I’ve been over at the big Power Shift conference in Washington, D.C. this weekend, where thousands of young adults are here to ignite change on climate change policy. They’ve been holding panels on climate issues, workshops on activism, and training sessions for lobbying Congress. These college and high school students have filled the entirety of the convention center, and tomorrow they’ll be filling the halls of Congress.
And let me tell you, these yoots are excited. To demonstrate just how excited:
- At this morning’s panel exploring the question of cap-and-trade vs. cap-and-dividend, every seat in the room was filled. Kids go crazy for the great taste of carbon trading options!
- Yesterday, I watched two students try to convince the security guard at the convention center to switch off some of the overhead lighting and let in more natural light. Doubting the security guard has much sway on the issue, but hey, the effort was sincere.
- Today’s panel on natural gas ran 30 minutes over the scheduled time due to the number of questions students had for panelists.
- The panel on reporting on climate change that I spoke on was also a full crowd - at 9 a.m on a Saturday.
- Final attendance for the conference topped 12,100.
- Attendees will be meeting with 370 senators and House members tomorrow.
Here’s a photo of the standing-room-only crowd learning about carbon pricing this morning:
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Comments
View as Flat
Oemissions Posted 7:36 am
01 Mar 2009
I still believe that personal actions count. If there was light rail from the west coast to the east coast I would be there. And I would get arrested. I am over 60. I refuse to use an automobile. This love affair promoted by the auto industry has destroyed our communities, our towns, our cities and our way of life as well as our environment. Americans kill themselves and each other 47,500 times a year. Injuries are so costly and so are roads, the extra policing, the hospitals,the courts and the pollution and unbearable NOISE and stress.
These 12,000 people opting out of the drive everywhere anytime syndrome will bring change we can believe in.
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sunflower Posted 8:47 am
01 Mar 2009
Virgin Air has a new introductory fare Seattle ~ WDC $59 each way, but could not handle the carbon footprint and no time for the train.
Good luck, stay warm.
Love,
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amazingdrx Posted 3:12 pm
01 Mar 2009
I sense an army of grassroots Obama campaign trained volunteers ready to march on the local and regional electoral front.
If enough people call and write their reps, bills could pass in record time. Phone call teams and phone lists of supporters are ready to push the president's plan.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
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stevenearlsalmony Posted 4:38 am
02 Mar 2009
Even though many people are following your examples and paths of action, please note that there are people in high places who vigorously object to the acknowledgement of any truth or "cause of action" that does not conform to the standards of economic expediency and political convenience. Gatekeepers of humankind's political economy and the social status quo are not large in number; nevertheless, these self-proclaimed Masters of the Universe {Bilderberger Group and Trilateral Commission members are excellent examples} are so well-entrenched within the most recently reconstructed Tower of Babel {called the global economy in our time} that it is difficult to imagine how the family of humanity prevails against them. But prevail we shall because we must. Alternatives to our success would be ever so much more catastrophic and destructive than what is wrought in the process of voluntarily making necessary changes in the soon to become patently unsustaiable ways human beings live today.
Perhaps new leadership is in the offing.
Sincerely yours,
Steve
Steven Earl Salmony
AWAREness Campaign on The Human Population,
established 2001
http://sustainabilityscience.org/content.html?contentid=1 ...
http://sustainabilitysoutheast.org/index.php
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hsr0601 Posted 7:20 am
02 Mar 2009
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tmullins Posted 12:51 pm
02 Mar 2009
http://www.wisecountyissues.com
Hannity shut the fuck up !
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Delay And Deny Posted 3:02 pm
02 Mar 2009
From the thumnail looks like there's a fair share of chrome domes there.
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