Michael Shuman, Author and Economist —  Saturday, September 15 at 12:00pm

Michael Shuman is vice president for Enterprise Development for the Training and Development Corporation (TDC) of Bucksport, Maine. A noted economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur, Shuman is widely recognized for his research into the economic advantages of small-scale businesses in an era of globalization as well as the often over-looked benefits of building local economies in an era of big-box retail chains. He has authored, coauthored, and edited seven books, including The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition (Berrett-Koehler, 2006) and Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in the Global Age (Free Press, 1998).

In recent years Shuman has overseen a variety of projects, including the design of a small-business, venture-capital fund in New Mexico and the development of CommunityFood.com, a Web site that provides marketing support for small-scale family farmers. He also organized university-government-business collaborations in both St. Lawrence County, New York, and the Katahdin Region of Maine to study opportunities for import replacement.

Shuman serves as a senior editor for the recently published Encyclopedia of Community. He is a cofounder and active participant in the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and a founder of Bay Friendly Chicken, a community-owned company located in Salisbury, Maryland.

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Amy Goodman, Author and Host of Democracy Now! —  Saturday, September 15 at 2:00pm

Amy Goodman is the host and executive producer of Democracy Now!, a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program airing on 500 radio and television stations in North America. Time Magazine named Democracy Now! In its "Pick of the Podcasts."

Goodman and her brother, journalist David Goodman, co-authored Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back, and the New York Times best seller The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Love Them.

Goodman's reporting on East Timor and Nigeria has won numerous awards, including the George Polk Award, Robert F. Kennedy Prize for International Reporting, and the Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Award. She has also received awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Project Censored.

Pioneering the largest public media collaboration in the U.S., Democracy Now! is broadcast on Pacifica, NPR stations, low power FM, College and Community Radio stations as well as Public Access TV and PBS stations, and on both TV satellite networks -- DISH Network channel 9415 Free Speech TV, 9410 Link TV, and on Direct TV channel 375. Democracy Now! is also available at democracynow.org. She recently began a weekly syndicated column with King Features.

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Special Guest - Joshua Tickell, Author and Filmmaker —  Saturday, September 15 at 3:15pm

Author and filmmaker Josh Tickell has inspired thousands of people around the world to make, use and promote the vegetable oil-based fuel called biodiesel. He is the creator of the unique biodiesel vehicle - The Veggie Van. In 1997 and 1998, he toured the United States in the Veggie Van. His short film, "The Veggie Van Voyage," screened in 14 film festivals. Tickell's first book on biodiesel, "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank," is in its third edition. "Biodiesel America," Tickell's most recent publication, has been lauded by celebrities and politicians alike. He is currently working on a feature documentary about the worldwide biodiesel revolution.

Following Joshua's talk on the Mian Stage, he will present a workshop under the Blue Workshop Tent, from 4-5pm titled "Change Your Fuel: Change the World".

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Peggy O'Mara, Publisher of Mothering magazine —  Sunday, September 16 at 12:00pm

Peggy O'Mara has gained international celebrity as publisher, editor, and owner of Mothering magazine. A dynamic speaker, she has lectured and conducted workshops in conjunction with organizations such as the Omega Institute, Esalen, La Leche League International and Bioneers. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and has been featured in national publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Mother Earth News, and Utne Reader. She is the mother of four adult children.

Peggy is the author of Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Parenting and A Quiet Place: Essays on Life and Family.

Mothering is the magazine of natural family living and has provided a voice for alternative parenting ideas since 1976. Mothering has been ahead of the times in the coverage of natural pregnancy, normal birth, informed choice in regards to circumcision and vaccinations, alternatives in education, commercialism and many other parenting-related issues.

Peggy is a member of Western Publications Association, Independent Publishers Association and American Society of Magazine Editors. She has advised and mentored local, national and international publications such asNew Mexico Kids, Eldorado Sun, Local Flavor, Crosswinds, Midwifery Today and Byron Child (Australia).

In 2006, the Western Publications Association (WPA) bestowed its Maggie Award for Best Signed Editorial for Peggy's article titled "Breastfeeding in Whose Public"?

In 2002, she was named Woman of Peace at International Peace Prayer Day, June 15, 2002.

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John Fielder —  Sunday, September 16 at 2:00pm

John Fielder is a nationally renowned photographer, publisher, teacher and preservationist. He hikes and skis hundreds of miles in Colorado alone each year - and drives thousands - in order to record on film its most sublime natural places.

Though he started his family and planted his Colorado roots as a department store executive, he ultimately turned his avocation into a career. He is the photographer of more than 30 exhibit-format and guidebooks, all but four about Colorado. He might be most well known for creating Colorado's best selling book ever, Colorado 1870-2000, which juxtaposes historic photographer William Henry Jackson's images of the 19th-century landscape with those of today.

Fielder has worked tirelessly to promote the protection of Colorado's open space and wild places. His photography has influenced people and legislation, earning him recognition including the University of Denver's Ritchie Award for Corporate Responsibility, the University of Colorado's Distinguished Service Award, and the Sierra Club's Ansel Adams Award. In 1992 Fielder helped found the Board of Great Outdoors Colorado, which uses lottery profits to protect open space and wildlife habitat. He speaks to thousands of people each year to rally support for land-use and environmental issues.

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