The World Cup Begins: Good Luck to all the "Sturm College of Law" Countries!

The World Cup, the every four year event that marks the world's largest sporting event, kicked off yesterday in South Africa for the first time ever.

As I look over the contingent of teams vying for the title "Champion of the World," it is hard not to think about the rich history and tradition of the University of Denver Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program and to reflect on the wonderful students we have enjoyed from every corner of the world.

As World Cup 2010 gets underway, it is fitting to call attention to the countries that have a specific link to DU through students who have attended our program but call other countries home. Out of the 32 qualifiers for the World Cup in South Africa, DU is proud to have had students from the following qualifying countries:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Cameroon
• Chile
• Germany
• Ghana
• Japan
• Mexico
• Nigeria
• South Korea
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Uruguay
• United States

All told, 14 of the qualifiers are from DU "countries," thus giving our community a significant chance to win. Of course the fact that our community includes football powerhouses such as Argentina and Brazil improves our chances.

As each of us so clearly understands, while football is the world's game the challenge of using our resources carefully and prudently and being mindful of environmental protection and the need for development is also the "world's game." Each of us as individuals and all of us as community members have shown a level of commitment to these objectives. Consequently for the next month, we will enjoy the football "world game" while we also think about how best to develop, use, and protect the world's resources.

May best team win and may South Africa enjoy its historic opportunity to host the games! The fact that South Africa can host these games so soon after its tragic history of segregation and inequality should inspire all of us.

--Don Smith

Financial Times Special Report on "Sustainable Banking"

The London-based Financial Times newspaper recently published an excellent special report called "Sustainable Banking." The special report was part of the newspaper's June 3, 2010 North American issue.

According to the special report:

"Sustainable forestry, sustainable fishing, sustainable farming -- the idea of managing the earth's natural resources in a prudent way has been gaining ground rapidly in recent years...Now, so the optimists of the world's financial markets believe, there is a unique opportunity to make sustainability an integral part of banking."

Microfinance and reducing banks' carbon footprint are two of the stories in the special report.

Pew Center on Global Climate Change President Discusses Kerry-Lieberman "American Power Act"

Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, recently talked about the political issues associated with the proposed American Power Act, authored by Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph Lieberman (Ind-Conn.). You can watch her remarks on E&E TV's "On Point" show by clicking here.

A summary of the act can be accessed by clicking here.

For those who are following the machinations of Congressional action on the legislation, this 10 minute broadcast is well worth your time.