Guangzhou American Center Presents
Climate Communication Book Club Series
This program aims to improve reading and critical thinking abilities while exploring various cultural perspectives on climate communication. Participants will learn to analyze literature closely and reflect on how their understanding and actions relating to climate change are influenced by personal perspectives.
Educators and students eager to engage in a stimulating book club where diverse opinions about Climate Change are discussed are welcomed to join. This space values the sharing of innovative ideas.
Facilitated by English Language Specialist Matthew Jellick, the book discussions will be in English. Monthly readings will include selections from authors with different and unique backgrounds.
Those interested in attending all four book club meetings will receive a certificate upon completion.
Participants who register four days in advance will receive a related reading excerpt via email, which should be read prior to the book club meeting.
Venue capacity is limited to 70 attendees, with entries given on a first-come, first-served basis.
The discussions will tackle complex issues, and the program is not suitable for children.
About the Facilitator:
Matthew Jellick:
Matthew Jellick, who holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Southern California, has been teaching internationally since 2009. He has served as an English Language Fellow and Specialist and has substantial experience in China, having taught at the university level for nearly seven years. He emphasizes lifelong learning and has shared his expertise at various conferences across several continents.
Program Outline:
Book Club Session I:
Reading: "How Women Can Save the Planet”
Author: Anne Karpf
Date & Time: Saturday, October 26, 2024, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Guangzhou American Center, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
This session will explore how women are impacted by climate change and often lack equal representation in climate policy. Discussions will center around women-led initiatives and insights aimed at creating meaningful change for the planet.
Book Club Session II:
Reading: “Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes Through Indigenous Science”
Author: Jessica Hernandez
Date & Time: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Guangzhou American Center, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
This session will emphasize the crucial role of Indigenous communities affected by climate change and how their knowledge remains largely unrecognized in contemporary discussions on environmental policy.
Book Club Session III:
Reading: “Tales of Two Planets: Stories of Climate Change and Inequity in a Divided World”
Editor: John Freeman
Date & Time: Saturday, December 21, 2024, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Guangzhou American Center, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
This discussion will focus on global narratives related to climate change, examining stories from regions under severe stress, and will call for action based on the readings.
Book Club Session IV:
Reading: “Dear Human at the Edge of Time: Poems on Climate Change”
Editors: L.A. Igloria, A. Cassinetto & J.S. Hoffman
Date & Time: February 22, 2025
Location: Guangzhou American Center, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
The final workshop will integrate poetry analysis into the climate discourse, allowing participants to redefine their relationship with the environment through creative expression.
Special Notices:
Attendees should bring valid identification such as an ID card or passport for entry into the Consulate. Personal items like cameras and laptops cannot be stored, while smaller belongings will be temporarily held at the entrance. Requests for reasonable accommodations due to disabilities are advised to be submitted in advance via email to the center.
Attendees should be aware that the Consulate may photograph and record video during the workshops. Every effort will be made to avoid including recognizable images of participants without their permission.