Press Release

“CROSSCURRENTS: ETHANOL, OIL, AND WATER IN WESTERN ILLINOIS” MARCH 19 AT AUGUSTANA COLLEGE

The Illinois Humanities Council presents a programin its series: All-Consuming: Conversations on Oil and Water

CHICAGO – Ethanol shows potential as a replacement for fossil fuels, yet requires significant water and land resources to produce. 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 environmental and ethical choices involved in the making of ethanol? In "Crosscurrents: Ethanol, Oil, and Water in Western Illinois," panelists will examine the promises and limitations of ethanol and the environmental and ethical questions involved in increased ethanol production.

This event will take place on Thursday, March 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Olin Auditorium at Augustana College (733 35th St., Rock Island). It is free and open to the public; reservations are not required. For more information, visit www.prairie.org/OilandWater or call 312.422.5580.

The panelists for this program are: Lance Factor, Ph.D., George Appleton Lawrence Distinguished Service Professor of Philosophy, Departments of Philosophy and Environmental Studies, Knox College; Christopher Lant, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Resources, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Jim Purlee, Farmer; and Sabina L. Shaikh, Ph.D., Lecturer, Public Policy and Program on Global Environment, University of Chicago.

This program is presented in partnership with Augustana College.

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, 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 (IHC) 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 (NEH), the IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds.

D A R E  T O  K N O W
###