By Katie Moreira

Central Connecticut State University’s Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition group is hosting its annual Global Environmental Sustainability Symposium Thursday discussing water, life and a changing planet.

This is the fourth annual sustainability symposium that GESAC has hosted on campus in hopes to raise awareness of environmental issues. The symposium’s major focus this year is the growing environmental problem concerning the global depletion of drinkable water.

The theme for the symposium was discussed and picked by GESAC board members because it is one of the top environmental issues for the nation and human population around the world.

“We do our best to pick something that is important in the New Britain and Hartford area, also regionally and nationally,” said Charles Button, CCSU geography professor and founder and faculty chair of GESAC.

Events will be held at different locations throughout campus beteween 10 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Organizers of the symposium only request is that people register online for events and notify them if they plan on attending the luncheon. All symposium events, including the luncheon, are open to the students and the public at no cost.

“This is by far the largest environmental symposium event held on any CSU campus,” said Button, who anticipates around 1,000 people to attend events throughout the day.

The sustainability symposium brings people in from all over the east cost and one presenter, Dave Chameides, is coming all the way from California.

Chameides is an Emmy Award-winning cameraman and environmental educator and is speaking at the ‘Chasing Sustainability’ presentation. His presentation focuses on his own experiment and experience of not throwing anything away for a year in an effort to see his impact on the environment.

The symposium is not only bringing in people from all over the country but is also attracting state and local leaders. Button hopes that policy makers leave with more knowledge about how environmental issues impact the life of the average person.

“The unique focus of the whole symposium is the attempt to have people come learn with us and come teach with us,” said Button.

The symposium has a plethora of events that focus on issues affecting Connecticut, but also events that raise awareness on a global level. One of the presentations, ‘Listening to the Wisdom of Indigenous Hawaiians’ showcases the Hawaiian’s efforts on protecting their water supply.

“They’re an island, they are a model for what the earth is. They need to be pretty wise in what they use and do with water,” said Button. “Less then 1 percent of the world has potable water and the island is extremely aware about their water use.”

The main theme of the Symposium might be the Earth’s depleting supply of drinkable water but Button hopes that the symposium will help human sustainability in general.

“The broader goal is to bring [people] all together to have a discussion,” said Button.

Information can be found regarding the sustainability symposium and schedule of events at GESAC’s webpage.