It’s Getting Hot In Here

Amidst the flurry of media and rhetoric on the campaign trail, the historic events of Tuesdays election, and the looming questions of where we go from here, there is only one word that comes to mind: Satyagraha.

For me this strange sounding word has a very personal meaning. Mohandas Gandhi coined it during his peaceful struggle to win Indian independence from the oppressive British Empire.  In Hindi it translates roughly as “Truth-Force”.  Gandhi defines it as, “Truth (Satya) implies Love, and Firmness (Agraha) …that is to say, the Force which is born of Truth and Love, or Non-violence…” This word embodies the youth climate movement, the infinite power of people to achieve social justice, and it’s something that I never, EVER want to forget as long as I live.  For awhile now I have been considering getting it tattooed over my heart in the original Sanskrit writing, as a daily reminder of my dedication to justice and of those who struggle in solidarity alongside me.

This last week has brought me back to this word several times. What an incredible and historic time to be alive! Young people turned out to vote in record numbers on Election Day, and just under a week ago the Energy Action Coalition did a live webcast with former Vice President and Nobel laureate, Al Gore.  In one week’s time we have hit two milestones in the youth climate movement with recognition from the “environmental establishment” and society at large.  Mr. Gore spoke of the power of youth, and the urgent need to re-power America with carbon free electricity in 10 years time.  But out of all of his eloquent words one reached straight into my heart. When asked what young people could do other than voting, Mr. Gore referenced Gandhi’s “Satyagraha” and replied: “If you educate yourself and become a persuasive advocate, and you speak the truth about the climate crisis …then you will be amazed at how much progress you can make.” For years this word has had a very personal, individualized meaning for me but it was at that moment that I realized: WE ARE THE TRUTH FORCE. We ARE Satyagrahis. Young people are that unstoppable, powerful force that will lead us to a brighter tomorrow. We are a force so powerful, so undeniably, so persuasive that we will succeed. WE WILL because we MUST, and failure is not an option when the stakes are so high.

What does Satyagraha mean for our movement?

-Speak Truth to Power:  We are the bearers of truth, the defenders of reason, facts, and science. I can say this with the utmost certainty knowing that the global scientific community has spoken and the science is conclusive. WE KNOW THE TRUTH. We are right and the climate deniers are so clearly and painfully wrong.  With confidence we must confront the lies and false solutions of the fossil fuel industry head on.  We must overpower them with the blinding light of truth.

-We are Powerful: We as young people have a tremendous power. A force or “Agraha” that is undeniable.  I have been constantly blown away by the infinite power of people when we come together and demand social justice.  I truly believe that we can accomplish anything.  In the last several months alone we have had millions of conversations about clean, just energy and gotten almost 350,000 people to join our movement. Wow! Just think about that for a moment.

-Non-Violent direct action: It is time for us to take more nonviolent direct action. Even Al Gore has called for it on several occasions , and I was half expecting him to lead into on the webcast, because for me non-violent direct action is at the very core of Satyagraha.  It is encouraging to see more and more of these actions happen across the country. We are a force so full of love and youthful energy that we are ready to lay it all on the line. Gandhi dismissed the ineffectiveness of mere ‘passive resistance’. It is time for Gandhian style mass actions like his epic Salt March that move beyond what he called mere ‘passive resistance’ and that will inspire the world with our courage.  With our very future at stake, what more do we have to lose?

-Love: Above all else, this is the most important. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.” We do this work out of love for our fellow human beings.  Out of our refusal to stand ideally by and allow others to suffer and be poisoned by the effects dirty energy. We do this out of love for each other; for our friends, co-workers, coalition partners that inspire and give us the strength to keep on fighting. At the end of our lives we will only be remembered for how much we loved, and how deeply.

Power Vote has been a campaign of phenomenal proportions, and I am so proud to have been a part of it. As an organizer I have had many meditations on Power. (Especially working in a coalition in which every campaign and conference seems to use it as a prefix . I have made it my mission in life shift the balance of power in this country and empower people with tools to do it.  In the end the true power that we seek seems to be inextricably rooted in love. Gandhi writes, “Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.”

We have a new president-elect and a new administration. We have a chance!  A chance to finally get our government to confront the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. But we know from history that true change only comes when people organize and demand it. So let’s make it happen. I may be physically exhausted but I feel this strange sense hope and of renewed energy. These newly elected officials are going to be our climate champions, because we are going to make them.

On Nov. 18th we will rally on Capitol Hill and at district offices across the country to welcome our new leaders to office with congressional greeting cards demanding “climate action now!” Then in late February, during the first 100 days of the new administration, we will flock by the thousands to Washington, DC and create a Power Shift like this nation has never seen! Expect to feel Satyagraha on a massive scale.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard these last several months. You deeply inspire me.

With Love,

Ethan