Power Shift 2007: Lobby Day
The day began with a hearing before the Select Committee on Global Warming & Energy Independence at which 5 young people testified about the importance of governmental action on global warming. The hearing was organized by House Representative Ed Markey from Massachusetts. In the picture, you will see that students in the audience raised their hands and pointed to the sky in support of the testimony given. This "one sky" gesture is a take-off of the "green finger" project introduced by Step It Up (now the 1 Sky Campaign) on Saturday night. It is very powerful. I think it is safe to predict that the "one sky" gesture is going to be a hallmark of the movement to address climate change for years to come.
At noon, there was a big rally on the lawn in front of the Capitol building.
A student holds a sign with the 1 Sky Campaign's slogan: "1 Climate. 1 Future. 1 Chance." 1 Sky is a messaging campaign for a platform that calls for 5 million new green jobs aimed at improving our nation's energy efficiency by 20%, 80% greenhouse gas reductions by 2050, and no new coal plants.
Van Jones, President of the Ella Baker Center, fires up the crowd with his vision for a new green economy that delivers environmental, racial and poverty justice.
Students waved flags from around the world to signal their international solidarity on an issue that is not confined by political borders. We all share one sky.
Before and after the hearing and the rally, students were busy visiting the offices of the congressional representatives, telling them they want Congress to "Step it up on global warming!" I tagged along as a massive contingent of 100+ students from Michigan went to address the staffers at Representative Jeff Dingell's office (he was not in town).
Students line the halls while they wait for their meeting time.
The green hard-hats symbolize the green jobs portion of the 1 Sky platform. The Michigan students spoke eloquently and passionately about the need for green jobs in a state that has been hard-hit by the closing of auto plants.
The students from Michigan brought boxes full of thousands of petitions asking Representative Dingell to get more aggressive on climate change and creating green jobs!
Those of you who saw my earlier post on art and campus sustainability will know that I loved all of the performance, imagery, creativity and artistry that was on display throughout the weekend. I was particulalry impressed by Michael Mdosky (sp?), who entertained the crowd before the rally by painting a striking image of the Capitol Building surrounded by flames, with a wind turbine on its peak and the American flag upside down on its flagstaff (an international sign of distress).
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