Oct 31-Nov 2: India Today course at CMU

October 31-November 2:  India Today: Innovation, Industry, and Education, a joint course of CMU and Pitt about India's shifting status in world affairs.   (5 p.m. Oct 31st to 1:30 p.m. Nov 2 in Porter and Baker Halls at Carnegie Mellon.  Course can be taken for credit or audited, and class sessions can be attended singly as lectures.)

Oct 30: Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest benefit

October 30:  Unearthed:  Art Created from the Trees of Allegheny Cemetery.  Don't miss the first-ever fundraiser for the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, featuring artwork crafted from trees felled in Allegheny Cemetery (due to disease, hazards, or storm damage).  (6-10 p.m. at the Ice House in Lawrenceville.)  Volunteer pumpkin-carving opportunities:  email Caitlin@PittsburghForest.org

Oct 30: Democr-art-cy: Prints for Social Change

October 30:  Democr-art-cy: Prints for Social Change.  Local artist Kathy Newman will hold an art sale to benefit two causes:
1) Barack Obama 
2) The Women and Girls Foundation of South Western PA.
Kathy has several new pieces which have been inspired by recent election events, including a large block print with an inspiring Obama quote, and an image of Obama in front of the American flag, as well as some old favorites, such as "Art, Advertising, Propaganda." This is a pay, grab and go sale, so if you have some time the night before Halloween, head over to Dozen Bake Shop, buy some art, and contribute to some great causes!
(5 pm to 8 pm, Dozen Bake Shop in Lawrenceville)

Oct 27: CDCP talk on public collaborations

October 27:  "Tales of the City:  New Public Collaborations," a lecture and panel discussion sponsored by the Community Design Coalition of Pittsburgh.  Learn how radical collaboration with clients and consumers allows for new methods for public process, and some surprising new solutions to think about a city.
(6-8 p.m. at the University Center at Point Park University, 414 Wood Street, downtown;  $20, or $5 for the whole series)

Oct 25-26: Shakespeare in the Park in Frick

October 25 & 26:  Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents Twelfth Night (or, What You Will).  
(2 p.m. in Frick Park near Beechwood Boulevard & Nicholson, downhill from Blue Slide Playground;  no admission but donations welcome)

Oct 25: Nine Mile Run Stream Sweep

October 25:  Nine Mile Run Stream Sweep.  Join the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association to help sweep the stream clear of litter.  Every rainfall brings depressing amounts of litter into the stream from storm sewers.  The Nine Mile Run stream is a unique amenity for our city -- help keep it tidy!  Supplies (gloves, bags, and safety vests) are provided, along with breakfast.  (9:30 a.m. to noon;  meet at the Lower Frick Park soccer field (off the Lancaster Avenue entrance.  To register, email lisa@ninemilerun.org .)

Backyard composting classes

September 27 or 30, October 4, 8, or 25, or January 13 (one session):  
Backyard composting classes sponsored by the Pennsylvania Resources Council.  My family of four typically produces only a tiny grocery sack for weekly trash pickup, and composting is one of the main reasons why -- we turn our food and garden waste into excellent garden soil, sequestering carbon and growing food at the same time.  (Various times and locations in the North Side, Marshall Twp, Squirrel Hill, Robinson, Natrona Heights, and Sewickley;  $40 fee includes an 80-gallon enclosed compost unit for your own yard.)
    http://www.prc.org/community_adultedu.html or 412-488-7490 x325

Oct 24: Utah Phillips memorial concert

October 24:  Celebration of the Life of U. Utah Phillips, the Golden Voice of the Great Southwest.  With Anne Feeney, Doug Wilkin, Sue Powers, Jack Erdie, Sue Gartland, Robert Wagner, Bruce Hoffman, and David King.
(8 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 605 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.  $10/20 suggested donation for the charity of Utah's choice, Hospitality House of Grass Valley, CA.  Contact person is Gary Doebler, esterhazy22 at hotmail.com)

Oct 20-26: Donora Smog anniversary events

October 20-26:  60th Anniversary Commemoration of the Donora Killer Smog and the beginnings of the Clean Air Act and the EPA.  Donora, PA was the site of a public-health disaster in 1948, depicted in the book When Smoke Ran Like Water:  Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution by Devra Davis.   Events include the grand opening of the Donora Smog Museum, a symposium, an art exhibit, a theatrical presentation, free health screenings at the Mon Valley Hospital, a commemoration parade, a commemoration banquet, and a memorial service.  Details at 

Oct 20: Heinz Talk: Climate Change & Energy Policy

October 20:  Heinz Talks on Climate Change and Energy Policy -- Advice to our Next President.  Four leaders will give their perspectives on climate change and energy policy, and the resulting impact on economic growth and technological innovation, with bold and critical recommendations for our next president.  Speakers include Teresa Heinz, NPR's Moira Gunn, Harvard's John Holdren, and CMU's Lee Branstetter, Granger Morgan, and Melissa Young.  (5 pm in the Mellon Institute Auditorium at 4400 5th Avenue in Oakland;  entrance on S. Bellefield Ave.   Reception to follow.  RSVP by Oct 14. to Kristin Niceswanger at 412-286-6066 or kristinn@andrew.cmu.edu)

