Power Vote: Activating 1,000,000 Young Voters for Clean and Just Energy
Candidates and Officials,
Our generation needs a brand new vision for our future. We need to lead the world towards a just, clean energy economy that moves beyond dirty energy, creates green jobs for all, and secures our climate. I pledge to vote, hold our leaders accountable through my sustained involvement, and create a Power Shift!
1. GREEN JOBS NOW
Invest in millions of new green jobs, strengthen the American middle class and create new pathways out of poverty for millions more. By retooling our factories, revamping our schools, and rebuilding our communities, we can create a sustainable, just, and prosperous future for all.
2. INVEST IN A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
Unleash American ingenuity and launch a new wave of affordable clean energy technology. We need more federal and private investments in public transit, ultra-efficient vehicles, and renewable energy like wind and solar.
3. CUT GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION NOW
To ensure our health, prosperity, and security, scientists tell us we must rapidly drive US global warming pollution towards zero. We can and must accomplish this transition to a clean energy future in an equitable and just manner.
4. END OUR DEPENDENCE ON DIRTY ENERGY
Enact an immediate moratorium on new coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear plant construction and infrastructure, while phasing out existing plants and fossil fuel extraction and ensuring a just transition for the workforce and communities
5. RE-ENGAGE AS A LEADER IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Global warming requires a global solution. We must shift the focus of American foreign policy from military intervention to international cooperation and join the world in pursuing peace and international development, thereby offering assistance to vulnerable and impacted communities.
6. TAKE DIRTY MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
It’s time to make government accountable to “We the People.” Put voters first and refuse campaign contributions from dirty energy interests.
On clean energy, aside from voting, there is the issue of grass-roots activism.
Global warming is an issue where confusion and catastrophically INADEQUATE goals predominate, including among progressives. Jim Hansen, leading US climatologist, has recently noted that, since key tipping points have ALREADY been passed on CO2 levels in the atmosphere, the overall LEVEL IN THE ATMOSPHERE and not merely emissions must be reduced. This means NET NEGATIVE GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS GLOBALLY and way sooner than eg Norway has set a goal of CO2 neutrality by 2030. (In US politics, supposed progressives are talking about 80% reduction in emissions by 2050, which is way way too little too late.) Even the goal set by Norway, an advanced country, if embraced GLOBALLY, is still catastrophically insufficient.
Progressive groups (there already is at least one on the web (http://www.350.org/4/)) need to embrace this cutting edge demand and NOW. If we don’t take the lead on this who will?
Yes definitely. If that were the strategy, voting alone would be highly inadequate. Fortunately its not. Power Vote is being organized by the Energy Action Coalition, a coalition of 48 youth organizations working to fight to end global warming, and bring about environmental, social, racial, and economic justice.
Crucial to the strategy is a multi-tactic, coalition-based, movement-building approach. Yes, the election of progressive candidates or wins on progressive ballot questions are wins in and of themselves. But the approach is much broader. There will be protests, direct action, questioning politicians during their public appearances to hold them accountable, education, mass action, local reform campaigns, campaigns to shut down dirty power plants and to stop mountain top removal coal mining… the list goes on. All of this will be in a movement building approach - as will be clear from the website, although I think its pretty clear already. The elections will be used to turn “recyclers” into long-term, committed, revolutionary organizers. We need to build a mass, democratic movement for clean and just energy. I think Power Vote will be at the forefront of the youth movement this year. I’m very excited for it.