Florida's Threatened Resources
In the fall of 2007, The Metropolitan Center at UCF engaged the Central Florida community in discussions about issues critical to the future of our state. The series was titled "Land, Water, Power: Florida's Threatened Resources." The first forum took place on September 20 and featured Anthony Flint, author of "This Land: The Battle over Sprawl and the Future of America" and former Boston Globe journalist, now at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He discussed growth patterns and the built environment in the context of dwindling energy resources and climate change, with special focus on Florida.
The second forum was held on November 1 and addressed water resource issues with a keynote address by Cynthia Barnett, author of " Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S." Ms. Barnett has been a reporter and editor for twenty years. Since 1998, she has written for Florida Trend magazine, where she covers investigative, environmental, public policy and business stories.
The final forum was on November 29 and focused on Florida's growing energy crisis and featured noted author and social critic James Howard Kunstler. Famous for his book "The Long Emergency," and his sometimes controversial views on urban and suburban development, Kunstler's discussion was not only engaging, it was also at times funny for all in attendance.
All events took place at Leu Gardens in Orlando and featured a wide range of experts from the relative fields.