A few weeks ago, I asked you to own a movement and help thousands of young people attend Power Shift 2009*.
Hope is not a strategy
Photo by Matt Stern
The throngs of people who came to celebrate the Inauguration have left all of us at CCAN immensely inspired and hopeful that we share a vision of a new country and a new plan to move forward. They may have snarled our transportation lines, they may have crashed our phone systems and trampled our lawns, but they were all here to invoke a new era for our country, to work for a new, more equitable, more sustainable future.
It was hard not to feel like you were a part of history standing on the mall and listening to President Obama’s first speech as president. But, as Jake Brewer reminds us, “Hope is not a strategy.”
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 officials into office, the young people of this country WILL act.
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.
As we’ve already talked about, Power Shift this year is going to be huge–10,000 students will descend on Washington to coordinate and tell legislators to take action on the climate.
Today, 1,400 students registered–in ONE DAY! But that means we still have a lot of work to do. So, if you are a student or know any students get registered at http://www.PowerShift09.org!
Virginia is Itching for a PowerShift
This post is by Tom Owens, Former CCAN Virginia Campus Organizer.
So take Virginia, the old Commonwealth, the birthplace of some of the most esteemed leaders of American history: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and television’s the Waltons. Continue reading
One Movement: Step It Up, Power Shift, Green for All!
From November 2-5, 6,000 youth gathered in DC and rallies were held in all 50 states, all with the common goal of uniting to solve global warming. Below, watch the video from that historic weekend.
This video was created by Step It Up’s Jamie Henn.
Learn more at www.1skycampaign.org.
Power Shift '07!
Personally, I was only able to attend Power Shift Friday night – I was working at Step It Up on Saturday and then, well, I needed a day off. But it was incredible to watch all the students arrive from all over the country. The excitement was palpable, and the speakers were great.
Van Jones kissing Bill McKibben on the cheek after they gave two of Saturday’s keynote speeches. Photo courtesy of Liz Veazey.
USCEC coordinator Ted Glick was one of the first speakers. He walked up to the stage and announced that he was on the 60th day of a “Climate Emergency Fast.” I was sitting in the audience and watched everyone around me do a double take, turn to their friends and whisper, “did he just say what I think he said?” and “60 days, is that even possible?”
It is possible, apparently. For the first 27 days, Ted subsisted on water and vitamins (27 days is longer than Mahatma Gandhi ever fasted. Gandhi was generally thin and had very little fat to lose). After 27 days Ted switched over to drinking juices and broths. Ted’s fasting to pressure Congress to pass significant and meaningful global warming legislation. He has been to Capitol Hill to lobby key representatives numerous times and plans to continue the fast until Congress adjourns for the year. Continue reading