President
Biden has a choice to make: Will he side with the people or a handful of
fossil fuel executives? It’s a test with results that will determine the
future of our planet and the wellbeing of future generations that will
inhabit it. We are putting our bodies on the
line to ensure
President Biden passes this crucial test.
As we face the worsening climate emergency, frontline communities have
been fighting the fossil fuel projects which threaten their health and
homes for generations. While our government has largely ignored their
demands, climate chaos has intensified across the globe. The Glasgow UN
climate summit in November is the “last, best chance” for our government
to change course and ensure a just, renewable energy future for all of
us.
This is not a single “day of action”, but instead a wave of action from
October 11th – 15th that will involve civil disobedience to put
sustained pressure and a bigger spotlight on our demands. If that
involves risking arrest, we are prepared and willing to take that risk
and deal with the consequences. We believe that the risks of inaction
are far greater than the risks of taking action.
All components of the actions — trainings the night before and the start
of the actions themselves — will be at McPherson Square in downtown DC.
The McPherson Square Metro station is on the orange, blue, and silver
lines; Farragut North (red line) is also very close by.
Earth Uprising’s summit “Youth Speaks: Our Message to World Leaders on
Earth Day
2021” will
be divided into an opening and closing session, and six short sessions
that are based around specific issues. These sessions will inform
updates to the opening demands, which will then be presented to
President Biden’s World Leaders Summit.
Session 1: Opening
Moderator: Lucia Urreta
Speakers: Greta Thunberg, Licypriya Kangujam, Vanessa Nakate, and Xiye
Bastida.
The speakers will open the summit with short speeches.
Session 2: Freedom to Peaceful Protest and Protect Democracy
Moderator: Maria Juliana Duque
Speakers: Arshak Makichan, Mitzi Jonelle, Khadija Khokhar, and Sonya
Epifantseva
The past year has seen many infringements on global youths’ right to
organize, peacefully assemble, and protest. This session of “Youth
Speaks” asks what kind of action we want from our world leaders to
protect our right to protest, our democracies, and address the
disproportionate effect on people of color.
Session 3: Climate Education and Climate Literacy
Moderator: Mohammad Ahmadi
Speakers: Anisa Nanavati, Farah Mahmoud, Sari Hellara, Nour Al-Kaaby,
and Sumayyah Ajani Adetomiwa.
For youth, it is important for us to be taught that climate change is
real, and that it is possible to mitigate and adapt. Climate education
is needed for a fast, green transition because it will prepare us for
green jobs and lifestyles. This education needs to be accessible to
everyone, regardless of who they are and where they come from.
Session 4: Climate Migration, Borders and Human Rights
Moderator: Mohaddeseh Barghamadi
Speakers: Jesus Villalba, Ayisha Siddiqa, Mohab Sherif, and Nadiya
Khalif.
Because of climate change, youth are on the frontlines of the growing
crisis at the US border, while small island nations in the South Pacific
are going underwater threatening their lives and futures. This session
discusses why climate migration is a youth issue and asks what kind of
action we want from our world leaders.
Session 5: Zero Emissions Timeline and Transition to Renewable
Energy
Moderator: Brooke Nelson Muzzatti
Speakers: Jana Jandal Alrifai, Muska Sadat, and Ayesha Imtiaz.
A rapid decrease in fossil fuel extraction and emission, along with a
high speed transition to renewable energy is the key to a habitable
planet and livable future for youth. At the core of this transition is
climate justice, ensuring that those most impacted by the climate crisis
are supported and protected. This session concentrates on obstacles to a
just transition and how we can push through them.
Session 6: Preparing the Youth Movement for COP 26 and 2022
Moderator: Kevin Mtai
Speakers: Kaluki Paul Mutuku, Wendy Gao, Maria Fernanda Durà n, Alisa
Salıcı, and Maria Serra Olivella
The youth movement needs to work together to fight for ambitious and
productive climate action that acts with the urgency required of this
crisis, without empty promises. This session will emphasize how
COP26 must be an inclusive space for young
people, especially Indigenous and disabled youth climate activists and
those from the most affected areas. Past COPs have been funded by the
fossil fuels industry, and it is high time that these polluters no
longer have influence and presence within these discussions.
