Director Gary Marcuse and producer/journalist Lihong Shi return to Whittier College to join Dr. Michael Lau, Director of Wetland Conservation (WWF, Honk Kong) in a series of events September 25-27, 2017.
Roundtable Discussion: Environmental Conservation, Journalism, and Advocacy Tuesday, September 26 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Villalobos Hall
Whittier College's Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment embarked on a new journey with students and faculty to travel to China over Spring Break (March 10-19, 2017) for a two-fold program, consisting of an Eco-Literature Festival (in Beijing and Kunming) and a trip focused on Tourism and the Environment (Dali and Lijiang).
The invited speaker for this semester was Dr. Michael Hathaway, Andrews Distinguished Visiting Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Hawai'i Manoa, who gave a public talk titled Transnational Elephants: How China's Wild Elephants Play a Role in Global Environmentalism on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017.
The Spring Break study-abroad is immediately followed by the 2017 Whittier College Writers' Festival (March 20-24, 2017). With the support of LIASE, Whittier College invited poets from China for an eco-literature exchange with local American writers. Students attended poetry readings, writing workshops, and literary discussions to learn more about China in the eyes of their writers. The Chinese poets were also invited by our regional LIASE partner to visit Pomona college for poetry readings and discussion in Chinese classes.
Entering the second year of Whittier College's Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment, we continue to engage students with experts across the globe on subjects revolving around Asia and its environment. This fall we are delighted to have international wildlife investigator, author of Blood of the Tiger, J.A. Mills on campus to share her experience as undercover in the world of black market luxury goods. Mills will be conducting class visits throughout October 18-19, and also an evening public campus talk. Blood of the Tiger will be available for purchase at the event.
Blood of the Tiger -- J.A. Mills An Evening Talk and Discussion Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM Location: Villalobos Hall
This event is made possible by the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment, in collaboration with Whittier College Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, History Dept. East Asian Studies Fund, and the Office of International Program.
Every semester Whittier College's Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment brings in experts from different areas and regions on campus to share their knowledge and experience in their respective fields. This March, we are delighted to invite Burmese environmental policy consultant, Yan Min Aung, to talk about his efforts in preserving the environments of Myanmar.
Presentation: Lotus on the Brownfield: Environmental Relevance of Buddhism Spirituality Thursday, March 3, 2016 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Villalobos Hall
This presentation examines the Theravada buddhist practices and how it promotes social-wellbeing in this post-consumerist society without environmental and ecological sacrifices.
Please click here to view the presentation.
This Spring event also falls into the first LIASE Joint Conference with local schools, Occidental College and the Claremont Colleges. On Friday March 4, Yan Min Aung will be the keynote speaker at the lunch colloquium at the Oldenborg Center of Pomona College. This one-day joint-conference aims to gather all local LIASE grantees to exchange and share their efforts in raising awareness in environmental issues of Asia.
Whittier events are open to public. Public may attend lunch Colloquium at Oldenborg's discretion and incur a charge.
During the week of November 16-20, 2015, the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment will host award-winning and internationally recognized documentary film makers Gary Marcuse and Shi Lihong, as well as Beijing editor of ChinaDialogue Liu Jianqiang. Events are open to public and free to attend.
Film Screening Waking the Green Tiger Monday, November 16, 2015 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Hoover 100
Seen through the eyes of activists, farmers, and journalists Waking the Green Tiger follows an extraordinary, unprecedented and successful campaign to stop a huge dam project on the Upper Yangtze river in the high mountains of southwestern China. Featuring astonishing archival footage never seen outside China, and interviews with a government insider and witnesses, the documentary also tells the story of Chairman Mao’s determination to conquer nature in the name of progress. Millions of people were mobilized in campaigns that reshaped China’s landscape, destroyed lakes, marshes, forests and grasslands, unleashed dust storms, and stifled science. For fifty years the idea was instilled in succeeding generations that nature must serve the people. Critics of this approach were silenced for years.
Film Screening: Searching for Sacred Mountain Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Villalobos Hall 7:00-8:00 p.m.
The documentary tells the story of Liu Jianqiang, an investigative environmental journalist and Beijing editor of ChinaDialogue who has recently converted to Buddhism. The documentary includes footage of senior Chinese government officials declaring their commitment to an "ecological civilization" that draws on Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and other Chinese cultural traditions as a means of addressing the country's growing environmental challenges. It also shows that leading Chinese academics are making the connection between such traditions and the protection of vulnerable lands and habitats.
Whittier Law School Presentation and Discussion: Environmental Law in China Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Whittier Law School, Room 1 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Gary Marcuse, Shi Lihong, and Liu Jianqiang will speak and lead discussion on the environment and law in China.
Film Screening in Hollywood: Waking the Green Tiger (RSVP Required) Friday, November 20, 2015 7:00-10:00 pm (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.) Linwood Dunn Theater, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, 1313 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA
Gary Marcuse, Shi Lihong, and Liu Jianqiaing will screen Waking the Green Tiger at the Linwood Dunn Theater, the Academy’s newest theater and state-of-the-art screening facility. The screening will be followed by a reception. Please RSVP here.
These events are generously supported by the Henry Luce Foundation’s Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment, and by Whittier College including its program in East Asian History, Office of International Programs, and program in Organizational Leadership.
