NOAA Protester Paul Burman - “A Call to Action For My Generation”

Statement by Paul Burman, DC Campus Organizer, US Climate Emergency Council, October 23^rd, 2006

“A Call to Action For My Generation”

“As a 23 year old recent college graduate, global warming is not a future problem for me. It is my future. Young people understand that global warming is the challenge of our generation, and we won’t wait another day to start the clean energy revolution.

The United States makes up only 5% of the world’s population, but emits one quarter of the world’s carbon pollution. Our actions are hurting the world’s most vulnerable people. Every day, our refusal to face global warming is leading to droughts in Africa, displacement of native peoples in Alaska, and heat waves and wildfires right here in the US. We must take responsibility for our actions.

Global warming is denying us “freedom and justice for all.” Our future is being compromised; one SUV at a time, one ton of coal at a time. We are inheriting the burden of an unstable climate and an uncertain future. We want the same opportunity of a normal life, with normal weather, and normal seasons… the same opportunity our parents and our President were given.

So we are making our own future. Every day thousands of young people are fighting for a stable climate. College campuses are leading the way to a clean energy future by purchasing wind power and efficient vehicles. We are taking steps to make our campuses carbon-neutral and our lifestyles carbon free. This is the new American dream, the dream of a clean energy future and a stable climate. Today I am acting to protect my future and the future of my generation, and I urge students and young people to join me in rising to this challenge.

But while we are moving forward, the Bush Administration continues to drag its feet. Bush appointee Conrad Lautenbacher is suppressing the truth about global warming, framing science as speculation by repressing the cold hard facts. This is an impediment to scientific progress and an insult to the American public. We are a nation that faces challenges, not ignores them.

I will not wait one more day to fight for my future. I urge young people to join me, to rise up, and demand a clean energy future TODAY.”

About Josh

A self described "professional rabble-rouser," Josh brings his ethic of stirring up the system to his work with the Energy Action Coalition. Josh is currently the Field Director for Energy Action Coalition and the Power Vote Campaign and he is working every day to get young people out to vote for Clean and Just Energy this November. Previous to EAC, Josh served as Deputy Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), where he coordinated campaigns to promote solutions to global warming across the Chesapeake region. Recent victories include the Healthy Air Act, the Maryland Clean Cars Bill, and numerous clean energy policies at colleges across the region.