Comments on: And then… The particulars on the next thing coming out of the Energy Action Coalition http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/ Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:16:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Obama Explains Climate and Carbon Capping to Business, and Imminent Climate Policy Action « Citizen Obie http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/#comment-71894 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:12:41 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=9378#comment-71894 [...] on applying the knowledge and passion we got in DC to the struggles here at home. The first is to a sneak peak of the upcoming action planned by the EAC (Energy Action Coalition, the group primarily responsible for organizing Power Shift). The second [...]

]]> By: Matt Maiorana http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/#comment-71889 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:38:19 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=9378#comment-71889 I completely agree with Jon’s comment. The youth climate movement desperately needs specifics at this point. The principled approach has worked in the past, but now that legislation is coming to the table we need to make our positions abundantly clear.

I think it’s also important to note that not everybody in the movement is going to agree 100% of the time, but we can’t let this stop us from taking strong stands.

]]> By: Jon Isham http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/#comment-71885 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:42:18 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=9378#comment-71885 So here’s an immediate issue that EAC and PS09 needs to deal with, ASAP: getting the message right.

Background: two days ago, I had a long talk with a Hill staffer who is very supportive of strong climate/clean energy legislation. He reported that he is very worried: he said that too many Democrats are infighting about tax vs. cap-and-trade; and – more ominously – that GOP opponents are lining up behind a cap-and-tax message.

I asked the him: what is the single most important thing that the Powershift/1Sky coalition can do right now? He thought for several seconds and then said: ‘Get 100% behind a clear message about cap-and-trade, and then have non-environmentalists engage their members of Congress with this message.’ And a trenchant analysis with the same diagnosis just appeared in the Times: http://tinyurl.com/begshs

This is urgent and begs a question: in a way that respects the diverse, varied leadership of EAC, is it possible to converge now on language that can be used to frame the legislation that we all support? It’s certainly tricky, in that some of the best language is tied to specific legislation: for example, for those who favor cap-and-dividend (www.capandividend.org), this is great policy AND an excellent frame. But if EAC can’t converge around cap-and-dividend or some other flavor of climate legislation, the climate movement risks the very real possibility that (a) climate legislation will not pass this year and (b) the opponents will get the upper hand using the dreaded ‘tax frame.’

Ideas?

]]> By: Juliana Williams http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/#comment-71855 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:58:10 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=9378#comment-71855 Energy Action is far from being just lobbyists. As one of the partner field staff, I can tell you that so much goes on behind the scenes as Energy Action plans its moves forward. Above all else, the focus is on increasing the grassroots capacity and potential of the youth climate movement. This include supporting the leadership development and organizing potential of individual campus groups, supporting the creation and development of state-wide youth networks, connecting youth organizations to each other and to other groups working on local/regional issues. This includes leading trainings on campaign planning, direct action, yes, lobbying, messaging. All of this work is movement building.

What Danny’s post represents is that Energy Action is now working to mobilize this massive grassroots base to influence federal policy. We have an opportunity this year of the likes that we haven’t seen in eight years, and potentially ever. Congress will be seriously considering a climate bill for the first time and we need use our grassroots potential to build support for a strong climate bill in our Representatives districts and in our states.

This is not saying that we should abandon all the local sustainability, coalition building, direct action work that we are doing. Not at all. What this post is saying is that we need to explicitly draw out the connection between the local organizing and movement building and our potential to make Congress pass strong national legislation.

]]> By: mollieru http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/#comment-71833 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:16:32 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=9378#comment-71833 Awesome to see Powershift taking things to the next step of the movement! We’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us – great to know these tools are out there.

Also, Jesse’s links weren’t working – so for anyone wanting to learn more about Focus the Nation, check out all the resources on our site:

http://focusthenation.org

What an exciting spring for the clean energy movement!

]]> By: Dave http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/#comment-71797 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:50:46 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=9378#comment-71797 Is EAC resigned to just being lobbyists now? What happened to campus and community organizing? What about building grassroots power or movement building that wasn’t just about being a voting bloc and lobbying Congress?

]]> By: Jesse Jenkins http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/11/and-then-the-particulars-on-the-next-thing-coming-out-of-the-energy-action-coalition/#comment-71786 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:22:04 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=9378#comment-71786 Thanks for the “sneak peak” of what’s to come.

Don’t forget Focus the Nation though! Focus the Nation’s nationwide Town Hall on energy solutions, April 18th is an excellent platform to get your “face time” with electeds during the April Recess. Focus teams are already hard at work organizing town hall meetings with elected officials all across the country (in just about every Congressional district) and it’s not too late to start organizing one. Trust FtN Civic Engagement Director Alex Tinker has been working his butt off to secure participation of congress critters and can help you get your representatives or senators to your event. Focus the Nation’s nationwide Town Hall fits in perfectly with this next stage in the EAC Power Shift campaign. Check out the plan and the resources available at http://www.FocusTheNation.org

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