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Author Mike Tidwell visits Kendall Center and declares, "this building inspires me."

On March 12, students of all ages came to the Universities at Shady Grove to hear author, activist Mike Tidwell. Tidwell is author of The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities. He is director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to promoting solutions to global warming in Maryland. He received the Audubon Naturalist Society's prestigious "Conservation Award" in 2003.

Tidwell spoke passionately about climate change, its devastating effects, and the need for immediate action. He spoke specifically about Hurricane Katrina and how the warning signs were there, but ignored by officials. He told he crowd that we are at the "tipping point" with respect to our climate, and reminded them that "...we are all New Orleanians."

The audience included MCPS students from Poolesville's Global Ecology Program, staff and faculty from various USM institutions as well as senior citizens who are members of��the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI UMD). After the lecture, the Poolesville students had the opportunity to speak to the author, and their questions ranged from concerns about wind turbines to questions like, "I'm only in high school...what can I do to help?" The students were clearly engaged by the author, and took his message about fighting for climate change seriously. One of the final questions was from a Poolesville student who noted, "Well, after today, I don't think we'll ever leave a room without turning out the lights."

Tidwell had a chance to tour the newly constructed Camille Kendall Academic Center, prior to the lecture. While speaking on climate change, he remarked, "If every building was built this way, we'd be on our way to solving global warming". The Kendall Center was opened in August of 2007, and was awarded a GOLD LEED rating from the United States Green Building Council.

The lecture was sponsored by OLLI UMD and the USG Green Committee. To find out more about Mr. Tidwell, go to www.chesapeakeclimate.org.