Press Release

EXPLORE OIL AND WATER POLICY AND THE IMPACT OF ETHANOL IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS THIS FEBRUARY IN CARBONDALE

The Illinois Humanities Council presents two programs in its series:
All-Consuming: Conversations on Oil and Water

CHICAGO – What is the promise of ethanol and what are its limitations? How does producing ethanol influence the supply and demand for water? What are the main water demands in southern Illinois and how do we decide how those demands are met?  Can the history of water law in southern Illinois be helpful in addressing current issues with water supply and demand? Explore the past, present, and future of oil and water policy in Southern Illinois in "Crosscurrents: Ethanol, Oil, and Water in Southern Illinois" and "We All Live Downstream: Whose Water Is It?"

"Crosscurrents", which will examine the promises and limitations of ethanol and the environmental and ethical stakes involved in increased ethanol production, will take place on Tuesday, February 10. "We All Live Downstream," on Tuesday, February 24, will concentrate on water law and how the Mississippi and Ohio River watersheds play a key role in determining state policy, especially in Southern Illinois. Both events are from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Student Health Center Auditorium at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (374 E. Grand Ave., Carbondale). They are free and open to the public; reservations are not required. For more information, visit www.prairie.org/OilandWater or email kayrip@siu.edu.

These two programs are presented in partnership with the Department of Geography and Environmental Resources at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

From Fall 2008 to Fall 2009, the Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) presents All-Consuming: Conversations on Oil and Water, a year-long statewide series aimed to increase public knowledge of oil and water issues by engaging Illinoisans in conversations about the individual, regional, and global impact of these two essential resources. Programs will feature scholars, economists, lawyers, historians, scientists, ethicists, artists, and philosophers as guest speakers. For a full calendar of events or for more information, please visit www.prairie.org/OilandWater or call 312.422.5580.

Lead sponsorship for All-Consuming: Conversations on Oil and Water is provided by the Motorola Foundation and The Boeing Company, with additional support from Illinois American Water. Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ 91.5) and Illinois Channel are the media sponsors.

The Illinois Humanities Council is a nonprofit educational organization [501 (c) 3] dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Organized in 1973 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds.

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