It's Getting Hot In Here

The title says it all – we’ve gone global. And it’s not just because of Saturday.

Photo courtesy of 350.org (and inspiring people in London, Sydney, and Copenhagen)

I won’t even try to sum up the awesomeness that was the October 24th International Day of Climate Action. Instead, I’m thinking about how this fits into the even bigger awesomeness that is the international youth climate movement:

International Day of Climate Action – Yesterday was the largest day of distributed political activism ever. It was temporarily the top news story globally. While people of all ages can celebrate in making this day happen, youth played a huge role in creating and participating in many of the actions, in spreading the popularity of the day of action, and working behind the scenes (or more likely in the middle of them) as members of the 350.org staff. Continue reading ‘We’re Building a Global Movement’

Beyond the Numbers (and the Irony)

By Jesse Jenkins, reporting for the Energy Collective and WattHead – Energy News and Commentary

On February 27th-March 1st, 12,000 young leaders from all fifty states, every Canadian province, and about a dozen other nations convened at the Washington D.C. Convention Center for Power Shift 2009, the largest ever gathering of climate and clean energy activists in U.S. history. On Monday, March 2nd, fueled by a fiery passion no snowstorm could chill, thousands stormed Capitol Hill, braving subfreezing temperatures to rally, lobby and even risk arrest in their efforts to ignite a clean and just energy future.

Image credit: Shadia Fayne Wood

If you read the mainstream media’s accounts of this historic weekend, that’s about the extent of the story you likely read. The focus of most coverage was the numbers – 12,000 students, 2,500 protesters, 350 lobby visits – or the supposed irony of a climate rally held amidst a few inches of snow. But beyond the numbers and ironic headlines, there’s a far deeper story on display at Power Shift 2009 – if only the press knew where to look.

I’ve been close to this movement for three years, as both a participant and as a writer and editor chronicling its progress at ItsGettingHotInHere.org, where voices from across the movement share their stories. Rather than wait for the mainstream media to write an in-depth expose on this dynamic and growing movement, I’ll take you behind the scenes to uncover the stories behind the numbers in this three part series:

• Part One focuses on the history of the maturing movement on display at Power Shift 2009
• Part Two takes a look at the diversity of tactics and cutting edge activism employed by the movement
• Part Three looks at how the movement has grown into an expansive effort to build a more sustainable, just and prosperous future and on the road ahead for these young leaders

I’m proud to unveil (and be done with!) the Ohio Student Environmental Coalition 07-08 wrap up video. It features stuff local to Ohio as well as collaborative efforts like Power Shift 07 and Mountain Justice Spring Break 08.

If you think this video is as good as it ought to be considering how much time I spent on it, donate here!

-> You can also grab the full quality (23MB) version which looks prettier.

The bustling halls of the United Nations climate negotiations still ringing in my ears, it’s been an incredible few months since I and other youth delegates from SustainUS returned from Bali. So many friends and neighbors emailed or stopped by to say “Thanks for sending your email updates from Bali!” and “Welcome home!” I still feel the excitement of working with the best & brightest of the youth climate movement around the world.

Upon returning from Bali as a US youth delegate, I was filled with hope that humanity will create a global consciousness by rising to meet the climate emergency. In the last few months, worsening scientific predictions have only strengthened my belief that we are the leaders we seek. It’s up to us. We have the power to make the climate emergency, and the immense economic opportunities we will realize from solving it, our top priority. A bold, broad movement is needed on a scale larger than the mobilization for World War II. This mobilization will only be accomplished by unleashing a renewed civic engagement.

Continue reading ‘Post-Bali Dispatch: “Lighting Up” a movement in Upstate New York!’

Anyone who attended Power Shift 2007′s Saturday keynote presentations/festivities was surely struck by the performance of Youth Speaks poet Just Greg. Greg delivered an inspired and powerful performance of his spoken word piece, “There’s Something in the Water” before the pumped up crowd up thousands at Power Shift.

Now, thanks to some digging by Jenny Bedell-Stiles, I can finally post a link to a video of Greg’s performance for those who missed out, or who just want to see it again. I unfortunately can’t seem to embed the video here at IGHIH, but just follow this link to see Greg’s performance of “There’s Something in the Water.”

I’ve been surfing the net all morning trying to catch up on the Energy Bill debate. It’s reminded me of one thing: Congress is a muddy place.

Approval ratings for these people are down around 20%. If you visit on the wrong day, you might catch senators fillibustering popular tax breaks for energy efficiency or flip-flopping and forking over $10 billion to the coal industry. Even our beloved Speaker Pelosi, who rallied the crowd with chants of “80 by 50″ and “we want more” at Power Shift has since gotten her hands dirty along with Senator Reid by plucking clean energy tax credits from the Energy Bill. But, before I suck all the hope out of you and send you screaming for plane tickets to Denmark, there is a bit of good news.

Continue reading ‘Congress Risks Coal in Stockings’

The following is the testimony delivered by Energy Action Coalition co-founder and coordinator, Billy Parish before the House Select Committee on Global Warming and Energy Independence during Power Shift 2007 Lobby Day, November 5th, 2007.

For those who were there, let us remember that we have delivered a loud and clear message to our leaders on Congress. For those who missed Billy’s inspiring testimony, read on or listen to/watch the video. Let us all keep our call for “Green Jobs”, “80% by ’50″ and “No New Coal” as loud and clear as it was on the 5th of November. Thanks Billy for this testimony and for all you’ve done:

Continue reading ‘Billy Parish Tells Congress “This Young Generation is Ready to Carry Out a Historic Power Shift”’

I just received this sermon from one of our movement’s finest chaplains and co-founder of Religious Witness for the Earth, Reverend Fred Small. I wept when I read it.

The New Youth Climate Movement

A sermon by Rev. Fred Small

First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA

November 11, 2007

“And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

So wrote Paul the Apostle to close the thirteenth chapter of his famed letter to the Christian community at Corinth. It’s still my favorite passage in the Bible, no matter no how many weddings I hear it at. Love is the most important thing, the one essential thing, the most powerful force, I believe, in the universe.

And that’s a good thing, because my faith and hope have been taking quite a beating lately. If faith demands confidence in the outcome and hope optimism, then global warming can really do a number on faith and hope.

Continue reading ‘Words From Our Movement Chaplain’

Choice speaker clips from Power Shift with exclusive interviews with Van Jones and Majora Carter. “We don’t want people using our need for Oil, with their need to go to war.” – Nancy Peloci at Power Shift.

Power Shift was a powerful experience for me. I am happy to finally post the first “official” video from the California Student Sustainability Coalition. CSSCTV will be following the movement as it grows and we hope to share the experience with all our new friends from Power Shift.  This video contains new footage from Van Jones, as well as an Interview with one of the sexiest men alive, Billy Parish.