2017 Coalition Against Environmental Racism 23rd Annual CAER Conference
“Wisdom in Water: Protecting a Universal Right”
CAER is a University of Oregon student organization committed to bridging the gaps of social and environmental equality. Environmental Racism addresses the fact that underprivileged people, specifically communities of color, are disproportionately impacted by pollution, waste disposal, hazardous sites, resource depletion, and natural disasters in the natural and built environment. CAER exists as a resistance to this inequality, and as a strong and visible piece of the Environmental Justice Movement — a movement composed of the mobilization of people, communities, and organizations committed to fighting Environmental Racism in urban and rural settings across the country and the world.
The theme for our conference this year is centered around water due to the recent struggles the state of Oregon and the nation face in regards to clean water and access.
We have the honor of hosting the Father of Environmental Justice as our keynote speaker. Robert D. Bullard is Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy in the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. He is often described as the father of environmental justice <http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/03/14/dicum/>. Professor Bullard received his Ph.D. degree from Iowa State University. He is the author of 17 books that address sustainable development, environmental racism, urban land use, industrial facility siting, community reinvestment, housing, transportation, climate justice, emergency response, smart growth, and regional equity. Professor Bullard was featured in the July 2007 CNN People You Should Know, Bullard: Green Issue is Black and White
<http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/17/pysk.bullard/index.html> . In 2008, Newsweek named him one of 13 Environmental Leaders of the Century <http://www.bet.com/news/national/photos/2011/04/top-black-environmentalists.html#!042111-news-national-environment-robert-bullard>. And that same year, Co-op America honored him with its Building Economic Alternatives Award (BEA).
Please join us to discuss these important issues, to learn about Environmental Justice advocates’ work and discuss ways in which we can continue to restore ourselves and our communities.
Follow our Facebook event page for more details and updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/170318886801565/
RSVP to the conference: tinyurl.com/CAER2017 (It is not required to RSVP but we highly encourage)
9:00 AM – Free Breakfast – Straub Hall Atrium
10:00-10:15 AM – Welcome – CAER Organizers – Straub Hall
10:15-11:15 AM – Panel Presentation – Straub Hall
Huy Ong with OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon and Lisa Arkin with Beyond Toxics
11:15-11:30 AM – Break
11:30-12:30 AM – LNG Pipeline Organizing – Straub Hall
Hannah Sohl Co-Founder and Director at Rogue Climate
12:45- 1:45 PM – Lunch – Redwood Auditorium
2:00-3:50 PM – Workshop Presentation – “What We Stand For” – Straub Hall
Winnemen Wintu Tribal Spritual Leader – Chief Caleen Sisk,
Winnemen Wintu Tribe Cultural Preservation Officer- Pompahatot Tuiymiyali,
Representatives of the Mauna Kea ‘Ohana Na Kia’I Mauna, Idle No More Hawai’i Warriors Rising and Idle No More Mauna Kea – Pua Case and <https://www.facebook.com/hawane.rios> Hāwane Rios
4:00-5:30 PM – Keynote Speaker – Straub Hall
Father of Environmental Justice Dr. Robert Bullard
6:00 PM – Dinner – Global Scholars Hall
7:00 PM – Closing – Global Scholars Hall
We thank our sponsors for your contributions to this conference:
University of Oregon Department of Ethnic Studies
University of Oregon Environmental Studies
University of Oregon Native American Studies
Center for Latino/a & Latin American Studies
University of Oregon Sociology Department
University of Oregon Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management.
MEChA de UO
University of Oregon Career Center
Holden Center
Radical Organizing Activist Resource Center – ROAR
UO Student Sustainability Center