Microenterprise and the Environment

Posted by on June 26, 2004

Eastern University invites you to a timely conference on ?Microenterprise and the Environment?. It will be held at the National Christian Conference Center, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, USA, on July 26 – 30, 2004.

During the conference, you will meet experts in the fields of microenterprise and the environment. The conference has drawn global leaders from over 20 international organizations (World Bank, MEDA, World Relief, National Institute of Health, Oikocredit, Floresta, AGROS, Food for the Hungry, and others), who will share their expertise and knowledge of sustainable microenterprise development. International practitioners from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Zambia, Bolivia, Honduras and beyond are making plans to attend.

During our time together, you will:
* Learn successful sustainable development strategies as it relates to microenterprise development.
* Discover the role of Microfinance Institutes in addressing sustainable impacts of microenterprise development.
* Hear panelist share on environmental impact assessment, policy, funding, and advocacy for ‘green’ microlending.
* Learn about rural sustainable farming techniques, renewable energy, eco-tourism, agro-forestry as it relates to microenterprise.
* Hear about our youth around the world engaged in microenterprise with environmentally sound practices.
* Enjoy appropriate technology displays, including a ‘villager sun oven’ from Sun Ovens International.

It is fitting that Eastern host such a conference, as it is a ‘green’ university. Eastern recently received an award from PECO Energy and Community Energy in recognition of the school’s purchase of wind energy. At the end of 2003, Eastern University purchased 37% of its electricity from emission-free, locally-generated wind energy, supplied Community Energy. The offset of emissions generated by the purchase is equivalent to eliminating over 1.7 million miles of driving or planting 135,000 trees annually. Eastern University’s purchase is the largest college/university percentage purchase in Pennsylvania and the third largest percentage nationally.

For more detailed information, updated speakers profile and registration form, log onto http://www.eastern.edu/mfi or write sldmfi@eastern.edu.

We welcome you!