Welcome Back!

Welcome back ELSers!

We hope this blog will be a forum to discuss environmental law related issues. Expect regular updates, including:

• Ways to get involved in the club and in the community
  
• Events, meetings, and guest speakers on and off campus
  
• Environmental Law job postings
• Links to articles on environmental law in local and national newspapers (soon to be located in the right panel)
  
• Updates on legislative and regulatory issues effecting the environment
• And more!
  

We want this to be an interactive site, where any club member can post something he or she finds interesting. We will let you know exactly how this will work as soon as we get the blog running smoothly.

In the meantime, the best way to keep up with the blog is to utilize an RSS feeder. An RSS feeder will transform your web browsing. Whenever this blog has an update, that update will show up on your homepage. There will be no need to check this blog hoping for an update. The RSS feeder will let you know when there is a new posting. You can also get updates from regular websites like CNN.com and ESPN.com. Two popular ones are Bloglines and Del.icio.us. It's really easy to set it up. Send me an email and I'll walk you through it. (Google also has an RSS feeder, but I haven't tried it yet.)

Hey guys. Here's a post from Ariel about an opportunity for the summer.

Employer: City Attorney of San Diego

Position: Part-time, unpaid volunteer

Title: Summer 2007 Intern

We are seeking student interns to collaborate in creating proposals for how the City Attorney’s Office might expand its environmental enforcement role. Academic credit may be available through your school. Students must be available to work an average of 15 hours each week during the summer.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and single paragraph indicating your interest, including relevant experience, via e-mail to both:
Ariel Rief at arielrief@yahoo.com and Shirley R. Edwards, Chief Deputy City Attorney, Land Use and Environmental Section, at SEdwards@sandiego.gov.

Hey all. Good luck on finals! I've had a great semester with you guys. I hope you've enjoyed the events that we've done. I am always appreciative to hear your input.

I wish you guys all the best on finals and with your summers. Also, if anyone would still like a T-shirt or would like to buy more please email me: jasmine.scott@mac.com--I have a few left.

If you're wondering about the photo--no real reason I just think Jack Bauer is the man.

ACLU Internship Opportunities
Deadlines
Fall 2007: June 29
Spring 2008: Nov. 3
Summer 2008: Feb. 1
ACLU of Northern California Policy Department focuses on three areas: (1) Death Penalty; (2) Police Practices; and (3) Racial Justice.

The Position: Under supervision and guidance of Director, interns assist in projects that aim to improve criminal justice and education policy in Northern California.

Intern will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge issues, conducting legal and policy research, and drafting legal and policy memoranda, reports, and other advocacy documents. The intern will have the opportunity to participate in staff meetings and may also participate in strategy meetings with coalition partners and assist in fact gathering for local and state advocacy efforts through Public Records Act requests, field interviews and others.

For each of the three primary subject areas, intern responsibilities include the following:
Death penalty:
The interns will assist with projects aimed at bringing community and media attention to flaws in the California death penalty system. Current projects focus on highlighting the prevalent issue of wrongful convictions in California and relevant legislation.
Police practices:
The interns will assist with projects to improve police accountability. The work will focus on a
range of police related issues including civilian oversight of police, use of force policy with
particular focus on Tasers, and intelligence gathering and surveillance practices.
Racial justice:
A key priority for the Racial Justice Project is eliminating racial disparities in the criminal justice system and addressing the collateral consequences of incarceration. The Project also focuses on educational equity in California public schools. Current topics include the “school-to-prison pipeline,” felony re-enfranchisement, and racial profiling.

More information can be found here.

I think you'll agree that we've never faced an environmental threat quite like global warming.
Fortunately the issue is finally getting the public attention it deserves. Whether it's a conversation around the kitchen-table, "An Inconvenient Truth" winning two Academy Awards, or a hearing in the capitol, people everywhere are talking about climate
change.

However, as we all know, just talking about the threat of global warming -- or any environmental problem -- isn't enough. What we need is action, from individuals and from our elected officials. The only way that will happen is if we join together to show our leaders that we all support bold solutions that solve the problem.

In that spirit, we are hosting a community round table on global warming in San Diego.

