League of Women Voters offers two excellent speakers for Earth Day celebration

Joyce Hale reports:
The League of Women Voters would like to invite non-members to hear one or both of the special speakers we have invited to our state convention. It will be held at the Fayetteville Library on Sat., April 25. As an Earth Day activity, we think that both of these programs have important ecological messages.

Dr. Matlock's presentation is an important big picture of water issues and the reality of future needs. He gave this program to the Annual Meeting of the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association and was so well received we asked for an encore. If you missed him there, here is a chance to see a fine presentation.

Dr. Theo Colborn is a Paonia, Colorado scientist who has won international awards for her studies of chemical influence of the endocrine system. When she found herself near one the massive natural gas development regions of the West, she and her non-profit science foundation evaluated the process in light of her years of chemical study. Her warnings of the dangers have alerted Congress and residents of impacted areas to the protections that are needed because of Federal safety exemptions granted the oil and gas industry.

I hope you will schedule one or both of these programs into your recognition of Earth Day and pass this information to others. I add more detail below. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Happy Earth Day!

Joyce

10:15 to 11:30 a.m. – "Everything is Connected: Water Quality in Arkansas and Poverty in Africa" by Dr. Marty Matlock, Associate Professor of Ecological Engineering in the Biological and Ecological Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Matlock is deeply involved in sustainability and the impact of humans on ecosystems, especially water. In working toward ecosystem restoration design and management he serves as an advisor for five national organizations and provides technical support for USDA FAS in the Mid-East Peace Process.

2:00 to 3:15 p.m. – “What You Need to Know About Natural Gas Production and Delivery” by Dr. Theo Colborn, who has written and lectured widely on the human health and environmental threats posed by endocrine disruptors and other industrially-produced chemicals at low concentrations in the environment. Dr. Colborn founded a scientific non-profit organization which reports environmental policy development and analysis, environmental advocacy, medical ethics, philosophy and children's environmental health. As a Colorado resident, she has studied the impact of natural gas development and is nationally recognized for warning the public of related health risks.