Power Shift Brings Young People to Washington to Lobby for Climate Action

Today marks the start of Power Shift '09, a weekend that will bring 10,000 young people to Washington to lobby Congress for action on climate change. Those who attend will hear from speakers such as Sen. Nancy Pelosi, and learn the skills necessary to lobby on Capitol Hill. At the end of the weekend, another group, Capitol Climate Action, will be hosting the largest civil disobedience demonstration for climate change yet at the coal-fired Capitol Power Plant. Endorsed by a myriad of environmental organizations and NASA climate scientist James Hansen, young people in dress clothes will risk arrest to demonstrate at the plant. Both events are a testament to the role that young people will have in changing climate policy. I talked to Jessy Tolkan, the executive director of Power Shift '09 about how she thinks this weekend could change our climate policy forever.

You've led young people for a while now - what's the best way for them to make their voices heard all year round, rather than just this weekend?
Young people need to flex their political muscle 365 days a year. They need to do that by constantly buzzing in the ears of Congress and political leaders, being visual on their college campuses and communities, and physically building the movement. We need to consolidate our power - by that, I mean making sure that our congressional officials know we are a voting bloc and making sure corporations know that we have tremendous purchasing power. We need to consolidate so we can take on special interests that have kept us out of power for a long time.

How do you teach college kids how to lobby?
Over the course of four days at Power Shift, we'll be exposing our students to workshops that will highlight some of the most innovative thinkers on the topics of public policy, clean energy technology and the green economy. We'll start with hour long briefings, dividing the 10,000 students into groups of 200 for discussions on the current political climate, hammering home the message that we must pass climate change legislation in 2009. We have more than 300 trainers that will be training our lobby day participants.

How will this year's session be different from your previous lobbying day for Power Shift '07?
The fun part of walking into Congress with thousands of young people in 2009 is that this demographic voted in record numbers and is largely responsible for electing the current president and the current Congress. We've accrued more political power - we're a demographic that matters and we proved that we mattered in huge ways. There were 5,000 students who came in 2007, and since then energy action has mobilized millions of voters. We've come with a detailed plan to let these members know we'll be watching them every step of the way. We represent only a small fraction of constituents across this country that share in the commitment to pass bold climate action in 2009.

I read in a study from the Center for Public Integrity that the climate change lobby is growing fast - are you encouraging the participants to choose lobbying as a career?
This weekend we have a career fair that will highlight opportunities not only in organizing and activism but also entrepreneurial opportunities, science opportunities, and opportunities in the arts. The Energy Action Coalition is not just a coalition of young environmentalists, nor only political activists. Our goal is not to just build a generation of political lobbyists, but citizens throughout a wide spectrum of careers who carry passion for our energy future.

What changes do you hope the weekend will bring about? What changes do you think the weekend will actually bring about?
We're at a place where our hope is more than just hope. It is rooted in indications that our hope will be a reality. Our big picture hopes for the weekend are that we light that spark that grows this movement strong enough and loud enough to encourage Congress to pass bold climate action in 2009. The concrete things are that 10,000 well-trained, sophisticated leaders will leave with a plan of action to go back to their communities and multiply themselves in this movement 10 times over. They will have been given the organizing skills, policy savvy, understanding of coalition building, and inspiration to go out and continue to build public demand for action.

 
The protest comes shortly after the president has pledged to put energy and climate at the top of his priority list. How will that affect the goals of this weekend - do you think you're pushing for things that are inevitable?
We never thought we'd see a president talking about the need for urgent action on climate and energy. We recognize that our role is now more critical than ever. It is the role of this youth movement to push the envelope much further, to make a case for urgency and boldness. We want to make sure that this issue, in the space of so many other priorities, does not get overlooked.

If you were president, what's the first climate action you would take?
I would immediately cap carbon. I would institute a plan to have more aggressive short-term targets that would reduce carbon 40 percent by 2020. I'd institute a moratorium on the development of new coal plants. I'd urge Congress to pass a renewable portfolio standard. I'd invest an impressive amount of money in clean energy structure and green jobs, and I would get it done by December 2009, because, as president, I would want to signal to the international community that the U.S. is ready to lead, and that we are turning around eight years of being obstructionist. I don't want to go to Copenhagen without signaling that we're ready to be true leaders. Obama should just let me know if it's getting tough, because I'm ready to step in.

How is Power Shift connected to Capitol Climate Action's civil disobedience?
The Energy Action Coalition is not the organizer of Capitol Climate Action. We're proud to be able to offer young people the opportunity to gain valuable skills and let people engage in the political process. But we recognize that it will take a variety of tactics and participation from different constituencies to achieve what we want on climate and energy. We're happy to see that the public is rising to the challenges that this issue presents.

More from Fresh Greens at U.S. News & World Report:
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Economic Downturn May Be Making American Diets Healthier

Comments

[SFTor]

I don't want anyone to learn how to lobby, environmentalists or not. Lobbying of all kinds needs to end. It is one of the principal reason that we have a dysfunctional legislature.