WHAT: Community round table on global warming
WHEN: Thursday, April 19 at 6:30 pm
WHERE: San Diego City College, Room C101, 1313 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

The meeting will be a chance to learn more about Environment California's work on global warming and a great chance to find out how you can get involved.

To RSVP, click on this link or paste it into your
Web browser:

https://www.environmentcalifornia.org/action/global-warming/sd-rsvp?id4=ES

Dan Jacobson
Environment California Legislative Director
DanJ@environmentcalifornia.org
http://www.EnvironmentCalifornia.org

Hi all. I hope Spring Break was good and that if you celebrate Easter you have a good day with your family today.

I wanted to inform you that we are bringing in a guest speaker, Rob Wilder on Wed., 4/11. He'll be addressing us in the Environmental Law class at 1PM in LRC 131. You are all invited. Mr. Wilder runs an investment fund which invests in clean technology and is a professor at UCSD. I think you all will be very impressed by how he's managed to make a ton of money doing good for the environment.

1PM, LRC 131 on Wed. 4/11

Thanks.

World Water Day (March 22-24)
Click here for more information. The closest event is in LA but there's also a virtual way to get involved.

Tomorrow we'll have a special guest speaker at 12PM in 3B. Also, there will be lunch provided and not Dominos! Thanks to our hard workers at the Beach Clean Up we're going to have a better lunch tomorrow. It's a surprise. But show up. Guaranteed not Dominos.

Also, don't forget to vote in the Writs today or tomorrow.

FREE LUNCH this WEDNESDAY

Yes that's right. This Wednesday at 12PM (room TBD) we will have a special guest speaker--Scott Anders from the Energy Policy Initiative Center (EPIC) here on campus. EPIC integrates research and analysis, law school study, and public education, and serves as a source of legal and policy expertise and information in the development of sustainable solutions that meet our future energy needs.

Scott will be addressing us on his latest project regarding solar energy. He's really a nice guy and very informative. If you are interested the sustainability of solar energy and other green energy plans or are interested in working for EPIC while you're here at USD this is a great opportunity to meet Scott and here what he does at EPIC.

Info on where the lunch will be will be provided as soon as "Cowboy" Bill approves our room.
Thanks.

Hi all. If you are starting to think about a career in environmental law one way to get in is with another degree. That's right more school. But if you are interested in exploring your options here are some schools that offer great programs and are nationally recognized as leaders in environmental law and natural resource law.

Lewis and Clark School of Law
University of Denver School of Law
University of Colorado at Boulder
George Washington School of Law
Vermont Law School
Pace University School of Law

I hope you guys enjoy your search.

Great Opportunity for the summer for 1Ls and 2Ls:

2007 Fellowships in Environmental Law
(click above for link)
The American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources is pleased to announce the sponsorship of Fellowships for eligible law students during the summer of 2007. The ABA Fellowships in Environmental Law, formerly the Minority Fellowships in Environmental Law , is designed to encourage disadvantaged or traditionally underrepresented law students to study and pursue careers in environmental law.
The Section's work on environmental justice is coordinated with not-for-profit organizations representing traditionally underserved groups, other not-for-profit environmental organizations, and local, state and federal governmental organizations which provide placements for our summer Fellowship recipients.
Guidelines: Selected Fellowship recipients will have an 8-10 week internship commitment and will work on legal matters for a government agency or public interest organization in the fields of environmental, energy or resources law. Please note that recipients will choose the state they wish to intern in, but will not be able to select where or in which organization they will be placed.
Stipend: Each successful recipient will receive a $5,000 ($6,000 for New York Fellows) stipend in exchange for participation in the Fellowship program. The stipend does not cover travel expenses or include a housing allowance; these expenses are paid by the Fellowship recipient.
Qualifications: The Fellowship program is available to first and second year law students or third year night students from underrepresented or underserved groups, including for example, minority or low-income populations. It is generally preferred that you select the state where you are attending law school or have permanent residency status. Exceptions can be made, but preference will generally be given to those attending school, those who have permanent residency, or those who have a strong interest in the state that they are applying to. Students must complete and submit a Fellowship application in order to be considered.

