Journalist Jason Motlagh Meets with
Students from 10 St. Louis Area Schools
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Last week, journalist Jason Motlagh met with students from ten St. Louis area schools (Collinsville, Crossroads, Hixson Middle, Lift for Life, Lindbergh, Parkway West, Nerinx Hall, SLUH, University City, and Webster Groves). Utilizing the remarkable Pulitzer Gateway web site that featured much of his writing, photos, and video, he presented comprehensive information to nearly 400 students over two days about current issues in India. The balanced perspectives that he brought to timely issues impressed students and generated some most insightful questions. Much of his focus was on how violence has diminished in Kashmir, the disputed area between India and Pakistan, but a more recent threat to India is the rise of Maoist groups. While there are millions in India who are prospering in today's global economy, still over 800 million are living on less than a dollar a day. Whether or not this will result in more success for the Maoists is unclear, but it certainly reflects an environment in which communism could become a more powerful force. Students have been blogging with Jason on the Pulitzer Global Gateway web site. Students and teachers alike can access the site at http://pulitzergateway.org/ and continue to blog. Jason will be available to respond.
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Jason speaks to students at Lindbergh High School
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Details on Civitas Feb. "Green Deal" Conference
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Here is a description of Civitas' "Green Deal" conference on Feb. 20-21. Below is a link to the application form as well as a listing of forty-two possible roles that students can play in the conference. By the way, note (in following story) that the first prep session for the conference is this Saturday, Feb. 7 at Crossroads. Sign up today for “The Civitas GREEN DEAL Conference” Friday, 5:00 pm -- Saturday, 3:00 pm, February 20-21, 2009 Comfort Inn/Spazio’s – 12031 Lackland Rd., Maryland Heights MO
Green is hot. Everyone talks about America “going green:” developing government policies that help the environment, or reverse environmental damage; and enacting and enforcing laws and regulations to save the planet.
It sounds great. But can it really be done?
What political, economic and social obstacles will have to be overcome to truly turn America green? What will we—as a society and as individuals—have to give up to get there? Who will help, and who will stand in the way? What compromises will have to be made to work around the obstacles and objections? These issues will be your focus at Civitas’ 2009 “GREEN DEAL” Conference. Here’s how it works: - You’ll play the role of someone in government, industry, business, a social/environmental group, a foreign government, etc., who has a point of view on going “green.” [Role choices are on the application form.]
- You’ll be assigned to a committee of 15-20 others, who will discuss and try to reach recommendations on how to make “going green” possible.
- Committees will meet in separate rooms on Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon and, at the end of the conference, share their recommendations with the other committees.
- Your committee may be asked to confront a surprise, emerging environmental crisis. Be ready to shift gears!
The GREEN DEAL conference is one in a series of similar conferences that Civitas has organized since 2001. It’s a chance to think analytically and creatively, and to interact with new people who share your interest in world issues.
Cost of the conference, including all meals and materials: $60. We offer generous scholarships, so that anyone can attend. Space is limited. Deadline for application: Friday, February 13, 2009.
For more information, call Arthur Lieber, 314-367-6480 or e-mail info@civitas-stl.com. You can sign-up on-line by clicking here.
Roles: | Sierra Club Executive Director | Exxon-Mobil CEO | Peabody Coal Co. CEO | | Dave Sinclair [U.S. auto dealer] | Organic farmer | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory agency chair | | Tom Seeger [Toyota dealer] | UN Environmental Programme | Disney planned community developer | | United Auto Workers leader | World Wildlife Fund Executive | Hurricane Katrina survivor | | Environment Protection Agency | U.S. Senator from California | Logging industry executive | | Solar panel manufacturer | U.S. Senator from Louisiana | Ameren UE nuclear plant director | | Windmill manufacturer | Non-believer in global warming | Chinese ambassador to U.S. | | Smurfit-Stone Recycling Company | Environmental scientist | Wal-Mart CEO | | Doctor specializing in cancer | High-school environmental club | New York Stock Exchange chairman | | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Meteorologist | CEO of Waste Management Co. | | U.S. Public Health Service Director | Marine biologist | Pediatrician | | Parent of a 3-year-old child | High-school science teacher | U.S. Treasury chairman | | Congressman Robert Wexler [D-FL] | U.S. Internal Revenue Director | Solar panel manufacturer | | Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-Maine] | Organic farmer | "Factory" farmer [pigs] | Reminder, you can sign-up on-line by clicking here. Click here for link to permission form.
