March Upcoming Forums

March 1
"Poverty and AIDS/HIV in Africa" with Vernon Damani Johnson, WWU Professor of Political Science and African and African American Studies and Paul Barkley, Executive Director of Slum Doctor

Professor Johnson will give an overview of the cultures of the peoples of the Lake Victoria region located in Tanzania and Uganda.  Together, Vernon and Paul will talk about the model for community development being implemented by Slum Doctor, a program that has educated thousands about the relationship between poverty, orphans, gender inequality, and the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Paul will also speak about the Busoga Shining Light Association, an organization that has revealed that poverty and hunger are the root causes of the prevailing HIV/AIDS scourge and working to correct poverty and food insecurity, which is the group that they hope the BUF will partner with.

March 8
“Intestinal Fortitude - Have You Got the Guts?” with Steven Woods, M.D.   Gastroenterologist

How does our body distinguish the good from the bad amid the healthy and the lethal, the vast array of food, liquor, pills, and whatever else we send down?   Sound functioning of the human digestive system is a constant miracle which most of us ignore daily. 

March 15

“Parking Puzzles” with Paul James, Fairhaven Neighborhood Assn.

For years the Fairhaven District has failed to solve its parking crises.  What are possible solutions, and why are they so difficult to achieve?   Paul will place this in the larger and longer context of cultural adaptation and change over time. 

March 22            
 “What’s So Important about Snow?” with Scott Pattee, Water Supply Specialist with the Washington Snow Survey Office

In keeping with the UN World Water Day and to kick off our “30 Days of Climate Justice Action – Climate Justice Month,” Scott will be describing the history of the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program along with why snow is such a vital part of all of our lives, all the while demonstrating the uses and users of our data, information and products.

March 29
Cancelled

Adult Sunday Forums for April 2015

April 5                   Easter Sunday, No Forum

April 12             "Bellingham Renaissance: A Golden Perspective" 

                         with Tom Sherwood, Artist of a Special Exhibit at 

                         Whatcom Museum

Before attending try to visit Tom's show at the Museum, March 7 to June 7, funded in part by his former students in China.  Locally he has been an important mentor to Susan Bennerstrom, Tom Wood and others.   Much of his work raises powerful metaphysical questions.

April 19               "Proposed Environmental Tax for Washington” with CarbonWA

CarbonWA will be presenting their revenue-neutral carbon tax campaign. A discussion with Q&A will review how this proposal can drastically reduce carbon emissions, make our tax code less regressive, how it fits in with other state/national climate action proposals and how individuals can help to propel this effort to the ballot in Washington State.

Environmental tax reform would:

§  Improve air quality and reduce airborne toxins

§  Help slow ocean acidity and sea level rise

§  Reduce the state sales tax by a full percentage point

§  Fund the Working Families Sales Tax Rebate to help working families

§  Eliminate the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax for manufacturers

§  Pay for these tax reductions with a carbon tax of $25 per ton of CO2

April 26               “Brain Food” with Marilyn Flint

More than 6 million U.S. residents have Alzheimer’s. By 2050 that number will more than double. Many of us don’t learn natural ways to prevent and treat dementia until it is too late for us or our loved ones. A naturopath, a nutritionist, a woman who stopped her own dementia, and a woman who lost her husband and mother to Alzheimer’s will share what they are learning about ow the essential fatty acids the brain needs and what foods can provide the balance of omega 3 and 6 that prevent and treat some brain diseases.