Oct 18-19: Shakespeare in the Parks in the Hill

October 18 & 19:  Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents Twelfth Night (or, What You Will).  
(2 p.m. in Kennard Playground, Reed & Kirkpatrick Streets in the Hill District;  no admission but donations welcome)

Oct 17-19: Bioneers Conf. & Cleveland satellite

October 17-19:  The Bioneers Conference takes place in San Francisco, and satellite conferences will be held in Cleveland and elsewhere.  Some local folks will be traveling to attend (so get in touch if you might be able to go!), and we're hoping to build momentum toward holding a satellite conference here in Pittsburgh next year.
    http://bioneers.org/
    http://www.gcbl.org/bioneers
    http://www.bioneerstopittsburgh.blogspot.com/

Oct 17-18: Carnegie Symposium on Autism

October 17-18:  "Development and Brain Systems in Autism," the 35th Carnegie Symposium on Cognition, featuring 16 of the world's most prominent autism researchers and their cutting-edge research.  (9-5 in Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A at CMU;  free & open to the public)

Oct 16: Michelle Obama in Oakland

October 16:  Michelle Obama will lead a rally at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial in Oakland.  Doors open at 10:30, she's expected to speak around noon.  Free & open to the public.

Tree Tender courses

September 15 (9-4 at Whole Foods, 5880 Center Avenue)
September 23 & 30, and October 7 (5:30-8:30 at the Pittsburgh Project, 2801 N. Charles St.)
October 15, 22, and 29 (5:30-8:30 at the Hill House, 1835 Center Avenue)
Tree Tender courses -- Urban trees contribute to our air and water quality, land integrity, stormwater solutions, energy efficiency, property values, and quality of life.  Many of Pittsburgh's remaining street trees are at risk due to disease, vandalism, old age and neglect, and residents can help reverse the trend.  Consider being part of the solution by attending a Tree Tender course, offered by the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's TreeVitalize program.  Learn to plant and care for young street trees, increasing their chance of survival in the urban environment, and bring more street trees to your neighborhood.   ($40 including meals; scholarships available)
    http://www.pittsburghforest.org/TreeTenders
    http://www.paconserve.org/216/treevitalize/

Oct 14: Global economy lecture at CMU

October 14: Global economy lecture at CMU. Development Solutions Organization, a new student organization, hosts a lecture today by Professor Lee Branstetter:  "Will India and China dominate the 21st Century Global Economy?"
(Doherty A310 at 4:30p; Food will be provided.)

Oct 14-16: Energy from Biomass Expo

October 14-16:  2nd Annual Energy from Biomass and Waste Conference & Expo, a showcase and educational forum.  As issues of energy security and environmental protection begin to dominate policy and the news, domestically produced energy from biomass and waste can provide an economically viable alternative to traditional energy sources.  Now is the time for bio-energy in Pittsburgh as Pennsylvania's natural resources and recent legislation put the state in prime position to be a national and international leader.  The event will feature a technology exhibition with delegates from around the world and two days of conference tracks on targeted market, technology, finance & investment, project development, and workforce development.  Sponsored by Pittsburgh's own Steel City Biofuels and Freesen & Partner GmbH.
(David L. Lawrence Convention Center; $20)
www.ebw-expo.com

Oct 12: Global warming film: Burning the Future

October 12:  The Center for Coalfield Justice and the Mountain Watershed Association will host a screening of "Burning the Future" with filmmaker/writer David Novack on hand for introductions, comments, and questions.  (Reception 6:30, film begins at 7:30 at the Melwood Screening Room in Pittsburgh;  $15/$10 students)

Oct 12: Community Energy Expo

October 12:  Community Energy Expo for the whole family, at CCI.  Clean energy exhibitions, energy-saving ideas you can use in your home, light bulb exchange, kids' activities, and enter to win a free insulation package.  (1-5 p.m. at 64 South 14th St. on the South Side)

Oct 12: Fall Redd Up in Squirrel Hill

October 12:  Fall Redd Up in Squirrel Hill.  (9-noon, free food & drink.  Registration at Forbes and Murray.)

Oct 11-12: Shakespeare in the Park in Mellon

October 11 & 12:  Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents Twelfth Night (or, What You Will).  
(2 p.m. in Mellon Park, near Fifth & Shady Avenues in Point Breeze;  no admission but donations welcome)

Oct 10-11: CMU's International Festival

October 10-11:  "Education Without Borders:  Global Learning in the 21st Century," Carnegie Mellon's 18th Annual International Festival, has great lectures and workshops including the keynote, "Muppet Diplomacy:  How Sesame Street is Changing Our World."
    http://www.cmu.edu/internationalfestival/

Oct 9: Film & discussion on sustainable economy

October 9:   Perspectives on a Sustainably-Driven Industrial Revolution.  Film showing of "The Next Industrial Revolution" with William McDonough and Michael Braungart, followed by a panel of Pittsburgh designers and business leaders discussing a sustainable vision for our region.  (6:30-9 at the Carnegie Lecture Hall in Oakland;  $7, $5 for Sustainable Pittsburgh members)
http://www.c4spgh.org/know.html

