We don't want a global suicide pact. We want a global survival pact.

We've been talking to a lot of international youth this week. I know that this movement is important to me and that as a young person, clean energy is a matter of my health and the strength of the American economy, but that is nothing from what youth from the Global South have to deal with.  This is about survival for them. They are depending on us, on Obama, to provide them with the reductions they need, the money for adaptation to protect them from the effects of climate change, and funds and technology to help them transition to a green economy. We have this. We could give them the tools for survival and to help our economy at the same time!

Right now $10 BILLION of our taxpayer money goes to subsidize the fossil fuel companies.  President Obama promised that he "will work with my colleagues at the G20 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies so that we can better address our climate challenge." My friends here do not have the time to wait for it to "phase out." COP15 has already been stalled a few times because developing countries cannot afford to adapt without financial help. We can't green ours without them.

When the US decides to make something a priority, it finds ways to fund it. We know that this is the moment of our generation and not just a priority, but a requirement for us to ensure survival.

Call Obama at 202-456-1111 and say:

"I'm calling to urge President Obama to commit to an ambitious climate finance package. With the UN negotiations on the brink, and the world calling for your leadership, it's time for you to announce shifting fossil fuel subsides to climate finance and contributing on the order of what developing countries are demanding." 

PS: Please take a moment and join the Facebook group!

Week 2

This weekend was supposed to be my weekend of finishing all my college papers, catching up on sleep, and grocery shopping, instead, I sat in tons of strategy meetings! Sunday was a 4 hour strategy meeting of the leaders of the entire environmental movement. We followed that with a US Youth strategy meeting to talk about what we are expecting this week and how we are going to get the best deal we can get out of COP. The older folks at the afternoon meeting might be more eloquent when describing the policy and mitigation numbers, but youth have the strategy and vision down! I am so confident with our plan going forward. We have started thinking outside Copenhagen and looking at this globally as part of a movement. Just wait.

Highlights from Saturday's Climate Justice March in Copenhagen on the Global Day of Action.

When asked what gives him hope that we'll be able to solve the climate
challenge, Archbishop Desmond Tutu unequivocally replied, ''THE YOUTH!!!''

Here's the video:


Here's the article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kroodsma/archbishop-desmond-tutu-o_b_390488.html
 

We Crashed AFP's Climate Denier Live Webcast

So an action I planned went really well today. Please repost and tweet around! Americans for Prosperity gave it coverage as well!




Check out the press release:
US Youth Crash Climate Denier Event in Copenhagen
Young Clean Energy Advocates called "Hitler Youth" by Climate Denier Lord Monckton

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Fifty young Americans took over a climate denier conference hosted by a prominent conservative organization this evening in Copenhagen, rushing the stage and telling the live TV audience that a clean energy future is the real road to prosperity in America. The young people, merely a fraction of the more than 350 US youth in Denmark for the UN climate negotiations, entered a session of the Americans for Prosperity "Hot Air Tour" speakers series and were able to drop two banners and gain access to the conference's stage. The live event was webcast to over forty climate denier rallies in cities across the United States.

US State Department Briefing

Last  night the US State Department held a briefing for the NGO's and US civil society here in Copenhagen.  This is going to happen every other day for the rest of COP15. The US Youth wrote up a series of questions and got there early.

As soon as we walked it we took front row and joined tons of other youth in the crowd.  Jonathan Pershing, Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change, started the meeting by giving a brief synopsis of where the negotiations are at, what the US sees happening and what we should expect.  Then Administrator Lisa Jackson, Chief of the EPA, joined the conversation, telling us about the landmark announcement yesterday by the US government that greenhouse gases are indeed harmful to human health (duh).  Then they took questions from the audience.

Youth owned this. We asked 7 out of the 9 questions that Mr. Pershing took. We asked tough questions about the US's official position on 350ppm, paying our climate debt, and how the recent EPA announcement will strengthen the US's targets. I started off the questions by introduing myself as a US youth delegate from SustainUs and pointed out that I was joined here by 500 American youth representing thousands back in the US working for climate justice.
Then I asked about the Danish Text, which you should read up on (interesting stuff).

Join me at COP and shape the news

There is mixed media on what is actually happening here in Copenhagen and you have a chance to shape what that message is by asking for the story you want to hear.

Submit videos that have you asking, the tough questions, to be displayed on the cube here and considered for inclusion in an upcoming CNN show at www.youtube.com/cop15.

*If you need some ideas here are some great questions the attendees of last week's youth Clean energy Forum came up with.

Hope to see your questions join me here at COP!

SustainUs Delivers TckTckTck Petitions

I took photos for this. Check out April and Kyle holding the boxes.

Letter from my friend here in Copenhagen

Please read this letter from my friend Caroline, cross-posted from It's Getting Hot in Here
Join Us in Copenhagen

Hello dear movement friends,

I have a very important ask of you, from one member of the climate family to another. Please read on.

http://powershift09.org/rapidresponse

I’m so excited and grateful to be here in Copenhagen for the International Climate Negotiations. These next two weeks are going to be jam-packed and intense. But it’s the organizers in the states who have the big job.

This weekend was the Conference of Youth where over 500 youth delegates from around the world gathered to prepare for our role as youth.

I have met so many inspiring young people- a young woman in Indonesia helping her farmers in her community adapt with the changing climate and its effect on agricultural production… Organizers from Australia who put on a spectacular flash mob dance to cap off their own Power Shift conference. And to think that, as we were embarking as climate leaders in our country, what happened here two years ago (Power Shift 2007) has become a wave of Power Shifts around the world! As you know, the US carries not only a huge carbon footprint, but a powerful influence over the outcome of the conference- what commitments other countries will make (or not make) and ultimately, the fate of these young people around the world.

1st Day at COP

At the first day of the UN Climate Talks yesterday I served as the spokesperson for SustainUS at the YOUNGO daily meeting. The international youth climate movement meets every morning to collaborate, decide what our major talking points are for the day, and pick out our official actions. The energy of this group is indisputable. But the depth and span of their knowledge of climate change, the UNFCCC, and community organizing is awe-inspiring. These leaders are well aware that the next two weeks will be two of the most important of our lives and I am confident we are ready to respond to the challenge.


Keep in mind that our success in Copenhagen depends on your action in the states!

How to stay in the 'COP15 know' without actually being here!

Oh and personal highlight!
On the flight over I met Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!. I recognized her from when she came to Hofstra for the lead up to the presidential debates, but then when her box of books broke open on the luggage carousel, I put the face to the name. It was hard to get really excited for COP the last couple of weeks with all the school work, but simply walking out of the plane in Copenhagen and being surrounded by advertisements from companies and various non-profits sharing the news of COP and what we will achieve and gain by fighting climate change gave me all the energy and excitement I had been lacking. So, with all this excitement seriously bursting at the seems, I approached Amy Goodman and told her why I was going and asked if she would be covering COP. I got her email address and we will be drafting out an email of our actions and sending a press advisory tomorrow morning. Absolute success.

Note the 0:00:00:00 on the Countdown to Copenhagen!