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Prep Sessions for "Green Deal" Conference
begin this Saturday
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Saturday, February 7, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Crossroads (map); Background information and Q&A with Dave Sinclair, "the South County Ford, Pontiac, and Buick dealer" on how the American auto industry is responding to calls to "go green." You've probably seen Dave Sinclair on various television commercials or heard him on the radio; he is a strong advocate for American cars. Many environmentalists have criticized American auto manufacturers for being slow in becoming more environmentally sensitive, but Mr. Sinclair paints a different picture. He is well-schooled on the topic and his preference is to have lively give and take with students. After his presentation, we will review the student roles for the conference and explain more fully how it will work.
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Saturday, February 14, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Crossroads (map); Viewing of movie "An Inconvenient Truth," former Vice-President Al Gore's documentary on the fragile state of the planet's environment. Follow-up discussion and prep work. |
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Civitas Students to Participate in Black History
program sponsored with History Museum and
St. Louis Rams
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The St. Louis Rams, Missouri History Museum, and Civitas are sponsoring a special program for Black History month. It will most likely be on Thursday, February 26, at the History Museum from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Students from the following schools will be participating: Crossroads, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Metro, Miller Career Academy, Rosati-Kain, S.L.U.H., Soldan, University City, and Webster Groves. What will make the program unique is how interactive it will be. Following a film featuring clips of President Barack Obama's remarks in Grant Park on Election night and a tour of the museum's "St. Louis in Black and White" exhibit, there will be a panel discussion with 'Q&As' followed by small group discussions (approx. eight students per group), and then reports from each group to the entire group. Panelists & Breakout Session Facilitators will include: - Bryan Burwell, St. Louis Post-Dispatch [Panelist]
- Chris Draft, Linebacker, St. Louis Rams -- confirmed
- Reena Hajat, Director, Diversity Awareness Partnership [Facilitator]
- Priscilla Hill-Ardoin, community activist -- confirmed
- Alvin Reid, City Editor, St. Louis American [Panelist]
- Jamala Rogers
- Dr. Jonathan Smith, Professor, St. Louis U. -- confirmed [Panelist]
- Bob Wallace, Executive VP, St. Louis Rams -- confirmed [Panelist]
Thanks so much to a remarkable coordinating committee that includes: St. Louis Rams: Evan Ardoin, Cassidy Cleveland, Michael Yarbrough
Missouri History Museum: Melanie Adams, Alex Detrick
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Essay Contest College students & high-school seniors and juniors: you can enter this contest for an all-expenses paid trip to participate in our annual assembly in Washington, DC. The conference is called "Next Steps to Peace, Sustainability, and Justice" and it is sponsored by the Citizens for Global Solutions. For more information, click here.
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Upcoming Civitas Events
(Actual events in bold -- always subject to change when change occurs!) Black: High School Blue: Middle School
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| Date | Time | Place | Activity | Sat.,
02/07/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | "The Green Deal" Conference Prep Session #1 | Sat.,
02/14/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | "The Green Deal" Conference Prep Session #2 | | Fri., 02/20 -
Sat., 02/21/2009 | varies | Comfort Inn & Spazio's (map) | Active Citizenship Conference: "The Green Deal" | Mon.,
02/23/2009 | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Richmond Heights Comm. Center (map) | Middle School Teacher Meeting #3 with Resolution Selection |
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Civitas Associates
10845 Olive Blvd.
Suite #155
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141
Phone: (314) 367-6480
Fax: (314) 367-7742
info@civitas-stl.com
www.kidswhothink.org
Director: Arthur Lieber Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009
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What's Civitas? See video below: |
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Civitas simulation on "Carefully Getting out
of Iraq"
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