Rasmussen and Mychelako to speak on the Politics of Sustainability

Virginia Rasmussen and Cyril Mychelako are the speakers for the opening plenary session of Green Fest, Friday, August 7, 2009, 7:00 pm — 9:00 pm in Nevins Theater in the Powell Campus Center at Alfred University, Alfred, NY. Virginia will discuss who has the power to implement sustainability and the political changes that need to be made if we are to achieve real sustainability. Cyril will talk about rights for nature, including the rights to nature clauses in Ecuador's new Constitution, the challenges Ecuadorians face in seeing them upheld, and the lessons for activists here in the United States. Deborah Magone's musical performances will open and close the evening.

Virginia Rasmussen is a principal with POCLAD, the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy and co-founded the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Corporations v. Democracy campaign. She previously directed the Education Program at the New Alchemy Institute on Cape Cod and headed the Environmental Studies Program at Alfred University, Alfred, New York. Virginia lives in Alfred and is a trustee of the village of Alfred.

Cyril Mychelako is an editor at www.UpsideDownWorld.org, an online magazine covering politics and activism in Latin America. He won two Project Censored awards this year for his critical coverage of the "Rights to Nature" clauses in Ecuador's constitution and for an article about the Bush Administration withholding lifesaving aid from Haiti. His writing and analysis has appeared in publications such as the BBC, The New York Times Online, The Miami Herald, New Politics, www.CommonDreams.org, NACLA online, and Z Magazine. In 2006, he worked as an Intag Solidarity Network human rights observer - working in solidarity with communities resisting mining in Ecuador. Cyril worked in the Southern Tier in the summer of 2007 to end the war in Iraq. He serves on the board of the Canary Institute, a transnational collective of individuals engaged in research, writing, teaching, solidarity, and action that address the problem of catastrophic systemic collapse.

Deborah performs solo and with her rock band, The Deborah Magone Band. Deborah's CD, "Blues, Boogie & More......", was chosen as "2004 Best Blues CD" by Walkin' Willie of WDYN 90.1 in Rochester. Her television show "Greenline" aired on Greece, NY Cable Access Channel 12 and Rochester RCTV Channel 15. Her show, Iraq: War of Choice, can be viewed on Google Video.