Colorado Bioneers returns for eighth year

Event on Boulder campus looks to connect environment, health, social justice

The eighth Annual Colorado Bioneers is set for Friday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 7, on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus.

The Colorado Bioneers is a companion to the national Bioneers event, part of a national movement to inspire connections between environment, health, social justice and spirit, and to shift how people regard the Earth, one another and future generations. Each year, it creates community opportunities for discourse and action, and brings together the region's progressive ideas, people and organizations.

The event features a broadcast of the national event's plenary presentations, which are augmented locally by music and arts, networking, children's eco-activities, field trips, sessions, workshops and keynotes addressing topics of regional importance and community solutions.

Local featured presentations include Stuart Lord of Naropa University, Ann Cooper of Boulder Valley School District, Louise Bennally from Big Mountain Dineh Nation, Ietef Vita of the GrowHaus and Going Green Living Bling, and the Rev. Peter Sawtell with Eco-Justice Ministries.

Local keynote speaker Jonathan Waterman will present the Save the Colorado Campaign and speak about his book, "Running Dry: A Journey From Source to Sea Down the Colorado River," at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, in Humanities B150. Waterman's presentation is free and open to the public.

Some 30 sessions and workshops will cover a wide range of topics and issues, including food and farming, renewable energy, indigenous wisdom, biomimicry, climate, sustainable economics, green building, youth, worms, and eco-equity.

The Colorado Bioneers event is produced by the CU Environmental Center in collaboration with Transition Colorado, Blue and Yellow Logic, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Naropa University, Center for Resource Conservation and Woodbine Ecology Center.

For more information or to register, visit http://ecenter.colorado.edu/bioneers.