fleets of trucks throughout the country.
The millions of gallons of cooking oil that our country’s restaurants use to fry up chicken, fries, and donuts used to end up as waste in landfills and pollutants in our waterways. But today, thanks to innovators, entrepreneurs, and politicians, it’s being turned into a functional fuel: biodiesel. Biodiesel reduces carbon emissions up to 85% compared to petroleum fuel, the equivalent of removing over 19 million cars from our highways. This film dives into the untapped market of biodiesel as it rapidly becomes a commodity and individuals dedicate their livelihood to making it an accessible fuel choice in Houston.
This month’s panelists & exhibitors:
Chris Powers, Houston Biodiesel
Jody Gibson, Energy Institute High School
Michael McClere, Dependable Cooking Oil
Alona Hernandez, Houston Public Works
Ted Driscoll, Galveston Bay Foundation
Free to the public, though donations are kindly appreciated. Rice Cinema is located at 2030 University Blvd, near Stockton and University.
- 6:30 PM Reception & Refreshments
- 7:00 PM Film Screening
- 8:00 PM Panel Discussion
- 9:00 PM The conversation continues at Valhalla, Rice University’s Graduate Student Pub
For questions about transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event go to https://park-trans.rice.edu/
The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards is an annual awards program that honors achievements in environmental preservation and protection. There are ten diverse award categories that provide citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations an opportunity to obtain the state’s highest environmental honor and be recognized for their environmental projects. The deadline for submission is September 27th.
Since 1993, they have honored more than 250 successful environmental projects and efforts. By honoring these winners, the TCEQ hopes to encourage others to initiate like-minded projects and reinforce a spirit of environmental stewardship. These are the categories:
- Agriculture
- Civic/Community
- Education
- Environmental Educator of the Year
- Individual
- Innovative Operations/Management
- Pollution Prevention
- Technical/Technology
- Water Conservation
- Youth

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Join the prairie community of southeast Texas and coastal Louisiana as we celebrate the great work happening locally to save, restore, and teach prairies. We will present awards to prairie champions and enjoy a delicious potluck dinner. Register today!