Praxis Presents · Live in Sonoma

Mark Z. Jacobson

Is it possible for all 50 states — and all countries in the world — to run on only renewable energy in the foreseeable future?

Mark Jacobson has created plans that demonstrate its feasibility.

Mark Z. Jacobson at Stanford University — Wind · Water · Solar

When

Saturday, September 5
1:00 pm

Where

Sebastiani Theater
on the Sonoma Plaza

Tickets

$25 event only
$60 event & reception ($50 for Praxis members)

Mark Z. Jacobson, PhD, is an internationally acclaimed climate scientist and professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. After decades of work, he has mapped out how all 50 U.S. states and all countries in the world could operate on 100% renewable energy using wind, water, and solar (WWS). While some transitions will take longer than others, he has proven that this is an achievable goal. His maps have been used by Senator Bernie Sanders and other legislators in preparing bills to address the climate crisis, and he co-authored an article with Senator Sanders for the Guardian entitled, “The American People — not Big Oil — must decide our climate future.”

A fervent supporter of renewable solutions, Jacobson eschews nuclear power, carbon capture, and geoengineering as creating more pollution problems than they solve. He calls these technologies the “miracles” we do not need.

Mark was the expert witness who testified for Our Children’s Trust in Montana, which resulted in the first court victory worldwide in a climate case based on constitutional grounds.

The roadblocks? Fossil fuel companies and their lobbyists, status quo business interests, bought-off politicians, and an uninformed public. Our job is to work on the roadblocks.

Mark and his team have laid out the solutions in detail. His presentation will demonstrate the possibilities and give us important information and talking points for climate solutions.

Jacobson walks his talk, living in a house that generates so much renewable energy that he hasn’t paid an electric bill in over a decade.

The post-event reception will be held at a nearby private residence. The address will be sent to registrants upon payment.

Watch

A short TV interview: how renewable energy powers his entire house

Praxis Conference

Mondragon Conference

The Mondragón Cooperative Culture · Spain
An Emergent Civilization: Vision · Models · Roadmaps — From Competition to Cooperation

Join us for an inspiring week and learn about the largest and most successful consortium of cooperatives in the world. Founded by Basque Catholic priest Father José María Arizmendiarrieta in the 1950s, the Mondragón Cooperatives began with one small worker-owned business; today, with 103 businesses and nearly 80,000 worker-owners, they comprise the largest consortium of worker-owners in the world. Mondragón has proven that another economic world is possible, and that worker ownership is a practical and ethical alternative to business as usual.

This year’s program adds a focus on the cultural, social, and political environment in which these worker-owned cooperatives thrive: two full days at the Mondragón Cooperatives education center (Otalora), two days at Mondragón University in Oñati, visits to NGOs, a session with the Mayor of Mondragón, and tours of Mondragón businesses.

Visits & Excursions

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao — designed by Frank Gehry and partially built by a Mondragón construction cooperative
The Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastian, a Mondragón University cooperative — program and lunch, with time to enjoy the city and its shoreline promenade
EROSKI, one of the largest worker-owned supermarket chains in Spain
FAGOR, an industrial cooperative
Mondragón University — where the cooperative movement began, including the TeamAcademy graduate program
Otalora, the cooperatives’ educational center in a renovated 14th-century villa

Accommodations & What’s Included

All participants stay at the Hotel Mondragón, recently renovated and located in the center of town. The conference price includes the seminar fee, accommodations, daily full breakfast and most main meals, all excursions, and transfers between Bilbao Airport and the hotel. Airfare is not included, but our travel agent coordinates group schedules and can arrange pre- and post-seminar travel (Bilbao, Seville, Barcelona, and Dubrovnik are popular additions).

Pricing & Registration

$3,500

Single room

$3,000

Double room

$800

Minimum deposit reserves your space

April 1

Balance due date

You can pay any amount above the deposit at any time up to the balance due date. Because the euro/dollar exchange rate is fluctuating, Praxis may need to add $100–$150 to registration costs.

A full refund, minus a small handling fee, is available until February 1. Cancellation processing fees: $50 for $800 deposits, $150 for full payments (these do not apply if the trip is postponed or cancelled).

Learn More

The Mondragón Report (PDF)
The Ethics and Values of Mondragón and the Basque Culture, by Georgia Kelly (PDF)

Highlights from the Mondragón Seminar (video)