I spent this past Friday at a sustainable development forum at MIT. I got introduced to Zumix and "e" inc., two inspiring community youth organizations that do amazing things, and got to hear lovely and sensible Peter Forbes speak about the importance of community and story-telling. I went to the conference because I just love learning about this stuff and because I'm realizing that I'd love for my career to include making quality 'green education' possible for kids!

At the forum, there was one great break out session on green education. Beyond that, in other public discussions about sustainability and environment that I've experienced (even including yesterday's Focus the Nation Teach-In), there is barely mention of the realities of education as a means to address environmental issues; I hear a whole lot more about policy and legislation than the daunting task of trying to change people's mindsets. (I get this. I'm constantly aware as a vegetarian that people are stubborn about certain basic lifestyle things, and that they're tired of being deluged with information about a situation that seems hopeless.)

When we do get to the point of realizing that green education is vitally important (like media literacy, and debt/consumer education) in the 21st century, figuring out how to do it and who bears the responsibility for it is going to be an interesting undertaking!

Claire and I met Liz (a green consultant for schools) and Gena (who does marketing for an architecture firm that's planning some cool wind energy stuff) at the conference, and we took a lunchtime stroll along the Charles River. Liz sent these pictures and I love them- especially the one with the 'floelings' of ice. (About this time last year I posted a picture of floelings in Anchorage!)