PEC annual meeting
By Don Del Rosso
Lester R. Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, will give the big picture on "global sustainability" practices next week at the Piedmont Environmental Council's annual meeting.Workshops during the Saturday, Sept. 13 meeting at Caledonia Farm in Rapprahannock County will focus on the local application of such concepts to energy, farming and land conservation.
"Lester provides a unique, world view of things, where we traditionally have dealt with the issues of the Piedmont," said PEC Vice President Doug Larson, explaining the choice of Brown as the meeting's keynote speaker.It also sought Brown because "we've tried all along to find somebody who is provocative and interesting," Larson said. "He is certainly that."
Brown has extensive experience as a federal government analyst and advisor on international agriculture issues.
In 1969, he left the government and set up the Overseas Development Council. With the backing of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Brown established the Worldwatch Institute, the first research group dedicated to the study of global environmental issues.
Brown has a bachelor's degree in agricultural science from Rutgers (N.J.) University, a master's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University.
A recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, he has written or co-written 50 books.
PEC expects about 300 to attend the meeting, which will begin at 9 a.m.
The $25 per person registration fee includes a copy of Brown's book, "Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization."
Bring a picnic lunch or buy food from two local vendors at the meeting.
Workshops will start at 9:30 a.m. They include:
"Potential Uranium Mining in Virginia."
"The Case for Conservation: How Land Conservation is Benefiting All Virginians."
"The Commonwealth Farm Transition: Keeping Farmers on the Land."
"Powering the Piedmont."
"Restoring Trout Habitat and Water Quality on Your Land."
"Protecting Your Farm: Conservation Easements 101"
"Buy Fresh Buy Local: Just Do It!"
"The Journey Through Hallowed Ground: Birthplace of the American Ideal." National Geographic photographer and Broad Run resident Ken Garret will discuss his images in a recently published book with the same title. His book also will be for sale at the meeting.
"Preserving Bird Habitat in the Piedmont."
For more information, call Special Events Coordinator Soo Kim at 540-341-0175, extension 2#, or visit www.pecva.org.
E-mail the reporter: ddelrosso@timespapers.com