Session 7: The Youth Perspective on Adaptation
Moderator: Ananya Guruprasad
Speakers: Razan Ahmed, Hania Imran, Afrah Qaisar, Daphne Frias, and
Aman Sharma
This session will focus on areas of adaptation within policy including
disaster management and recovery, and youth climate anxiety and eco
grief.
Session 8: Closing
Moderator: Christine Leung
Speakers: Jerome Foster, Jamie Margolin, Leah Namugerwa, and Catarina
Lorenzo.
The moderator and speakers will review the updated youth demands.
Power Shift, the biennial youth
climate movement summit, runs from Friday, April 15, to Monday, April
18.
10:00am – 11:30am Action: Make Big Polluters Pay
April 18th is Tax Day and we’re hitting the streets to send a clear
message: “It’s time to end handouts to Big Oil. Make Polluters Pay and
fund OUR future: a 100% clean energy future
that looks out for everyone.”
12:00pm – 4:00pm Lobby Visits
We’ll march from our demonstration to Capitol Hill to bring our demands
to Congress. With thousands of us converging on Capitol Hill, it will be
one of the largest citizen visits ever!
Power Shift, the biennial youth
climate movement summit, runs from Friday, April 15, to Monday, April
18.
9:00am – 1:00pm Movement Building Sessions: Training & Planning
People will come together regionally to meet one another, share stories
and ideas, and plan collective efforts. We’ll practice and learn the
fundamentals of grassroots organizing that will give us a strong
foundation for campaign work.
1:00pm – 2:00pm Lunch
2:00pm – 6:00pm Clean Economy Canvass
Attendees will have the opportunity to help build the clean energy
economy in Washington, DC. Participants will be trained in the best ways
to engage friends and neighbors in energy efficiency work.
2:15pm – 3:15pm Workshop & Panels: Session 1
3:30pm – 4:30pm Workshop & Panels: Session 2
4:45pm – 5:45pm Workshop & Panels: Session 3
6:00pm – 7:30pm Dinner & Caucuses
During dinner, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with other
folks to talk about how their identity has impacted their experiences
throughout the weekend.
7:30pm – 11:00pm Keynote & Concert
We’ll reconvene in a keynote session to hear from more movement leaders.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and 350.org
founder Bill McKibben are confirmed as keynote speakers, and more will
be announced soon!
Power Shift, the biennial youth
climate movement summit, runs from Friday, April 15, to Monday, April
18.
2:00pm – 5:30pm Generation Waking Up
An optional activity, Generation Waking Up will help us launch Power
Shift fired up and inspired to take action. Through music, exercises,
dialogue, and video, we’ll explore the critical questions facing young
people and society
6:30pm – 9:00pm Opening Keynote
Our opening keynote will set the stage for the Power Shift 2011—we’ll
give an overview for the weekend and start to hear from movement leaders
and climate and energy experts. Al Gore and Van Jones are confirmed as
keynote speakers for the evening.
9:00pm – 12:00am Films Fueling the Energy Revolution
We’ll be showing a handful of films discussing and investigating
environmental issues. These films will kick off the Reel Power film
series scheduled to air throughout Power Shift 2011.
On Wednesday, February 4 the youth-led Energy Action Coalition is
hosting a national teleconference for student reporters about the
crucial role of young people in the fight for bold federal energy and
climate legislation.
From February 27 to March 2, 2009, 10,000 young leaders from across the
country will convene for Power Shift ‘09 in
Washington, D.C. to demand that the President and Congress pass bold
climate and energy policy that prioritizes renewable energy, green job
creation, and an aggressive reduction of carbon emissions.
Jessy Tolkan, Executive Director, Energy Action Coalition
Dominique Hazzard, Power Shift ‘09 organizer and freshman at Wellesley
College, Executive Committee Sierra Student Coalition
Jason Walsh, Policy Director, Green for All
Dave Hamilton, Director, Global Warming and Energy Program, Sierra
Club
The speakers on the call will be able to answer questions about Power
Shift ‘09 and the role of young people in shaping federal energy and
climate policy.
From February 27 to March 2, 10,000 young leaders from around the world
will kick off a historic year for climate action by convening in
Washington, D.C. for Power Shift ‘09. Young people will demand that the
President and Congress rebuild the economy and reclaim the future by
passing bold climate and energy policy. Participants will share ideas
and success stories, learn new skills, build connections, hear from
leading experts and change-makers and come together to deliver a unified
message to the nation’s leaders. On March 2, Power Shift ‘09 will
culminate with a massive lobby and rally day on Capitol Hill.
