Climate change expert headlines VIU’s 4th annual Urban Issues Film Festival

One of the


world’s leading experts on climate change, Dr. Andrew Weaver, is the keynote


speaker at the 4th

Annual Urban Issues Film Festival on energy,


transportation and building alternatives at Vancouver Island University Feb. 5.

The


Festival, presented by VIU’s Department of Geography and the North Island


chapter of the Planning Institute of BC, the Geographic Students’ Union,


SOLUTIONS: A Network for Sustainability, and the New City Institute, includes a


panel discussion on local sustainability initiatives.

Weaver,


author of the recently published book Keeping Our Cool, is one of the


lead authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)


reports that have helped focus global world opinion on the severity of global


warming. As a result the organization was awarded, along with former


vice-president Al Gore, a Nobel Prize for its efforts.

Dr. Weaver,


who teaches at the University of Victoria, will speak at the film festival


venue at 6:30 pm. He’ll address the aftermath of the Copenhagen negotiations,


Canada’s role, and the lessons for cities as major agents of climate change.

A series of


short films, including The Street and How to Boil a Frog, begins


at 3 pm, and will continue after Dr. Weaver’s lecture. His talk will conclude


with a brief discussion by local sustainability practitioners. Admission is


free and complimentary pizza, popcorn, and beverages will be served at 5:45 pm.


Pre-registration is required at viu.geo.union@gmail.com

The


Festival takes place in Building 200, Room 203 at VIU, 900 Fifth Street,


Nanaimo.

The Don


Stone Annual Urban issues lecture is named after recently retired chair of the


Geography department who was active in local urban planning issues with The


Friends of Plan Nanaimo.

For more


information, contact Don Alexander by email don.alexander@viu.ca.

-30-

SCHEDULE FOR THE FOURTH ANNUAL URBAN ISSUES FILM


FESTIVAL

Venue: Building 200, Room 203 (Auditorium)

3:00 pm - welcome by sponsors (Geography, PIBC, Geographic


Students' Union, SOLUTIONS, and the New City Institute)

3:15- “The Street,” with Spiro Kostof (56 minutes) on the


evolution of transportation systems in the U.S.

4:15- discussion

4:30- “How to Boil a Frog” (75 minutes)

5:45- discussion

6:00- pizza break

6:15- introduction of Andrew Weaver

6:30- talk by Andrew Weaver followed by discussion

7:45- short break

8:00- short films on transportation, energy alternatives, and


green building alternatives

9:00- panel of local experts on sustainability (e.g.


International Composting Corporation, Regional District of Nanaimo, and


Cowichan Biodiesel Co-op).