Attn: Fellowships in Environmental Law
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60610

If you are interested in helping protect our beaches check out what Emerson has found:
It's a form letter that you fill in your information and then send.
Follow these 3 easy steps to help out.
1. Look over the message below, and feel free to add your own comments. Using your own words makes the message more meaningful.
2. Sign the letter by filling in the form below. We will not share your information with anyone else.
3. Click the button to send your message.
Check it out. It won't take much of your time and you can feel like you're making a difference.

Hey all. The Beach Clean Up was a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Tourmaline is not one of the dirtier beaches in San Diego, but we managed to find a good amount of trash--including a Christmas Tree!

Also, T-shirts are still for sale but we are running low on certain sizes. So email me and reserve yours!

For those of you considering a career in public interest check out USD's Loan Repayment Program (LRAP) and the requirements LRAP:

Classes of 1994 through 2006

It is with great pleasure that we announce the continuation of the University of San Diego schools of Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) with funding for 2006 awards authorized to assist students who have chosen careers with qualifying public interest employers. Included on this page is the actual application and employer certification form and a complete program description for your review.

The primary eligibility criteria for consideration include the following:

Employment with an IRS Code 501(c) 3 or 501(c) 4 organization
Graduation from USD School of Law
Minimum Loan Debt ( Law School Only) - $68,000
Maximum Applicant Income - $47,000
There are also other factors on the application that the Governing Board will consider as it reviews applications. A full description of the program is included below.

Introduction
Goals of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Administration of Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Eligibility Requirements
Loan Deferral And Loan Forgiveness
Revised Program Terms
Miscellaneous Provisions
Important Dates
Non-USD Loan Repayment Programs
Date of last modification: January 29, 2007

Beach Clean Up this Saturday, 2/24 from 9AM to 11AM. Meet at the Writs at 8:15AM and we'll carpool over to Tourmaline in PB as a group.

We are doing this clean up with the J Ruben Clark, San Diego Surfrider Foundation as well as the San Diego Coastkeepers.

All we have to do is show up and help out for 2 hours.
Also T-SHIRT SALE TOMORROW (Thursday) in the Writs at 12PM. $10 for a lovely way to support the club and add to your chic wardrobe.

T-Shirts are here! That's right show your love for your club and the environment with these spiffy T's. We didn't skimp one bit on the quality of the T's and the design is sweet. It's our logo that you see to the right on the front. Trust me these T's will be must have items--so get one (or more for friends and fam).

Here's how to get one: (1) Email/write me a note telling me Qty and Size (sm, med, lrg), (2) Trade me $10 and I will give you a shirt. (3) Ways to get a shirt: check or cash in my mailbox--Jasmine Scott, or grab when you see me on campus. Also feel free to email me with any questions, concerns, etc regarding obtaining one of these bad boys: jasmine.scott@mac.com.

Ok, that being said we have an official Beach Clean Up--Feb 24 (Sat) from 9AM-11AM at Tourmaline (North PB). We are doing this event in conjunction with SD Surfrider Foundation, SD Coastkeepers, the J. Ruben Clark Society here on campus, and the Surf and Kayak Club. More info to come. Also think how cool it's going to be for us to wear our T-shirts during the clean-up! Bonus!

Hey All. I hope that everyone enjoyed our event today. Capt. Hunzeker and Cdr. Eldredge were very excited to be here.

For next week mark Tues, Feb. 13 on your calendars. At 12PM in 3A we have Carolyn Murrow coming to talk about the disasterous consequences of the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink--a 120 miles stretch of 150ft tall power lines SDG&E wants to run through Anzo Borrego State Park.

So remember--2/13, 12PM in 3A. See you all there. (There will be food).

Remember to RSVP for our Event Wednesday (2/7) at 12PM in the Grace Courtroom. Free lunch! To RSVP email usdlawevent@sandiego.edu.

Great Summer Opportunity about more than just environmental law. 1 Month at the University of British Columbia.

