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Updated: April 3, 2009, 5:54 pm	Share    Print    Email

Brinkley warned of the dangers of nuclear radiation and nuclear weapons during a panel discussion at the First New York Women’s Conference for Sustainability held at Stony Brook Southampton Saturday. Photos by Kelly Carroll

Southampton - The first step to living and promoting a sustainable lifestyle does not have to be a big one. That was the message at SUNY Stony Brook Southampton as women from all over the East End gathered this weekend for the First New York Women's Conference for Sustainability, organized by the Women's Initiative for a Sustainable Earth, better known as WISE.

"Overall, the conference has really surpassed expectation," offered the conference's lead volunteer Susan Dubner, a Southampton village resident. "People are both informed and inspired. It's astounding."

From keynote addresses on "Unexpected Leaders," to a panel on "Grassroots Organizing," event founders brought together great minds in sustainability to help teach women - and also the men and young children in attendance - that educating the masses on environmental issues can start small. Community outreach does not have to touch millions of people right from the get go. "It's the idea that it doesn't have to be a big movement," Dubner added.

Southampton Town Councilwoman Sally Pope enjoyed the conference Saturday afternoon. Councilwoman Nancy Graboski was also in attendance.

The conference, which was co-hosted by Stony Brook University's Center for Wine, Food, and Culture, kicked-off Friday, March 27, with an exotic organic tea tasting, prior to the keynote addresses from Richard Leakey, a Stony Brook professor; Climate Ambassador Sara Gordon; author Margaret Wheatley, who also founded the Berkana Institute; and environmental advocate Harriet Fulbright, via satellite.

Saturday's sessions were mixed with enticing activities and empowering discussions, beginning with the early bird 7 a.m. yoga rounds, bird-watching and a hike. More keynote addresses followed throughout the day, including "Fever, Inventory and Other Essentials to Change the World," presented by Southampton Town Justice Andrea Schiavoni. The day ended with a drum circle led by Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman.

Lending star power to the event, however, was model and East End resident Christie Brinkley, who acted as a panelist discussing the power of grassroots movements. Her activism began at a small dinner party, she told the audience inside SUNY Stony Brook Southampton's Duke Lecture Hall Saturday afternoon, and slowly morphed into a lifetime commitment. As Brinkley became more aware of the environmental issues facing her, and more importantly children, she became a member of the board of directors of the Global Security Institute, and a founding member of Standing for Truth About Radiation (STAR).

Those in attendance said that women could think of the earth as their child - that women can be empowered on environmental issues because they are generally considered to be nurturers. "We can hear the earth sneeze," said one conference attendee.

"I know that grassroots efforts work," she asserted. "Every American and every mother in the human family is one. We are all in this together. When we join together, anything is possible."

With the success of the event, which concluded with a "Call to Action" Sunday afternoon, WISE members and conference organizers say they are looking to make the sustainability conference an annual one. In educating women on how to reach out for environmental issues, the chance arises that the conference can only grow from here.

"The information has been startling," Dubner noted Saturday, "yet, the opportunity to do something about it as been presented. What can be done? Here are some ideas."

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