Representatives need to take direction from their constituents.

[anasha01]

I was there. We were lobbying our representatives. I and several others from NM, got the opportunity to talk directly to or congressman (Ben Lujan), and let him know where we stand on these issues. We argued for dramatic and immediate cuts in carbon emissions (80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050), a strong shift towards a green economy with green jobs initiatives and a major shift towards renewable sources of energy for our electricity needs. I am pleased to report that he was very supportive and wanted to become a leader on these agendas in the house. We also met with several staffers for Jeff Bingaman and the Energy and Natural resources committee, where again, we made our voices clearly heard and while Bingaman is typically more moderate on these issues, we will continue to let him know what we feel is scientifically necessary and are glad for the support they did show. This was not typical, back room lobbying, it was out in the open, on mass, meeting with OUR representatives, and holding them accountable and asking them for leadership moving our country forward.

[johnnyjust]

What a waste of time.

But I guess it keeps them busy so they can't do any real damage.

[NCRDIBULL]

hope they bring their coats ,boots ,hats , coats and gloves to prevent frost bite

[richardmcnoggin]

Ah yes, the ignorent led by the dishonest.­.

[V4Vendetta]

In one sentence you have managed to demonstrate both traits. Congratulations.

By the way, if you're accusing people of being ignorant, I suggest you use a spell checker

[Greenguy25]

It is our time to change the world, but not with words like, love and freedom, but with policy change. We can't expect the aging political leaders in this country to really understand the long term concerns because they will be dead and gone long before the real effects of climate change make an impact on our lives.

http://www.mygreenscene.com

[norkas]

There is a trillion dollar economy waiting to unfold in America and all over the world.

The moment business gets involved in promoting solar as they are you can see the expansion and the profits they are making. One company allows you to lease solar panels for your house and they have in wtitting it will be cheaper then your electric bill.

Those in business that are getting smart are in the many and i believe we are headed toward a very producive economy based on enviormental products that will help this planet.

I have been in business for over 25 years and after launching my new business many of the proceeds will be going on enviormental projects and business.

Cleaning the ocean is a trillion plus job that has to be done and it can be done in partnership with many countries just show business how they can profit which is easy.

Texas is having a horriable drought and we must now think about coverting ocean water to usable water for farmers and households all over America.

I can go on and on but there is a real business here and businessman that really care about the planet we need to keep moving in the correct direction which i beleieve obama will do but we need everyone to get involved.

[Hatty]

Slow down, folks. As a liberal who works in the energy industry, I can tell you it's going to take a little time. You will also have to live with some nuclear power if you want to not disrupt life completely. Don't use market-based solutions such as cap/trade. It's a huge profit generator for the big companies. Think mass-transit, conservation, plant trade-offs (newer, "cleaner" facilities to replace 3 or 4 old plants), and regulation. Also think funding to help some young minds think big thoughts. But as long as manufacturing communities like mine have 9 or 10% unemployment and 40% of its kids in the free lunch program, the energy issue won't gain traction.

[vcrotty]

First tell the students the difference between a Senator and the Speaker of the House i.e. Representative Nancy Pelosi aka Madame Speaker.

[Imabachi]

Shoulda been doin' this 20-30 years ago (and we have the conceit to call ourselves Homo sapiens). And how about installing photovoltaics on all the Big Boxes? And on poles above the parking spaces on Big Box parkin' lots. Shade the lots and produce electricity at th' same time. There's lots o' places to place for photovoltaics. Schools, office buildings, factories, etc. By the way, the Green Party's been urgin' the nation to do a a project of this magnitude and larger for 20 years.
We gotta stop emissions now or we're gonna be in real trouble real soon. Everybody must do their part.

[AngieMom57]

Centralized energy sucks! De-centralize energy by putting a solar panel or wind generator on every roof top in America that wants one! Now that's change I can believe in.

[jetphixer]

I apologize for the double post so quickly I forgot to post the kink to the web sight concerning Mountain Top Removal. Besides killing trees mountains it also kills fish water (we drink the stuff),it also kills planets THINK WIND ELECTRICITY Our age of POWER Now the web sight Please just listen if only once http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oG3iK_SQzY

[jetphixer]

Please some of the 10K + protesters, go to U tube and watch the Bob Dylan song"THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN",also the parity song of John Denver's "Country roads",as "ALMOST LEVEL WEST VA. It is very sobering to watch mountain top removal,and polluted waters>>>> death brought on by big coal

[Tim303]

There is no reason to delay in fixing the climate, once you know about it. Once you know there's mercury in your corn syrup, do you continue to eat it? Geez, I hope not. Do you want to live?

As Terminator says "Come with me, if you want to live."

[PlugINCarsRule]

There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independent! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources.­Create cheap clean energy, new badly needed green jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. The cost of fuel effects every facet of consumer goods from production to shipping costs. After a brief reprieve gas is inching back up.OPEC will continue to cut production until they achieve their desired 80-100. per barrel.If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV's instead had plug-in electric drive trainsthe amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota.The­re is a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now.