I’m sitting a couple blocks north of the White House and the buzz around here is intense.
People are arriving by the busload, the metro lines are already having problems, and in 5 days, millions of people will descend on the National Mall for the inauguration of a new President.
There’s a lot of talk about inauguration day ushering in new era for our country, and I’ll be honest, I’m as taken up as anyone with the hopeful possibilities that 2009 and beyond can bring. I hear “new era,” and I immediately start thinking about what those words can mean. My deep, personal hope is that this new era will be defined by the decision of our country to move boldly into the clean energy future we must achieve.
But every time I have these feelings of hope, I’m reminded of something my dad always told me:
“Son, hope is not a strategy.”
And as usual, he’s right. The question clearly and powerfully before us is not what we hope for, but rather, what are we going to DO to make our hopes actually happen. We need to act. Now. And just as we came together in record numbers to vote new elected offiicals into office; act we will.
Our response is bold. It is equal to this historic moment. It is audaciously hopeful, and infused with the energy and vitality of an entire generation of Americans ready to turn good intentions and rhetoric into reality.
38 days after President Obama takes office, we will bring 10,000 young people to Washington to hold our elected officials accountable for rebuilding our economy and reclaiming our future through bold climate and clean energy policy.
And we need you to be here with us.
Power Shift ’09 will be one of the “Where Were You Moments” of our generation. With early registration ending on January 21st, we ask that you register now to take advantage, then join us on February 27th for 4 days of learning, connection, music, inspiration, and the largest lobby day on climate and clean energy Captiol Hill has ever seen.
There will also be lots of opportunities to get involved and take action between now and Power Shift, and we think if we work together in all the communities you represent nationwide, we’ll be an unstoppable force. You can start with one of those actions now.
If you do anything at all today, please do this: Think about what’s happening right now in this country, and take a moment to ask yourself how you will be involved in this special time. Ask yourself how you will be part of history.
Come to Power Shift. Share this email with a friend. Become a Power Shift recruiter on your campus. Join the clean energy movement in some other way.
Whatever you do, don’t do nothing. When our children ask us where we were when history called, let’s be able to answer “we were there.”