Kevin Grigsby
Environmental Law Society
Dear Kevin Grigsby:

I am a law professor at Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California (www.swlaw.edu), and the Director of Southwestern’s 2007 Summer Law Program in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. I am emailing you because I thought your members might be interested in a one-month summer program that we offer at the U.B.C Faculty of Law. The program will run from May 27 – June 27, 2007, and is focused on international and comparative law. The application deadline is April 2, 2007, although early application is encouraged. Students are accepted on a rolling basis.
In its 15th year, the Program is sponsored by Southwestern in collaboration with the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (a part of the UN’s Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program - http://www.icclr.law.ubc.ca/). This four-week, ABA approved program offers five courses in International Law to U.S. and Canadian law students. The courses offered this year include: (1) Comparative Constitutional Law; (2) Comparative Sexual Orientation Law; (3) Comparative Urban Planning Law; (4) International Law & Terrorism; and (5) International Environmental Law. The Program provides an exceptional opportunity to study international and comparative law with leading American and Canadian scholars. Faculty teaching in the Program this year come from Cornell, the Univ. of Georgia, the Univ. of Oregon, as well as UBC and Southwestern law schools. The Program also includes a Guest Lecturers series, visits/tours to the Canadian Provincial courts, and meetings with local judges and practitioners. The Program also offers a limited number of part-time externships for qualified applicants.
The Program is open to U.S. and Canadian law students who are in good standing at accredited law schools, and who have completed their first year of law study. The tuition fee is $2,900 for 4 units (2 classes) and $4,350 or 6 units (3 classes). A brochure can be found at: http://www.swlaw.edu/academics/pdfs/canada.pdf and an application form at: http://www.swlaw.edu/academics/pdfs/canapps.pdf. More information is generally available on Southwestern's webpage at: http://www.swlaw.edu/academics/international/summer/canada. Vancouver is a beautiful city in June – pictures can be found at www.vancouverscenes.com. Please note: the $250 deposit, is only cashed upon your acceptance to the program and is applied towards the total tuition (the $250 is nonrefundable only if you are accepted into the program and then you decide not to attend). Most home schools will provide you course credit for courses taken through the Program.

I would appreciate it if you could forward or pass on this information to your members, or to other students that you think might be interested. Given the competitive job market, the Program is particularly well-suited for 1L students who have not yet made summer plans. Because the Program ends before July, we find many students enjoy participating in the Program and then returning to work part-time or on a pro bono basis for the remaining weeks of the summer. The courses cover some of the hotest topics in international and comparative law.
Please feel to email or call me directly if you should have any questions, or require any additional information. Inquiries about the program can also be directed to: Austen Parrish, Associate Professor & Director, Vancouver Summer Law Program, Southwestern Law School, 3050 Wilshire Blvd., BW#311, Los Angeles, CA 90010-1106. Tel.: (213) 738-5728; email: aparrish@swlaw.edu.

Sincerely,

Austen Parrish

Hey All. Volunteer opportunities are numerous in San Diego and here's a great way to get involved. Also, it's a great way for the club to get money from SBA. Here's a list of Surfrider Foundation Beach Clean Up Dates for the next 6 months. It starts at 9AM and last 2 hours. There's no need to pre-register. If you have any further questions check out www.surfridersd.org Tentatively schedule 2/24 as a date that we as a club will go.

January 13th - Coastkeeper Moonlight Beach Meet on the sand at the bottom of the ramp
January 27th - Coastkeeper Windansea Beach Meet at the end of Nautilus next to the shack
February 10th - Surfrider Ponto Jetty
February 24th - Surfrider Tourmaline (Pacific Beach) Meet right next to public restrooms
March 10th - Coastkeeper Cardiff State Beach Meet on the sand North of Charlie’s restaurant
March 24th - Coastkeeper Coronado City Beach Meet on the sand near the intersection of Ocean Blvd & G Ave.
April 14th - Surfrider South Mission BeachMeet at the jetty next to lifeguard tower
April 28th - Surfrider Creek to Bay CleanupCoordinated by ILACSD (Surfrider & Coastkeeper Sites)
May 12th - Coastkeeper Oceanside Pier Meet on the Southside of the pier
May 20th - Coastkeeper Pacific Beach Street Sweep Meeting point TBA
June 9th - Surfrider Oceanside - Buccaneer Beach
June 23rd - Surfrider Crystal Pier (Pacific Beach) Meet on the north side of the pier