On April 1, 2008 young people from around the world are rising up to
show the world that we refuse to fool around with climate change and our
future. The Energy Action
Coalition is calling on
communities across Canada and the US to join this global day of
action and show the fossil fuel industry
and bad politicians that we mean business. Ideas include, but are by no
means limited to: rallies at gas stations or representative offices,
Critical Mass bike rides, office occupations, Billionaire’s for Tar
Sands/Coal demonstrations, spank the bank visits, high-powered
projections of solutions on the side of dirty energy factories, Board of
Trustees meeting take-overs, hold a clean energy camp at a dirty energy
site, do solar installations, make spoof videos and websites, offer
alternative, clean energy bus rides, do some coal mining of your own at
a coal company’s headquarters . . .
Groups participating in Fossil Fools Day include the Energy Action
Coalition, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, Rising Tide North America,
the Australian Student Environment Network, the Australian Youth Climate
Coalition, & Rising Tide UK, & Rising Tide Australia.
Focus the Nation is a national
teach-in on January 31, 2008, engaging millions of students and citizens
with political leaders and decision makers about Global Warming
Solutions.
We stand at a unique moment in human history. Decisions that are ours to
make today – to stabilize global warming pollution and invest in clean
energy solutions – will have a profound impact not only on our lives and
the lives of our children, but indeed for every human being who will
ever walk the face of the planet from now until the end of time. At this
moment in time, we owe our young people one day of focused discussion
about global warming solutions for America
More than just that one day, Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions
for America is an unprecedented educational initiative, involving over a
thousand colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, faith
groups, civic organizations and businesses. Focus the Nation is a
catalyzing force helping shift the national conversation about global
warming towards a determination to face this civilizational challenge.
A teach-in is a day when an entire school turns its attention to a
single issue—when faculty, students and staff put aside business as
usual, and focus the full weight of campus engagement on one topic.
The key to a successful teach-in is widespread faculty involvement.
Focus the Nation challenges participating schools to engage at least
fifty faculty members in their role as educators (as well as students,
staff, alumni, and community members). With fifty plus faculty engaged
from disciplines across the curriculum—art, science, politics,
psychology, engineering, philosophy—the event will involve thousands of
students on each campus, and millions of students nationwide.
Faculty will say yes to involvement for two reasons. First, the Focus
the Nation model requires them to talk for only 10 minutes in a subject
area close to their discipline, and then help lead a half an hour
discussion. Faculty do not have to be climate change experts to
participate, nor invest heavily in preparation. Second, faculty across
the curriculum are eager to be asked. As educators and as parents, they
understand the magnitude of the global warming challenge, and are
looking for an opportunity to engage with students on this critical
issue. And once 50+ faculty are involved, then Presidents and Deans will
be supportive. Most critically, thousands of students will attend,
because faculty will require them to go, or give them extra credit,
because other faculty will “focus” their classes, and travel with them
to attend the sessions, but primarily because global warming solutions
will be the exciting focus of discussion that day. Using this model, we
view 2 million students nationwide as a realistic participation goal.
For high schools unable to build a teach-in, and for faith organizations
and civic groups, there is a second way to Focus the Nation: host a
screening of our free, live interactive webcast, THE
2% SOLUTION,
the night of Wednesday, January 30th. (Showing The 2% Solution is also
the way to kick-off your teach-in)
The National Council for Science and the Environment invites you to
participate in the 8th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the
Environment to develop and advance science-based solutions to climate
change.
Join us in the dialogue with leading scientists, policy makers, industry
leaders, educators, and other solutions-oriented innovators to develop
comprehensive strategies for protecting people and the planet against
the threat of climate change.
The three-day conference will be held January 16-18, 2008, at the Ronald
Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. An
interactive agenda
features skill-building
workshops, targeted
breakout sessions,
plenary sessions, and
symposia to provide
participants with an expansive understanding of climate change
solutions—and how we can achieve them.
President
Biden has a choice to make: Will he side with the people or a handful of
fossil fuel executives? It’s a test with results that will determine the
future of our planet and the wellbeing of future generations that will
inhabit it. We are putting our bodies on the
line to ensure
President Biden passes this crucial test.