Environmentalist, artist and author Franke James to speak at UCCS

Sustainability and the environment aren’t usually topics that bring Alice in Wonderland to mind. But Toronto artist, designer and author Franke James will explain it all at 12:15 p.m. March 2 in the third floor apse of the Kraemer Family Library in El Pomar Center at UCCS. Admission is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available.

James’ presentation, “Nurture Your Inner-Alice-in-Wonderland for a Sustainable World,” discusses challenging the powers that be, conventional wisdom and old ways of doing things, drawing on her own personal experience pursuing a greener alternative. Her clashes with family and friends and even the City of Toronto to make a more sustainable world is related with humor and verve in her book, Bothered by My Green Conscience. She’ll talk about how everyone can go green through small steps.

James has six rules for creating a more sustainable planet. They are: listen to your green conscience, challenge authority, amplify your voice, play with rules, imagine a better world and do the hardest thing first. She will offer examples of how these six rules are currently being applied around the world and how they are leading to a more sustainable world.

Her personal story includes an individual twinge of guilt that resulted in getting rid of a gas-guzzling SUV. She followed this with an attempt to remove the paved driveway in front of her home to plant greenery. Her acts of environmental remorse were stymied when City of Toronto officials told James she was not allowed to tear out the driveway. When she fought city hall and won, she began a career as an environmental activist.

James now tours to promote personal action and responsibility on environmental issues, and last December attended the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. She will be signing copies of her book following her talk.

James’ appearance is the latest UCCS Legacy Lecture, an annual series of informative presentations started by Jane and Doug Johnson. Doug Johnson was a long-time UCCS staff member who worked in the Office of Student Financial Aid.

For more information, contact Jane Lloyd, 255-3068, or Hans Post Uiterweer [email protected], or visit http://www.uccs.edu/~library/events or www.frankejames.com