Alternative Spring Break

This ASB trip to Washington, D.C. centers on two primary questions: Where do we live? How do we feed ourselves? 80% of the United States population now lives in urban areas. How does this human concentration affect both the built environment we live in and the natural environment we use to support ourselves? How does social injustice and income disparity manifest itself in content of your dinner plate? The purpose of this Alternative Spring Break in Washington, D.C. is to provide a group of Stanford students a first-hand learning opportunity on issues of domestic environmental policy within the shifting framework of Washington politics. Students will have the opportunity to directly observe the post-Copenhagen Climate Convention political landscape, and identify how those international negotiations will affect domestic, on-the-ground policies. Particular focus will be paid to the intersection of and relationship between US agricultural and urban planning  policies, and how those two sets of regulations affect the ecological health and the socio-economic (in)equalities of our communities.These two sectors tangibly overlap on our tables and in our grocery stores, and together have a substantial impact on the health of our planet and the health of our bodies.  In the winter quarter course, we will explore historic and contemporary urban design practices, and how alternative strategies will be integral to confronting our current climate crises. We will also consider the behemoth of US agricultural production and subsidies in a historical context, and seek to understand how the present policy structure came about. With this knowledge, we will travel to Washington, D.C. for interviews with relevant agencies, advocates, lobbyists, agriculturalists, and citizens of all walks of life. In addition to educating ourselves on the complex mechanisms for policy development and implementation, we will learn the skills for effective communication and policy analysis. This is a fantastic opportunity for all those interested in climate policy, environmental justice, and urban design!