If you believe that workable answers cannot be found if good questions are not asked, then you may well have liked last weekend's Civitas "Green Deal" conference.  Students played twenty-three roles and explored numerous complexities in addressing environmental issues.

Two unexpected crises were presented; one with a dire warning of an 80% chance of a "Hurricane Katrina or worse" in the next five years; the other with drought not seen since the dust bowl occurring in the Atlanta metropolitan area as well as much of the American southwest.  Students wrestled with a variety of approaches to the problems, with constant conflict between those representing private interests (Exxon-Mobil, Peabody Coal, Wal-Mart) vs. those representing government agencies (Environmental Protection Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission), non-profit advocacy groups (Sierra Club, World Wildlife Foundation), and entrepreneurs (solar panel manufacturers, windmill manufacturers, etc.).  Agreement was reached that research should be largely conducted by universities and other "think tanks" not being funded by fossil fuel companies.

Students worked in two committees, each of which often broke into small groups to brainstorm questions and possible solutions.  Some students "felt the pain" of representing a position with which they disagreed; all did a fine job of playing their roles and making the conference quite realistic.

While are not planning a formal write-up of the work of the committees (because experience has taught us that this doesn't happen), students will be passing along their findings with friends, classmates, parents, etc.  The issues are profound and they are being addressed in part through the "stimulus package" passed by Congress ten days ago and signed a week ago by President Obama.  However, much more needs to be done, and nearly forty students are now much wiser citizens with special interest in finding solutions.  Thanks to all of them.  They are:

Role	Student	School
Ameren U.E. Nuclear Plant Director	Steve Sigman	S.L.U.H., 2009
E.P.A. Administrator	Erin Fagan	St. Joseph, 2011
E.P.A. Administrator	Megan Niedringhaus	St. Joseph, 2009
Exxon Mobil CEO	Emma Short	Webster Groves, 2009
Global Warming Non-believer	Claire Gavin	Webster Groves, 2010
High School Environmental Club	Princess Pullen	St. Joseph, 2010
High School Science Teacher	Elizabeth Sullivan	St. Joseph, 2011
Land Developer	Meg Rogers	Rosati-Kain, 2009
Louisiana Senator	Jeromy Gully	University City, 2010
Marine Biologist	Elizabeth Dulle	St. Joseph, 2011
Marine Biologist	Sonya McCanna	Nerinx Hall, 2011
New York Stock Exchange Chairman	Logan Hayward	S.L.U.H., 2011
New York Stock Exchange Chairman	Josh  Priddy	Collinsville, 2009
Organic Farmer	Joyce LaFontaine	Rosati-Kain, 2009
Parent of 3 year old child	Caitlin Drummond	Rosati-Kain, 2011
Parent of 3 year old child	Mandi Roper	Rosati-Kain, 2010
Peabody Coal CEO	Amara Kearney	Webster Groves, 2009
Pediatrician	Kelly McCann	Nerinx Hall, 2011
Sierra Club Director	Colleen Madden	St. Joseph, 2010
Solar Panel Manufacturer	Michelle Kramer	St. Joseph, 2011
U.N. Environmental Programme	Abigail Henderson	Fox (Arnold), 2010
U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers	Jeremy Ayres	Maplewood-RH, 2011
U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers	Sean Drummond	S.L.U.H., 2010
U.S. Senator from California	Victoria Cacchione	Nerinx Hall, 2011
United Auto Workers Leader	Kimberly Dulle	Ritenour, 2010
United Auto Workers Leader	Katharine Joiner	Lindbergh, 2010
Wal-Mart CEO	Luke Babich	University City, 2012
Wal-Mart CEO	Henry Sengmany	Maplewood-RH, 2009
Windmill Manufacturer	Martha Orlet	Nerinx Hall, 2011
Windmill Manufacturer	Tony Sanchez	Maplewood-RH, 2009
World Wildlife Fund Exec.	Maria DiPaola	Lindbergh, 2010
World Wildlife Fund Exec.	Missy Kern	Ritenour, 2011

Civitas Students to Participate in Black History
program sponsored with History Museum and
St. Louis Rams 

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: Cardinal Ritter, Collinsville, Crossroads, Metro, Miller Career Academy, Ritenour, Rosati-Kain, S.L.U.H., 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:

• Chris Draft, Linebacker, St. Louis Rams -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Reena Hajat, Director, Diversity Awareness Partnership [Facilitator]
• Priscilla Hill-Ardoin, community activist -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Alvin Reid, City Editor, St. Louis American [Panelist]
• Jamala Rogers, Director, Organization for Black Struggle -- confirmed [Panelist]
• 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