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Our guest speakers for this meetup are Anthony Perl and Richard Gilbert, authors of the recently published book "Transport Revolutions: Moving people and freight without oil".

Our meetup will part of cross-country tour to promote the book and the ideas it contains. Anthony Perl will give the presentation and Richard Gilbert will be on hand to answer questions during the Q&A session.

Industrial society is facing the twin challenges of reducing CO2 emissions to slow global climate change and the prospect of declining oil supplies.

Perl and Gilbert explore past transport revolutions to gain insight into the nature and dynamics of such profound changes. They also examine our current transportation systems and then propose organizational and technical innovations that could ensure effective, secure movement of people and goods in ways that minimize environmental impacts and make the best use of renewable sources of energy.

Transport Revolutions is essential reading for professionals in transport, energy, business, town planning and local and national governments.

Dr. Anthony Perl is Professor of Urban Studies and Director of the Urban Studies Program at Simon Fraser University. He is also cross appointed as Professor of Political Science. He has published widely in scholarly journals and has produced four books.

Dr. Richard Gilbert is an independent consultant focusing on transport and energy issues with current or recent clients in North America, Europe and Asia. His several careers have included serving for 15 years as a Toronto Councillor and teaching at universities in Canada, the US, the UK and Mexico. He has authored or co-authored numerous books and book chapters, several hundred scholarly and popular articles and dozens of reports, spanning a wide range of topics. Richard is also an advisor to Post Carbon Toronto and a meetup member.

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Directions to OSIE
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, known as OSIE is location on the north side of Bloor Street West just across the street from the University of Toronto Varsity Stadium and Centre. It is conveniently located just above (literally) the St. George Subway station.

Our room is 5250, on the fifth floor.

** Note: a better map of the locality is in the full MeetUp description below. **

In December we'll show the DVD "The Myths of Biofuels."

This is a video production by Sutro Tower Video of a presentation made by David Fridley of Lawrence Berkeley Labs and San Francisco Oil Awareness. The presentation was given by Post Carbon Santa Clara Valley earlier this year.

Mr. Fridley has been concerned about the potential effects of petroleum depletion (peak oil) for a number of years and has done extensive work in this area.

The presentation refutes the following:

- Large-scale biofuel production is sustainable.
- Biofuels are environmentally friendly and reduce CO2 emissions.
- Biofuels will help us achieve "energy independence".
- Biofuels will help the farmers.
- Second-generation biofuels (cellulosic ethanol etc.) will save us.
- Biofuels will let us continue our current way of life.

For more information on this film see
The Myths of Biofuels.

Directions to North York Civic Centre
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We'll meet at the North York Civic Centre, to continue our policy of moving the MeetUp so people who can't come downtown can join us.

A better map of the locality is here: Map of vicinity

The nearest subway station is North York Centre on the Yonge line, one stop south of Finch.

To get to the North York Centre station from downtown, take the Yonge line north from the Yonge / Bloor station. The trip takes about 25 minutes.

From the station, it's about a five-minute walk to the Civic Centre. Here's how to get from the subway to the Centre.

From either platform in the North York Centre station, go upstairs.

Look for the signs saying "Exit to Yonge Street" and "North York Civic Center."
Follow their arrows out of the station into the hall.

Beyond the doors, in the hall, look for the sign saying "Mel Lastman Square", with an arrow pointing left. Follow it through the doors outside into the square.

Turn right.

In the near distance you should see some trees around a rectangular reflecting pool. (On the map whose link is above, the pool is the purple rectangle.)

Walk to the far side of the pool. You'll be in front of the doors to the Civic Centre.

Enter, *walk up the stairs*, and turn right.

Follow the overhead sign to the Committee rooms, and find the committee room

Directions to social event
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After the MeetUp, we have a social gathering at Toby's, across Yonge Street from the Civic Centre.

18:45: Registration.

19:00: MeetUp begins.

In October we're pleased to have Paul Gipe as our speaker.

