This year’s Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, “Earth Too Big to Fail,” not only has one of the best slogans in the event’s 31-year history, but a plethora of panels, internationally-known speakers and young minds agitating for legal environmental reforms.
The student-run conference, to be held Feb. 28 to March 3 at various UO locations, has grown from a gathering of 15 speakers and 75 participants in 1983 to one of the world’s premier environmental conferences in the world today, attracting more than 3,000 people from around the globe.
The conference is organized solely by the volunteers of Land Air Water (LAW), a student environmental law society, and is sponsored by Friends of Land Air Water (FLAW), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Conference co-organizer Margaret Townsend, a second-year law student who plans to practice environmental law with a focus on water quality advocacy, says every keynote, panel, roundtable and workshop at this year’s conference will be unique and interesting. Organizers are especially excited about the opening ceremonies.
“Members of the Grande Ronde Tribes are coming to perform a traditional welcome to the 3,000-plus activists, attorneys, students, scientists and concerned citizens from more than 50 countries who will attend the conference over the course of the weekend,” Townsend says.
This year's lineup of keynote speakers includes:
- Caroline Cannon, Inupiat Native Alaskan; 2012 Goldman Prize Winner for fighting arctic oil drilling
- John C. Cruden, President of the Environmental Law Institute
- Jim Gerritsen, Organic Farmer and President of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA); lead plaintiff in OSGATA v. Monsanto
- Hilton Kelley, 2011 Goldman Prize Winner for his environmental justice work on the Texas Gulf Coast
- Thomas Linzey, Executive Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
- Thuli Brilliance Makama, Environmental lawyer in Swaziland; 2010 Goldman Prize Winner
- Our Children’s Trust Youth Plaintiffs, Xiutezcatl Martinez (12) from Colorado, Ashley Funk (18) from Pennsylvania and Eshe Sherley (18) from Massachusetts, suing the government to take action on climate change
- Gerald Torres, Bryant Smith Chair of Law at UT-Austin School of Law; a leading figure in critical race theory and the public trust doctrine
- Ed Whitelaw, Economist and Founder of EcoNorthwest
In addition to the keynoters, highlights of this year’s conference include panels on hot issues and presentations on practical matters.
Climate change is a very hot topic this year, with several panels devoted to issues and concerns. A few of those panels include: “Climate Standing After Mass. v. EPA: Precedent, Pitfalls, and Pointers,” on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in the EMU Fir Rm.; “Land, Climate Justice, and Wildlife Conservation in Africa,” with keynoter Thuli Brilliance Makama on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in the EMU Oak Rm.; and “CLIMATE CRISIS: Affluence, Materialism & Survival,” on Friday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the EMU Fir Rm.
Other panels focusing on current environmental issues include “Stopping Tar Sands: Avoiding Climate and Environmental Disaster,” on Friday, March 1, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Knight Law Rm. 175; and “Offshore Oil Leasing—Slowing the Rush to Drill,” on Saturday, March 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the EMU Walnut Room.
In addition to the hot button issues, law students can receive practical information, including “Student Loan Repayment for Public Interest Lawyers,” on Friday, March 1, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the EMU Metolius Rm.; and “Using Experts Effectively,” on Saturday, March 2, from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in the EMU Ben Linder Room. (Check PIELC website and door signage for updates on any room changes.)
Those traveling to this year’s PIELC can offset their carbon footprints, too.
Land Air Water is teaming up with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to ensure that 100 percent of carbon offset donations will fund the development of renewable energy sources.
See the PIELC website for a full conference brochure and information.
- by Aria Seligmann, UO Office of Strategic Communications