Category Archives: Past Events

Tim Echols, Public Service Commissioner, in Athens

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Today in Athens GC3 sponsored a very well attended, enthusiastic and informative round table discussion with Tim Echols, our elected North-east GA Public Service Commissioner. For those who may not know: the Public Service Commission is the elected board of representatives who regulate our monopolistic energy company in GA, Georgia Power. They also moderate with GA Power’s parent, Southern Company. We are very fortunate here in GA because we have an elected commission, and our reps are responsive to the citizens when it comes to how we get the electricity we all use for everything everyday. There were city managers and planners in attendance, our County Commissioner Melissa Link, faculty from the UGA Departments of Computer Science, Medical Science and Journalism, Engineering, Marine Biology, Ecology and the UGA Office of Sustainability, a local attorney, graduate students and UGA Beyond Coal campaigners, a local solar engineer and installer, and members of the GC3 and Bike Athens board. Some of the highlights of the conversation included the new solar experimental farm going in on South Milledge, the ap GA Power is developing right now to help people track and manage their power usage, and merging that with a pre-pay system to more forcefully encourage energy efficient behavior. Mr. Echols described the concerted pressure from the PSC on GA Power to develop more utility scale solar facilities. He had great insights as to the best tact, design and structure of efforts on the part of those of us who are campaigning to encourage our elected officials one way or another to act with respect to climate change. We talked about issues related to the under-construction nuclear plants, the role of natural gas in GA’s future energy generation mix, the purchase by GA Power of wind from OK, how individuals, groups, an institutions can best go about encouraging new testing and experimenting by GA Power on renewable/energy efficient technology, and of course! The newly passed solar leasing option, as well as the impending end of the federal solar tax credits and end to the state electric car subsidy. All this in an hour!!!IMG_20150522_130524_149[1] IMG_20150522_130545_137[1] IMG_20150522_133837_442[1] IMG_20150522_133842_372[1] IMG_20150522_133847_357[1] IMG_20150522_134101_617[1] IMG_20150522_142659_366[1]

GC3 in NYC (and NYT!)

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Selected news articles on the People’s Climate March:

http://www.redandblack.com/variety/climate-change-students-encouraged-to-join-the-cause/article_d26419da-3df7-11e4-b0aa-0017a43b2370.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/nyregion/new-york-city-climate-change-march.html

http://www.telegram.com/article/20140921/NEWS/309219688/1052

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-henn/a-climate-movement-that-c_b_5811264.html

EPA Climate Rally in Atlanta, July 29

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Next week, the EPA is holding hearings in Atlanta on the standards to reduce climate pollution from existing power plants announced in June. These unprecedented standards would regulate CO2 emissions from existing power plants. This plan is a necessary step in the move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the country.

To show support for this historic action, the Sierra Club is organizing a regional rally at the EPA’s hearing on the new climate action at Woodruff Park in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 29, beginning at noon in Woodruff Park. The hearings will take place on July 29 and 30 at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, Main Tower Bridge Conference Area, Conference Room B, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta

Click Here for more info and to RSVP for the Sierra Club rally. We would like to see a huge turnout from GCCC to show overwhelming support for climate action by the EPA.

Need a ride? Let us know (info@georgiaclimatecoalition.org) and we’ll try to coordinate car-pools to the event.

Can’t make it next week? Click here for several ways to send a comment to the EPA.

Prefer ice cream? The Climate Reality Project will also be in Atlanta for the hearings and handing out free Ben and Jerry’s. Click here for info and locations.

EARTHFEST 2014 - April 24

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Georgia River Network and Upper Oconee River Network are sponsoring EARTHFEST 2014 at Terrapin Brewery on Thursday, April 24th from 5:15-7:30pm. Come learn about upcoming events and ways to get involved from these eco-friendly local non-profits:

ACC Stormwater
ACC Leisure Services
Athens Farmers Market
Bike Athens
Broad River Watershed Association
Environmental Law Association
Georgia Bikes
Georgia Climate Change Coalition
Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful
Oconee River Audubon Society
Oconee River Land Trust
SORBA
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
UGA EcoReach Club
UGA Environmental Health Sciences Club
UGA Office of Sustainability
UGA Students for Environmental Action
Upper Oconee Greenway Commission

RSVP at the Facebook Event Page

EARTHFEST 2014 Flyer

Earth Day Rally - April 22, 2014

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As an Earth Day celebration, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition we will host a Rally on April 22 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Athens Clarke County Courthouse.

At “Earth Day Rally - Go Green ACC,” speakers will present and discuss a series of green initiatives that GCCC, our guests, and coalition partners would like to present to the Athens Clarke County Commission. (The priority initiatives will be drawn from the results of the GCCC 2014 Earth Day Survey, so take it now!)

One example: that ACC begin installing solar panels on their government buildings and structures - slowly but steadily - and serve as a “Go Green” model on energy use for our entire community.

There are other initiatives - yours and ours. Let us explore them on April 22. If you wish to speak (5-7 minutes worth) about your work and your priorities for “Go Green ACC,” please drop us a line at info@georgiaclimatecoalition.org .

