Middlebury students to host climate change conference

April 16, 2008

MIDDLEBURY ― College and high school students from across Vermont will come to Middlebury College starting Saturday for the Power Shift Vermont Youth Climate Conference.

Power Shift Vermont will focus on empowering and educating Vermont youth with the tools they need to take action on the climate crisis and find solutions. The conference includes a weekend of events followed by a trip to Montpelier on Monday to lobby lawmakers for strong legislation aimed at combating climate change.

Over the weekend students will also prepare to lobby legislators at the Statehouse in Montpelier with the help of Johanna Miller of the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) and James Moore of Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). On their trip to Montpelier, students will rally at the Statehouse at 10 a.m. in support of the Vermont Senate bill S.350, which cuts Vermont carbon emissions at least 75 percent by 2050. They will also advocate for the creation of a green jobs program in Vermont and encourage renewable energy and sustainability in all sectors, including heating and transportation. They will meet with lawmakers throughout the day to discuss these issues.

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Young Pakistanis at UVM Absorb Lessons About Vermont

July 25th, 2007

During the month of July, 20 Fulbright scholars from Pakistan are studying at the University of Vermont before returning to complete degrees in electrical engineering, journalism and bioinformatics. A bright, funny, sophisticated bunch, they were selected from a pool of more than 1000 applicants for this Institute for Student Leaders. It is one of seven such programs funded by the U.S. State Department and hosted by American universities. On a recent Friday the group takes time from a packed schedule to talk to a reporter — in perfect English — about their impressions of Vermont and their lives back home.

What lessons has the group learned about democracy? “Transparency and accessibility,” says Mustafa Haroon, 19. He notes they are also impressed by the volunteer work Vermonters do, such as for VISTA and VPIRG. McMahon says that’s another aspect of democracy to take home. “It is very possible that, as a result of this visit, a number of them will look towards careers or avocations based on community service or development,” he says.


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