As the last bits of confetti settle to the earth, the real, much more sober party begins: a convening conversation on one of the most important problems confronting humanity. President Obama has vowed to address climate change, but how we do so will determine our success. And this is where you come in.
Beginning February 4th, over 600 groups so far, mostly from academic institutions all over the US, will gather to partake in a truly national conversation on how the US will address global warming. This is not limited to academic groups, though. Want to get your book group, faith group, or local civic group in on the action? This is your conversation, too.
On February 4th, the National Teach-in is coordinating video hookups between citizens and their Congressional Senate or House representatives to begin a badly needed conversation on just how their representatives plan to bring down carbon emissions in the US fast. Over 100 Congress people have agreed to participate as of this posting. What's the big plan, and what are the devilish details being considered? President Obama noted in his inaugural speech that it isn't the size but the effectiveness of government that matters. This is one matter where we have to get it right, as soon as possible, where there is no room for pork but where everyone can win. Education is the first key. The National Teach-in is focusing on promoting the reasonable goal of 40% reduction of today's carbon emissions by 2020. This is a much more substantial goal than the 42% reduction of 2005 carbon emissions by 2030 proposed by the US Climate Action Partnership, a plan scoffed by Chairman Henry Waxman of the Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee as too little, too late.
To help hone the message, the National Teach-in lists several resources on its site to prep participants on what is possible and practical, and what isn't. One of the most comprehensive and easily accessible resources to prep participants is the free downloadable book written by us at Cool the Earth US. Armed with this information, participants will be able to have an intelligent, probing conversation with their representatives.
The format is simple: get a group of people together, find a room, and let the National Teach-in know that you want in. They will help you arrange a hookup, and their National Teach-in webpage provides a teach-in model for other activities. If your representative isn't available, the website's Climate Dialogue will help guide you to get a more local representative to address you - governor, state representative, mayor, or councilperson. Due to a Congressional retreat on February 5-6th, federal Congress people will only be available on the 4th, but February 5th allows for a host of other important interactive dialogues and activities: host a screening/streaming of the Teach-in's webcast "Solutions for the first 100 days", host lectures and discussions on solving the climate crisis, and create video letters to be sent to your Congressional representatives and uploaded on YouTube. Book a trained speaker on the crisis and its solutions through The Climate Project, which trains people to deliver the lecture that Al Gore has given to world acclaim. The first 100 days webpage guides you on continuing actions you can take to participate in bringing about legislation that promotes clean energy to address the climate and energy crises.
Then spread the word -- let's go viral with this! It's all part of building an overall movement intent on solving the climate crisis effectively, from the grassroots up.
The followup for many will be the Power Shift 2009 weekend in Washington D. C. February 27th to March 2nd. Over 10,000 young people plan to go and hold their legislators accountable for enacting effective energy legislation. Events include lobbying workshops, keynote speakers (Al Gore, maybe President Obama himself), and legislative briefings. If you want to be a future leader in this field, this is for you.
