PRESS RELEASE
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Quechee, VT

CONTACT:
Rebecca Hooper
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
802-359-5001 x231
rhooper@vinsweb.org
www.vinsweb.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bill McKibben Discusses Climate Change at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Quechee, VT – July 16, 2007 – The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) was pleased to host Bill McKibben on July 11, 2007, for an enlightening talk on global warming and his new book, Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future. McKibben came directly to the VINS Nature Center from Montpelier, Vermont, where he had just witnessed the defeat of an attempt to override Governor Jim Douglas's veto of energy bill H 520, which would have set a state goal of producing 25 percent of the energy consumed within the state by means of renewable resources. McKibben spoke to a crowd of almost 200 people in VINS' new program and exhibition pavilion.

McKibben emphasized the importance of local community in people's lives, curtailing fossil fuel consumption, and moving away from the “hyper-individualism” of today's American society. “I believe that the more we nurture the essential humanity of our economy, the more we will recapture our own,” said McKibben on Wednesday evening.

McKibben, a resident of Ripton, Vermont, and scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College, is making numerous appearances throughout New England this summer to build on the momentum of his Step It Up 2007 initiative. Step It Up 2007 was held on April 14th this year to send a message to Congress to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050. It became the largest demonstration on global warming ever held in the United States with gatherings in more than 1,000 communities nationwide, including many communities in the Upper Valley.

“We are thrilled to have Bill McKibben here to culminate VINS' spring series of speakers and workshops on the important issue of climate change and what individual citizens and local communities can do to mitigate it,” said VINS President John Dolan. “People in Vermont and New Hampshire are highly motivated to learn about the details of climate change and what they can do about it. VINS' speakers series has been well received, and we plan to provide more learning opportunities for the community like this in the fall and in 2008.”

For 35 years, VINS has nurtured children's and adults' interest in wildlife and the environment through its school-based environmental education programs, community environmental education and research programs, and nationally acclaimed avian rehabilitation work. VINS' programs enable children and adults of all ages to gain direct exposure to real current science and learn the value and importance of being good stewards of the natural world.

Founded in 1972, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science is a non-profit education and research organization headquartered in Quechee, Vermont. VINS' mission is to protect our natural heritage through education and research.

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