PlacerSustain: Voices of Placer County's Sustainability Community

The 2011 Bioneers Conference is titled:  "Breakdown to Breakthrough--Reimagining Civilization in the Age of Nature."  The conference will be held in October, but the preview materials do not indicate where.  Here is a link to the Bioneers website material on the conference.  The following is an excerpt from a preview email sent out by Bioneers:

SNEAK PREVIEW: 22nd ANNUAL BIONEERS CONFERENCE

Breakdown to Breakthrough - Reimagining Civilization in the Age of Nature

It's that time of year again, and we're really on fire about the 2011 Bioneers Conference program. It's always a shot of hope to see the breathtaking kaleidoscope of breakthrough solutions for people and planet -- and meet the live wires  making it all happen. Which is just about everyone at Bioneers. We'll be releasing the text of the program the week of May 9th, but here's a sneak preview and a few highlights.

Among the better known keynote speakers: Philippe Cousteau, Gloria Steinem and Amory Lovins.

But you know we love to highlight "the greatest people you've never heard of" (well, you've heard of some of them), a community of leadership who will no doubt go on to much greater recognition. Master mycologist  Paul Stamets will jam with filmmaker John Liu on large-scale ecosystem restoration that turns deserts into oases. Ecuador's Natalia Greene will survey the global Rights of Nature movement. Marine Colonel Puck Mykleby, until just recently a special strategic assistant to the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is working with Oberlin's David Orr on a National Security Sustainability Strategy, and will engage with Amory as well to look at how environmental security IS national security.  Steven Hill, who wrote the groundbreaking book Europe's Promise, will survey remarkable EU economic, business and labor innovations. Dr. James Gordon of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine will chronicle his remarkable peacemaking efforts among Israelis and Palestinians. And there will be tons more including stellar programs on biomimicry, food systems, women's leadership, and racial and social justice.

There's a central focus on Education for Sustainability, including unique pre- and post-conference intensives for educators with the Center for Ecoliteracy and The Biomimicry Institute.

The program has a new feature called Campaign Connection that allows you to engage with six top national campaigns. We'll host a founding Educators Network meeting (by application only). The Indigenous Forum returns in full force. And we're honored to host the rousing annual BENNY Awards by Business Ethics Network, a very inspiring event.