http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/10/24/ninety-percent-of-young-people-want-action-on-climate-change/ Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:21 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/10/24/ninety-percent-of-young-people-want-action-on-climate-change/#comment-68619 mountaingirl Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:29:38 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=6612#comment-68619 Clearly, PowerVote is getting the word out about the climate crisis to tens of thousands of people, which is great. BUT, it's not the only action we can take as students and youth to turn up the heat on the decision makers. And really, who decides? With so many stakeholders involved, there will have to be many players at the table to make considerable and long lasting change in any energy policies. On this United Nations Day, I am glad, too, that the UN is beginning to get the message, however, I do not think we should stop there. While having conversations with our legislators or United Nations delegates is a start, we should also be out in our communities and in the streets! taking action! whether its riding a bike to reduce your dependence on your car, holding a rally in front of a city hall for green jobs, or dressing like zombies and paying a visit on Halloween to your local Bank of America (one of the top financiers of mountain top removal coal mining and new coal plants in the US), take action!! My love and deep respect to all the brave and gutsy organisers and activists who have taken on King Coal and Archduke Nukes and in some cases of civil disobedience, have been arrested and taken to court. Looking back to civil rights and labor struggles, acts of disobedience like lunch counter sit-ins and strikes have proven strategic and useful tactics to affecting change. Happy to see ninety percent of young folks want action to change the climate, but we should also encourage other generations, younger and older to act as well.... Al Gore?! anyone? anyone? Clearly, PowerVote is getting the word out about the climate crisis to tens of thousands of people, which is great. BUT, it’s not the only action we can take as students and youth to turn up the heat on the decision makers. And really, who decides? With so many stakeholders involved, there will have to be many players at the table to make considerable and long lasting change in any energy policies. On this United Nations Day, I am glad, too, that the UN is beginning to get the message, however, I do not think we should stop there. While having conversations with our legislators or United Nations delegates is a start, we should also be out in our communities and in the streets! taking action! whether its riding a bike to reduce your dependence on your car, holding a rally in front of a city hall for green jobs, or dressing like zombies and paying a visit on Halloween to your local Bank of America (one of the top financiers of mountain top removal coal mining and new coal plants in the US), take action!! My love and deep respect to all the brave and gutsy organisers and activists who have taken on King Coal and Archduke Nukes and in some cases of civil disobedience, have been arrested and taken to court. Looking back to civil rights and labor struggles, acts of disobedience like lunch counter sit-ins and strikes have proven strategic and useful tactics to affecting change. Happy to see ninety percent of young folks want action to change the climate, but we should also encourage other generations, younger and older to act as well…. Al Gore?! anyone? anyone?

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