It’s Getting Hot In Here

After the speakers on Saturday night at PowerShift, we were all totally jazzed and empowered, though completely exhausted. Unable to muster the energy to go to the Rainforest Action Network’s dance party, my friends and I decided to go back to where we were staying. We got on the shuttle bus to the metro station, and it was packed, wall to wall, window to window, with PowerShift participants in the same mood as us. We had to squish back 3 or 4 times, until it really was impossible to fit another adrenaline-filled body on the bus. It was kind of uncomfortable, but at the same time, we all felt such commonality with each other, felt in such good company, that it was all right. In fact, when we started chanting green protest chants, it was better than all right; it was one of the most exhilarating events of the conference. These are our peers. Who knows what we’re capable of.

Hillary Clinton made a speech today in which she released her new (and improved) climate and energy plan. David Roberts has a great summary of it on Gristmill. Now all three Democratic presidential frontrunners are committed to 80% reductions by 2050. All we need now (such a small task) is to keep them to their word, and we’re fairly golden.

The Mayor’s Climate Conference in Seattle and the Real Food Summit at Yale University were both inspiring successes this weekend, as were Step It Up 2 events around the country. Bill Clinton made a phenomenal speech in Seattle that, according to Alex Steffen of Worldchanging, was “the best speech on climate given by an American politician” that he’s ever heard. This is a time of exciting change. Are you pumped? I’m pumped.

But you and I both know we can’t leave it at that. We need to hold those politicians to their words. We need to pressure corporate interests to change their priorities. We need to organize on our campuses and communities. We need to get shit done. I’m still floating on the PowerShift high, and if you went to it or one of the other events, you’re likely feeling something similar. But nothing will change if we sink back into our normal routine. I’m going to go email the Dean of Faculty at my school about Focus the Nation right now. It’s time to act. Let’s do this.