Hendrix College was one of nearly 2,000 colleges and universities across the country that recently participated in coordinated environmental awareness activities through the Focus the Nation event.

Focus the Nation is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that works to motivate American students to become involved participants in finding solutions for climate change and other environmental challenges. Its first-ever coordinated teach-in was a great success, according to event organizers. More than 120 Hendrix students - approximately 10 percent of the student body - participated in the panel discussions and movie showing on Hendrix's campus.

"Especially when it is considered that environmental degradation asks future generations to make up for our mistakes, this generation of university students is increasingly committed to the idea that something should, and can, be done now to address the problem," Hendrix visiting philosophy professor J. Aaron Simmons said.

Simmons and biology professor Matt Moran coordinated the day's events at Hendrix.

The panel discussions coincided with Hendrix's convocation period, an hour set aside each Thursday during which no students have class. Two panels were offered concurrently: "The Basics of Climate Change" and "The Environment and Social Justice."

The Social Justice session focused on a range of issues, including the impact of the World Trade Organization and free-trade legislation on environmental global environmental policy. Eco-fascism, environmental racism, eco-feminism and our obligations to future generations were also discussed. The panel was hosted by Hendrix politics professor Kim Maslin-Wicks and philosophy professors Lawrence Schmidt and Simmons.

Both sessions were recorded and will be available for viewing on the philosophy department's Web site, www.hendrix.edu/philosophy/philosophy.aspx?id=13518.

The documentary, "Is God Green?" was shown Thursday evening. The film discusses the recent movement among Evangelical Christians to support better stewardship of the environment. Although they are often considered to be opposed to environmental issues, Evangelicals are potential leaders in this arena of public policy and ethical action. A discussion moderated by Simmons, followed the film.

"I am proud that Hendrix College was able to be a part of this important moment in history, Simmons said. "We are committed to making this teach-in simply the first of many attempts to get the local Conway community working to be an example of what a small city can do to impact the global situation."

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