As a new “Terp”, I’m impressed by the accomplishments University of Maryland has made these past few years for clean energy solutions: playing host for Power Shift 2007, helping pass the carbon neutrality sustainability initiative through the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, collecting thousands of petitions for the Power Vote campaign, and rallying for the Greenhouse Gases Reduction Act (which passed!) in the Maryland legislature.
Thinking back on all the clean energy successes Maryland students have earned, these campaign victories wouldn’t have been as impressive without coordination and resource sharing among Maryland students, enabled by the Maryland Student Climate Coalition. Maryland has been a leader in statewide action and continues to set an awesome example of savvy campus organizing… and now we have a new opportunity to model our state network and national leadership!
Indeed, now is the time for broad and bold action: national and international measures must be taken, namely through passage of strong climate legislation this fall and meaningful participation in the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December. Maryland students have an important role to play in compelling our leaders to act, both due to our past leadership, our proximity to the nation’s capitol, and the political landscape of our state; Senator Cardin is a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Senator Mikulski has shown leadership on climate change and could be an important champion and motivator for her colleagues.
This October, Maryland students have the opportunity to make a splash in the national movement and invest in our local campaigns; on October 25th, the day after 350.org’s national day of action, University of Maryland will host hundreds of students throughout the state for Maryland Power Shift! The summit will include skills trainings, campaign show-and-tell and interactive planning to build Maryland leadership and change the fate of our planet!
For those of you in the Old Line State, do three things: 1) register, 2) join the facebook event, and 3) tell your friends! For y’all from other states, consider this a call to action! Check out a regional Power Shift (and a 350!) event near you or talk to some buddies and create your own event! I look forward to seeing evidence of green hard hats and local actions around the country.
