Author James Kunstler will speak at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Mitchell Auditorium on the St. Scholastica campus.

His free talk, “Surviving the Coming Catastrophes,” is the fourth in the College’s Alworth Peace and Justice Lecture Series for 2007-2008. The series, entitled “Energy Futures,” examines energy scenarios for the near and distant futures.

A reception will be held after Kunstler’s lecture. There is no charge for either event.

Kunstler is the author of “The Long Emergency,” which considers the challenges posed by a coming global oil crisis, climate change, and other “converging catastrophes of the 21st century.” The book offers a “powerful integration of science, technology, economics, finance, international politics and social change,” according to a review in American Scientist.

“Disturbing others’ sense of normality is something Kunstler does well,” notes The Christian Science Monitor. “Everyone who knows his work acknowledges his power to wake up a crowd.”

Kunstler writes for The Atlantic Monthly, Slate.com, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times Sunday Magazine and Op-Ed page, where he often covers environmental and economic issues. He has also written nine novels and several books on urban planning including “The City in Mind: Notes on the Urban Condition.” He has lectured extensively for major corporations, international associations and academic associations including Harvard, Yale, Cornell and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

St. Scholastica's event is funded by the Lee and Rose Warner Foundation, the Global Awareness Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, the A.H. Zeppa Family Foundation and Reader Weekly.

The Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice seeks to bridge social and political barriers to bring together people of all ages and philosophies to work toward the common goals of peace and justice.

The final installment in the “Energy Futures” series will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, in Mitchell Auditorium. The program, entitled “Northland Energy Futures,” will feature commentary from local voices including Barry Hanson, author of “Renewable Energy Solutions;” Eric Norberg, Minnesota Power executive; and David Podratz, general manager of Murphy Oil.

For more information contact Tom Morgan at (218) 723-6442 or tmorgan@css.edu, or see www.css.edu/peaceandjustice.xml