Thin Ice at EcoFocus 2014

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This year’s EcoFocus Film Festival includes several films related to climate change, including Population Boom and Into The Gyre. We’re particularly excited about Thin Ice, a documentary that follows geologist Simon Lamb on a search to understand the science behind climate change. The film follows scientists, from biologists to physicists, who are investigating the climate to demonstrate the scientific consensus on human-induced climate change. The EcoFocus presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with three UGA scientists whose work involves climate and climate effects.

When: Sunday, March 23, 5:00 pm
Where: Ciné, 234 W. Hancock Ave, Athens.
Ticket Info

 

Climate Change from a Fly Fisher’s Perspective

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Program by Rich Rusk, Secretary, Georgia Climate Change Coalition

Friday, February 21, 2014, 1:00 - 2:15 PM
River’s Crossing - 850 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30602
1 session - $8 plus parking

Recently trained by Al Gore and his Climate Reality Project, Rich will blend Mr. Gore’s riveting and inspirational slides on climate change with his personal journey facing Vietnam’s carnage and his father’s role as secretary of state. “I learned how NOT to deal with Inconvenient Truths,” said Rich. An avid fly fisher and climate activist, Rich’s work with fellow Trout Unlimited fishers offers clues on rallying Americans at the grass roots. “Climate change threatens not only our trout and salmon, but the planet’s ecology and everything we hold dear in life.” Rich hopes to trigger vigorous discussion AND engagement.

Born in 1946, Rich joined the Marines after high school in D.C., studied political science at Cornell, then lived 14 years in Nome, Alaska where he fished for salmon, built houses, taught in Eskimo schools and co-founded a weekly newspaper. Moving to Athens in 1984 to co-author his dad’s memoirs (Dean Rusk), he married the former Janice Turner, did civil rights work and now focuses on climate change. Why? “Four kids and fly fishing.” Now active with Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club, 350.Org and the Athens-based Georgia Climate Change Coalition, Rich hopes to reach out to more conservative Americans. “To take global warming seriously, millions of our fellow citizens will need more than Sixties-era protest.”

For a guaranteed seat, pre-register at www.olli.uga.edu.

Build Signs for the Draw The Line Action - 9/18/2013

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Feeling creative? Can’t make it Saturday but you’d like to support the call to deny approval to the Keystone XL pipeline? Join us this Wednesday to make signs for the marchers.

Place: 480 Stanton Way, Athens, GA 30606
Time: 5:30-8:00 pm (rain or shine)

We’ll provide conference tables, sticks, latex paint in several colors, staplers, construction paper.

Materials we still need: colored markers, paper, cardboard for sign backing, ideas for slogans.

Questions/more info: Rich Rusk, GC3 Secretary, 706-202-7802 (cell)

Draw the Line on Keystone XL - 9/21/2013

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Draw the Line September 21On Sept. 21, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition and a newly created, 350.org Local Group—Athens will host “Draw the Line—Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline.” Protestors will gather at the D.W. Brooks Mall on UGA’s south campus at 10 a.m. The march will pass UGA’s coal-fired power plant through campus to convene at Athens’ City Hall where GC3 will announce an ACC Fossil Free/Divestment campaign.

March Route

Join us at 10 AM at the Miller Plant Sciences building to Draw The Line on Keystone XL.

PDF Map Download: DrawTheLineRoute

How to get to the Sept. 21 Anti-Pipeline Rally:

We want to encourage alternative transportation at all times but, since this rally takes place on a UGA home game day, traffic & parking will be extremely difficult. If you don’t live close enough to conveniently walk or ride a bike to the rally, we suggest you take a bus. If you must drive, please carpool.

2013 Annual Meeting - August 20

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Dear GC3 members, friends:

After a busy two years, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition (GC3) is hosting its second annual meeting next Tuesday, August 20 at Little Kings Shuffle Club in downtown Athens. Featuring GC3 highlights, refreshments, rally, visuals and music, we invite the general public to join us.

Please attend this important meeting. Bring family and friends. Contact your list servs and social media.

Thanks,

Rich Rusk, secretary

Georgia Climate Change Coalition

480 Stanton Way, Athens, GA 30606

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Georgia Climate Coalition Hosts Rally & Annual Meeting

On Tues, Aug. 20, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition, headquartered in Athens but with statewide reach, is hosting its second annual rally & meeting at Little Kings Shuffle Club (223 West Hancock Ave) in downtown Athens. Showtime is 6 p.m., when “GC3” will elect officers, review highlights and action plan, intermixed with music, refreshments, speakers and visuals.

“With its eclectic mix of faculty and students, researchers and activists, fly fishers and conservationists, GC3 and the Classic City are loaded with talent,” said GC3 secretary Rich Rusk, “Join with us as we face unsettling climate impacts and this huge threat to Georgia and the entire planet.”

For more information, contact info@georgiaclimatecoalition.org or call 2013 706-202-7802.