On October 20th, 15 youth leaders from across central Texas attended the first Texas Youth Climate Summit at Austin Community College in Austin. The meeting led to the birth of Re-Energize Texas, the first youth coalition working to address global warming in Texas! The gathering had 15 student leaders with representation from UT Austin, UT San Antonio, Austin Community College, Baylor University, South Western University, and St. Edwards University. With some delicious Ethiopian food to sustain the spirit of action, students had an opportunity to:
- Establish new relationships and learn about each other’s work
- Attend workshops on global warming science and policy, campus solutions to global warming, and strategies for climate organizing, and finally
- Plan some major projects and actions for a youth coalition in Texas to stir up the state to climate action!
Follow and support the students on their mission on http://www.climatechallengetexas.org/ and at Power Shift 07!
The youth gathering was organized by the National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program and Public Citizen, with support from the Sierra Student Coalition and the Austin Community College.
Subscribe by Email!
Subscribe by RSS!
Share on Facebook
I grew up in San Antonio, TX, and I recall that San Antonio really lacked progressive activism. Instead, I remember over-cooled shoppping malls, poor public transportation, and plenty of traffic jams and workers commuting 30 min to an hour for work every day.
I do recall a movement a few years ago to prevent the new coal plants being built by CPS, but I don’t think it was successful, and I don’t know that many youth were involved.
So it’s good to hear about the beginning of youth movement in south Texas. I hope the few dozen young activists can build and maintain the momentum to create the much-needed culture change in Texas.