The Culver City Democratic Club is sponsoring a four-person panel to explore energy alternatives at Wednesday’s 7 o’clock monthly meeting in the Rotunda Room at the Vets Auditorium.
Here is how the community activist Meghan Sahli-Wells, in part, set the mood for an aggressive energy discussion in this month’s club newsletter:
“Japan’s nuclear meltdowns, the fatal BP explosion and oil spill, ongoing wars in oil-producing countries, and many extreme weather events all stem from our energy policy choices.
“Today the number and scale of energy-related catastrophes have reached a critical mass. Meanwhile, in Washington the EPA is under attack, and multinational corporations, including oil and energy companies, have unlimited influence, thanks to ‘Citizen’s United.’
“Our society depends on cheap, abundant energy; but where does it come from?
“Beyond the individual utility bill, what are the true costs of today’s energy?
“How do they affect social justice, water, air, wildlife, human health? What about war? How long will fossil fuel, nuclear, coal and gas last?
“Are renewable energy sources going to fulfill our current needs? Or do we have to make conservation part of our energy policy?”
Here is the panel, as identified by Ms. SDahli-Wells:
Michelle Weiner, an educator for 25 years who has led workshops in America and India on progressive, non-authoritarian education and parenting. She is the director of Transition Culver City.
Evan Gillespie is the Sierra Club’s lead organizer on the L.A. Beyond Coal Campaign. He has earned a master’s degree in science and environmental policy from Bard College.
Brian Treanor, an associate professor of philosophy, also is Director of Environmental Studies at Loyola Marymount University. His academic foci are hermeneutics, environmental philosophy, continental philosophy, theology and ethics.
Dr. Jimmy Hara, clinical professor of family medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine, UCLAS, has served for 30 years on the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles. President for 15 years, he now is Vice President.