He'll give us a high-level view on "Canada's Renewable Future: Going Beyond Kyoto."

You can read about Paul here:

http://www.wind-works.org/bio.html

I wanted to excerpt his entire impressive biography but restrained myself to the following clips.

"PAUL GIPE has worked with wind energy since 1976. His experience with the technology runs the gamut from measuring wind resources to installing residential wind turbines. Gipe is best known for his advocacy of wind energy and for his articles and books on the subject. Through his writing and public speaking, Gipe has sought to popularize the use of wind energy worldwide. In 1998 the World Renewable Energy Congress designated Gipe a "pioneer in renewable energy," one of the group's highest honors.

...

From 2004 to 2006, he almost single-handedly launched a campaign for Advanced Renewable Tariffs (electricity feed laws) in North America. He is credited as the principal architect of Ontario's Standard Offer Program, what some have called the most progressive renewable energy policy development in North America in two decades."

Directions to venue:
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We've changed our venue to Metro Hall. We had a last-minute change in the requirements for audio-visual facilities, and our previous venue couldn't satisfy them.

Metro Hall is at 55 John Street, half a block south of the corner of King and John Streets, and two blocks east of Spadina.

Here's a better map than the one above:

Map of vicinity of Metro Hall

By public transit, take the subway to St. Andrew on the University line. (This is the station at King Street on that line.)

Then walk through the underground "PATH" system to Metro Hall. Or walk above ground 2 blocks west on King Street, and then south on John Street.

Directions to social event:
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After the MeetUp, we have a social gathering somewhere in the neighborhood to continue our discussion.

On September 12th we're excited to present a panel discussion on Canadian Energy Security in the context of both climate change and the supply question.

*** Note that because this event is being widely publicised, we've set a limit on the number of MeetUp members who can RSVP. ***

If you do RSVP, we'll hold your seat till five minutes before the start time, then allow anyone to have it. So please arrive before that time to make sure of getting your seat.

If you can't RSVP because we are over the limit, then you can still attend, of course (the room holds 60 people), but if the room is full you may not get in.

The participants in the panel will be the following people.

David Hughes is a geologist with more than 30 years experience studying the energy resources of Canada for the Geological Survey of Canada and the private sector.

Ralph Torrie is today a consultant for ICF and for decades has been a leading proponent for the ecological and climatic benefits to energy efficiency and a reduction of our ecological footprint. He is also someone who has over the years justly earned a reputation for being as balanced as he is wise and humorous.

Cherise Burda comes to us from easily one of the most important research institutes on the twin challenges of energy and emissions: the Pembina Institute.

We also hope to have a representative from Enbridge Gas Distribution.

After the event we'll head across to the bar at the Sheraton Hotel for drinks / food / continued discussion.

We hope to see you there!

18:45: Registration.

19:00: MeetUp begins.

First of all, note that this MeetUp is different because:

1. It's our first in the west end of the city.
2. It's on Thursday, not our normal Wednesday date.

In July we're really pleased to welcome Richard Gilbert, an international consultant on urban issues, a former Toronto city councillor, and a senior adviser to Post Carbon Toronto from its inception.

Richard has recently co-authored Transport Revolutions, a book on sustainable transportation that will serve as the topic of his presentation at our MeetUp.

From the overview:

"Land transport in the first half of the 21st century will feature at least two revolutions. One will involve the replacement of internal combustion engines by electric drives. The other will involve widespread powering of these drives directly from the electric grid rather than from on-board fuel. Together, and with necessary organisation arrangements, these transformations will allow considerable movement of people and freight by land in an era of severe energy constraints and concerns about carbon emissions."

Directions to venue:
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The venue is the Runnymede Public Library, upstairs meeting room.

Here's a map of the locality.

The nearest subway station is Runnymede station on the Bloor line.

To get to the Runnymede station from downtown, take the Bloor line west from the Yonge / Bloor station. The trip takes about 20 minutes.

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Directions to social event:

After the MeetUp, we have a social gathering somewhere in the Bloor West Village neighborhood.