Two New Special Reports: "Forrests, and How to Save Them" and "Sustainable Business" Provides Hints of the Road Ahead in Natural Resources Development

Two important new special reports have just been published. In "The World's Lungs: Forests, and How to Save Them," The Economist magazine (Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2010) provides a 14 page report on why forests are disappearing while making the argument that the real value of forests must be taken into account as societies determine how best to manage them.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times has published about "Sustainable Business" in its Oct. 4, 2010, edition. Among other things, the Times' reports that "[S]ome companies are demonstrating that they understand shrinking natural resources will damage the bottom line."

Anyone interested in the relationship between natural resources, the environment, and sustainability will want to read both of these provocative new special reports.

Environmental and Natural Resources Program Advising Sessions Set for Oct. 12 and Nov. 2; Professors Fred Cheever and Rock Pring Will Offer Advice

First year JD students as well as transfer and visiting students are invited to attend the Sturm College of Law Environmental and Natural Resources Law (ENRL) program advising sessions, which will be held from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 12 and Nov. 2.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Environmental Law Professor Fred Cheever and Environmental Law Professor Rock Pring will be discussing the breadth of the ENRL program, what courses students may want to consider, available career paths, and how to find jobs.

The first session, on Oct. 12, will focus on courses and other "don't miss opportunities" that students should be aware of while they study at the College of Law. The second session, on Nov. 2, will be directed towards jobs including short-term and summer time positions.

This is a great opportunity to hear two of the keenest minds in all of American environmental law speak about the field generally, the ENRL program in particular, and how to position yourself for success as you contemplate job opportunities.

Food will be served at both events. The room is still to be determined. If you are planning to attend the Oct. 12 event, please RSVP to McKenzie Gaby by clicking here so we know how much food to order. Please bring your own drinks.

Other members of the ENRL faculty will also be available at the sessions.

Annual Autumn Gathering of Environmental and Natural Resources Graduate Program Brings Together One of the Most Diverse Groups in Law School History

The recently held 4th annual autumn get together of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Graduate Program was a big success.

The recent gathering brought together many of the students who make up the most diverse class ever in the history of the LLM and Masters of Resources Law Studies programs.

The event, held at my house in Denver, is an annual event that is planned by assistant program director Lucy Daberkow and me. This year we were also ably helped by student assistant (and LLM student) Payal Sathe of India.

The gathering allows all the students in the program to meet in a social setting aimed at helping everyone get to know each other better. Lucy and I know that not all of the learning that takes place in the program always happens in a classroom -- sometimes it happens at social events, too, and consequently we work hard to bring the students together in a range of various events across the school year.

At the event, voices from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, and the United States could be heard as continuing students who began in January mingled with students who started in August. The geographic diversity of the students is not by accident -- Lucy and I and the entire Sturm College of Law are committed to assembling each year the most talented and diverse group of students possible.

All age groups were represented, too. The youngest attendee was Sora, the three year old son of MRLS student Masumi Takanashi, and the next youngest were Emma, four, and Amelie, six, daughters of Lucy and Eric Daberkow. (Saro is learning to speak Japanese and English; Emma and Amelie are already old hands at English and Spanish.) The oldest person at the event was ...well no need to go there.

Thanks to everyone for a great evening!

--Don C. Smith

Environmental Law Clinic Efforts Associated With Coal-Fired Power Plant Legal Action Featured in Denver Newspaper

The efforts of the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in relation to a controversial coal-fired power plant in the southeast Colorado town of Lamar are featured in the latest issue of the Denver weekly newspaper Westword.

In "Black Out: Lamar Gets Steamed Over a Troubled Coal Plant -- Right in the Middle of Town," (Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2010), Westword reports on the involvement of the Environmental Law Clinic (ELC) and WildEarth Guardians along with several Lamar citizens in the filing of a lawsuit against the plant's operators under the U.S. Clean Air Act.

ELC Director and Professor Mike Harris said, "There's always a little bit of a disconnect between what the legal claims are in a case like this and what it's about from the perspective of people living in the shadow of a coal-fired power plant. But the case is still about building a coal-fired plant in the middle of Lamar, less than a mile from five schools."

The lead student ELC attorneys who handled the case last year were Allison Vetter and Ahson Wall. This year's lead student attorneys are Myra Gottl and Todd Likman, who are scheduled to file the last of the summary judgment briefs today. Professor Harris said that all of the student attorneys have done "a wonderful job" on the case.