LETTER: Bioneers event a steal

Editor,

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are going to be exciting days at the Eccles Conference Center. The Bioneers Conference will be held there in an effort to promote healthy, sustainable environments, families and communities. The conference includes 15 Plenary speakers via satellite, which will present national issues, and 16 local workshops by specialists from Utah and surrounding areas to talk about local issues like air quality and preserving agricultural land. In my opinion, this is one of the biggest steps USU has taken to promote ideas of sustainability. Hopefully, it will result in action on the part of students and administration as well. We have problems with sustainability here, and as they say, admitting is the first step.

Bioneers are people interested in creating healthy lifestyles, so this conference is not just a bunch of environmental radicals getting together to plan the demise of conservatives, although there will be that element too. It is more about working together to promote sustainability. This conference is the largest of its kind in North America, and it presents a fantastic opportunity for everyone to learn about national and local issues that are affecting us all. Plus, it is the deal of the century: For $15, students can get in for all three days of the conference and get the gourmet breakfasts that will be served there too. The actual conference, which is held in San Rafael, Calif., costs hundreds of dollars, and we get the same stuff for $15!

Outside of the Conference Center, ECOS, the Environmental Coalition of Students, will have a big canopy set up with lunches for the participants all three days, and another opportunity for students to learn about local efforts and make contacts. In the canopy, we’ll also post the winners of the sustainability competition sponsored by ECOS called “Think Again Awards,” so come check that out for a laugh.

For the program, schedules, and information about each workshop and each presenter, check out the Web site at http:/extension.usu.edu/bioneers. Kudos to those who stepped up and brought this conference to Utah. We’ll be talking about this one all year long.

Jay T. Price