Earth Week events slated
POTSDAM — Potsdam will kick off Earth Week with the WCKN premiere of "Peak Moment Television," a show about finding new energy solutions, and a town hall forum about sustainability sponsored by Clarkson University.
The recently formed group Potsdam and Canton Transition wants to address the coming energy crisis with local solutions. PACT is partially funding the "Peak Moment" television show on Clarkson's Channel 30 to raise awareness about alternative energy and efficiency.
"We're trying to give people tools to think about energy and how can they can get a hold of their own use and the cost, so they can plan for the inevitable rise in prices. I don't think anybody really thinks $2 gas is here to stay," said Donna E. Seymour, a member of the group's steering committee.
"Peak Moment" host Janaia Donaldson discusses energy decline and economic uncertainty on tours of homes and businesses and in interviews with guests in the half-hour program.
The first broadcast is titled "Meeting the Energy Challenge," and will air at 7 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday.
The programs are funded by Ms. Seymour and her family, and Clarkson's Center for Ex-cellence in Communication. DVDs of "Peak Moment TV" will soon be available in the Potsdam and Canton public libraries.
"One of our main goals is just education, to make sure people understand what peak oil is and what local sustainability is. From the point of view of the village officials who have been involved, we're also looking at resiliency in the event of a local emergency," Ms. Seymour said. "We want to have people as well prepared as they can be."
PACT meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month in the civic center community room.
Clarkson University students are leading the charge for the second annual Focus the Nation event, a nationwide day of education and dialogue about global warming and the energy challenge.
"This has really been driven by students, and they really want to try to get the community involved this year," college spokesman Michael P. Griffin said.
Clarkson's Environmental Conservation Organization and New York Water Environment Association are organizing a town hall forum to discuss energy issues.
The panel includes Greg Hart, regional director of the north country chapter of the Workforce Development Institute; Ann L. Heidenreich, executive director of Community Energy Services; Abigail D. Lee, Potsdam village trustee, and Michael O. Ryan, president and chief executive officer of North Bay Technology Development.
Clarkson University philosophy professor William Vitek will moderate the discussion.
The Focus the Nation forum will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Potsdam High School auditorium.
Earth Week celebrations will wrap up with the North County Sustainable Energy Fair & Home Tour on April 24 and 25 at SUNY Canton.
ON THE NET
Focus the Nation: www.clark
son.edu/focusthenation
Peak Moment Television:
www.peakmoment.tv