Oct 8: Slide/lecture by Dudley Edmondson

October 8:  Slide/lecture by Dudley Edmondson, nature photographer and author of Black & Brown Faces in America's Wild Places:  African Americans making nature and the environment a part of their everyday lives, followed by a panel discussion about the challenges and benefits of expanding minority participation in outdoor activities.  The panel also features Bill Strickland, Mamie Parker, Mario Browne, and Sarah Jamella Martin.  Sponsored by the Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club, Three Rivers Birding Club, Pitt's Center for Minority Health, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, and Venture Outdoors.  (7 p.m. at the Carnegie Lecture Hall in Oakland;  $15, $5 for students.)
    http://www.alleghenysc.org  
    http://www.raptorworks.com

Oct 6, 7: Grantwriting workshops in Philly

October 6 & 7:  Grantwriting workshops.  Back-to-back courses:  grant budgeting workshop on Monday, and grantwriting seminar on Tuesday. (in Philadelphia;  $195 each session)

Oct 6: Bioneers Monday on Forests

October 6:  Pittsburgh's third Bioneers Monday:  an evening of film, discussion, and merriment around Bioneers, a forum connecting ecology, health, spirit, and social justice.  This time, a talk by Tzeporah Berman, the director of Forest Ethics.  (At the new office of the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, 5427 Penn Ave.  Free, but RSVP to rsvp@pittsburghforest.org )
    http://bioneers.org/
    http://www.bioneerstopittsburgh.blogspot.com/
    http://www.pittsburghforest.org/bioneers

Oct 6: Voter Registration deadline!

October 6:  Voter registration deadline in PA.  Pennsylvania's a swing state, so every vote is important.  Make sure you can make your voice heard.  Don't wait, do it now!  If you're in our neck of the woods, I have a stack of registration forms on our front porch (amongst the ladders and such, as I'm finally building the roof);  it's also possible to do it online. The Declare Yourself web site has info on voter registration, student voting, and absentee ballots, as well as links that allow you to get yourself registered and request an absentee ballot.  And if you're not sure whether or where you're registered, the Vote For Change website also lets you check your status.
http://www.votespa.com
http://www.voteforchange.com
http://www.declareyourself.com/voting_faq/voting_faq_449.html

Oct 5: NAMI walkathon on the South Side

October 5:  The National Alliance on Mental Health is sponsoring a 5 km walk to raise awareness, erase stigma, and promote treatment of mental illness.  Sponsor someone, or join the walk yourself.  (9 a.m. at the SouthSide Works/Three Rivers Heritage Trail)

Oct 4: PASA Book Fair at Joseph-Beth

October 4: PASA Book Fair at Joseph Beth Booksellers. 20% of your purchase goes to benefit the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable agriculture., at this all-day book fair.  (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2705 East Carson St. on the South Side).

Oct 4: Environmental Challenges in India

October 4:  "Environmental Challenges Faced by India. the World's Largest Democracy"  Indian journalist and environmental activist Kanchi Kohli will give a talk sponsored by the local chapter of the Association for India's Development.  (5:30 p.m. in Doherty 1112 on the CMU campus;  light Indian refreshments will be served. Questions on the talk to Shruthi at shruthivembar@yahoo.com)
Articles by Kanchi Kohli:

Oct 3: Alternative Transportation Festival

October 3  The second annual Alternative Transportation Festival in Schenley Plaza will raise public awareness
of alternative means of transportation, and advocate for the use of public transportation, car-
sharing, alternative fuels, and human-powered vehicles.  The festival will also showcase Pittsburgh's own innovations and activities in alternative transportation.  

Oct 2: Ghandi's Birthday

October 2:  Carnegie Mellon University commemorates Ghandi's birthday (and the UN's International Day of Non-Violence) with several events:
Ghandian Reflections
(Sept 30 & Oct 1, tabling 11 - 2 in the University Center)
Debate on Indian Development (What would Ghandi say about today's India?
(Oct 2, 3 p.m. in the UC Danforth Lounge)
Student Panel on Service Abroad
(Oct 2, 4 p.m. in the UC Danforth Lounge)
Ahimsa in Action:  a discussion of Ghandi's non-violence in today's world
(Oct 2, 4 p.m. in the UC Danforth Lounge)
Keynote speaker:  Molly Rush
former director of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace and Social Justice
(6:15 p.m. in the UC's Mckenna/Peter/Write rooms;  light refreshments will be served.)

Oct 2: Philosophy talk on equality at CMU

October 2:  "Why Care About Equality?" a talk by Rutgers philosophy professor Larry Temkin.  Does egalitarianism require leveling everyone down?  Temkin distinguishes between different kinds of equality.  (4:30 in CMU's Breed Hall Auditorium, Margaret Morrison 103).

Oct 1: Three Rivers Water Trail ribbon cutting

October 1:  Ribbon Cutting for the the Three Rivers Water Trail, a series of access sites along all three rivers in the Pittsburgh region.  (1:30 p.m.)