Wednesday,
October 14, 2009
Why the
Future Isn't What It Used to Be
Presenter:
Dr. Bill Catton, author, professor emeritus WSU
Location:
Garfield Book Co./Community Room
Time:
10:30 am
Class Fee:
$10
Class
Coordinator: Bette Catlin, 253-846-0354
Progress was
supposed to be "our most important product." But social disorganization,
demoralization, and conflict must be expected to escalate throughout the 21st
century. Monumental social changes (and troubles) in coming decades will be
misunderstood. This class will show why the concept of carrying capacity needs to become part of everyone's
working vocabulary. In our time our cultural heritage, which shapes our
lifestyles, mores, values, and expectations, was formed in an era when Earth's
human carrying capacity was exceeded. Our carrying capacity surplus is gone, eroded by population explosion and environmental impacts. We are living in an era of a carrying capacity deficit.. Living on a finite planet compels us
to change.
Dr. Catton is a sociologist known for his work in human ecology. He
has authored five books and the most recent is Bottleneck:
Humanity's Impending Impasse. He is now Professor Emeritus of Sociology at WSU. He earned his M. A. and
his Ph.D. at UW. He and his wife, Nancy, live
in Lakewood.
Thursday,
October 22, 2009
Challenges
of Mt. Everest
Presenter: Jason Edwards
Location: Garfield Book Co./Community Room
Time: 4:00 pm (Please note afternoon class time)
Class
Coordinator: Gene Giannobile,
dgg2504@comcast.net, 531-9037
On May 23,
2001 Jason Edwards summited Mt. Everest from the South Side (Nepal).
Jason will share with the class the preparation that is required to accomplish
such an undertaking starting with the physical conditioning and practice climbs that are required. Training is only the first step to
facing the challenges of Everest and he will take us through those various
windows.
The Nepalese
call Mt. Everest "Sagarmantha" meaning the "summit over the sky." Rising 29,035
feet it is literally located on top of
the world. More than 2200 people have succeeded in climbing the mountain. It was George Mallory who answered the question, "So why climb Everest?" with, "because it is there." Actually, it is more than that. Once one
has challenged its heights it has a lasting effect on ones life. You receive a
lifetime dose of humility and exhilaration.
Jason Edwards says he has a great situation when he manages to
combine his passion for climbing, his nose for business, and his love of
teaching and each aspect enhances the other. Jason was hooked on climbing at
age 16 when he summited Mr. Rainier. Since then he has been to the top of Mr.
Rainier over 300 times. He is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and is
a teacher in the Puyallup School district at Stahl JH. He is a Certified Alpine
Guide and completed the Seven Summits. You can schedule adventures through
Jason's business www.mountainexperience.com.