NEW YORK--The School of Constructed Environments, Parsons the New School for Design, and The Baum Forum present an action-oriented conference to energize and educate the public about industrial hydrofracking in our watersheds and regional food sheds. The May 16 event beginning at 1:30 p.m., entitled "Water Fight! Fracking, Food, Art & Economy," will provide inspiration and tools to protect our ecosystem and build a green economy. By confronting, debating, strategizing and visioning, we will celebrate water, food, art and activism, the organizers promise.

The program will include moderator Anna Lappé, author of Diet for a Hot Planet, Lois Gibbs, Center for Health, Environment, & Justice; Tracy Carluccio, Delaware Riverkeeper Network; Wenonah Hauter, Food and Water Watch; Kate Sinding, NRDC, Miriam MacGillis, Genesis Farm, Severine Fleming, Coalition for Young Farmers, Cecil Corbin-Mark, WE ACT, Wendy Brawer, GreenMap. Co-sponsors: Catskill MountainKeeper, Food and Water Watch, NOFA-NY, NRDC, NYH20, Organic Valley, Farmhearts, American Sustainable Business Council, Food Systems Network NYC, Brooklyn Food Coalition, Slow Food NYC, Print Restaurant, Jimmy’s No.43, Food Karma Projects, ScheinMedia and others. Admission is free, donation of $10 is requested.

Please register at http://waterfight.eventbrite.com

Please visit www.baumforum.org for more information and http://sce.parsons.edu/

Schedule for the day:

1:30 PM Doors Open at Tishman Auditorium

2:00 PM Welcome and Program

5:30 PM Courtyard: Local Food, Drink and Networking

About The Baum Forum. For 12 years, The Baum Forum (www.baumforum.org) has been the premier New York City producer of conferences held periodically to focus public attention on critical food and farming issues. Baum Forum partners have included the Culinary Institute of America, The French Culinary Institute, The Graduate Center, CUNY, Teachers College Columbia University, NYC Food & Fitness Partnership, and HealthCorps. The school food revolution was the focus of 3 major conferences (2006 - 2008), and youth the focus of programs and conference planning in 2009 and 2010.

About The School of Constructed Environments, Parsons The New School for Design where students of architecture, interior, lighting and product design learn the skills of social entrepreneurship, integrated design and regenerative practices that collectively transform our cities into sustainable urban habitats. The Water Fight Conference is part of the two-week-long Parsons Festival, which showcases end-of-the-year thesis shows and exhibitions in addition to various public programs. In particular, The May 16 event emerged from the School of Constructed Environments' Seminar on "Water: Is It the New Oil?" The conference is also part of The New School’s semester-long Water Discourses, which draws on the intellectual, creative strength present throughout The New School to explore and analyze water related issues within local, regional and global contexts.

Source: Parsons the New School for Design