Pedal Posts from the Road

Vote to Fund Climate Summer!

2010-04-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

Every so often, a marvelous opportunity falls into your lap. (You could say that's how I ended up in Massachusetts Climate Summer in '09!) This time, it's online - and we have the chance to win $5000 for New England Climate Summer 2010.

We've been entered into the Brighter Planet Project Fund, a place where participants in Brighter Planet get to vote how money is awarded every month. This is a great chance to get outreach and funding to make this summer a success!

We had 412 votes on 4/5 (see above ↑ ) Now, WE NEED YOU TO VOTE. So please, head on over to BrighterPlanet.com, create an account (painless and quick), and vote for Climate Summer three times!

Thanks so much! See you this summer.

Get on Your Bike and Ride!

2010-03-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

A great new inspiring video to watch. Get pumped for New England Climate Summer 2010!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIW3h9tgN2U

New England Climate Summer 2010: Summer Jobs for the Environment

2010-02-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends,

Do you want to change the world this summer? I'd like to give you some info on a really cool summer opportunity, one that I did last year and am helping organize this year. It's called New England Climate Summer. Last year, we had three teams crisscrossing Massachusetts - I was on the Cape Cod team - and this year we're learning, changing our goals, and expanding. I can solidly say that this past summer was perhaps the most fun of my life, and it was when I realized that I really could make a difference.

Briefly: You'll travel by bike from town to town across New England, carrying everything with you, and spending a week in each town, building the climate movement. But here are the Top 5 Reasons to do New England Climate Summer:

→  It's sustainable! You'll travel entirely by bike, carrying everything with you, truly BEING the change you wish to see in the world.

→  It's really fun. I spent the summer on Cape Cod (oh, and a week on Martha's Vineyard!) meeting inspiring people, exploring new places, and sharing our stories. Some of my closest friends are people I biked with and met through this program last summer.

→  It's independent. This is not one of those jobs where you stand on the corner fundraising for some big organization. It's truly organized and designed by me and four other young people, and we'd welcome your input.

→  You'll make a difference, inspiring and engaging people across the region to work together to help fight climate change locally and nationally.

→  The planet needs you! Our governments are collectively failing to respond to the climate crisis, and we can work together to show how important it is.

Want to learn more? Look at our sweet blog or our collection of photos from last summer. Or, follow us on twitter!

Some blog highlights:
The Kindness of Strangers: an update from the North Shore team, July 2009
Too Legit to Quit: Western Mass team runs into MassPIRG canvassers, July 2009
A Week On Island: Cape Cod team gets free hummus and more on Martha's Vineyard, July 2009

Thanks! If you have any questions, please visit New England Climate Summer or comment below.

Peace,
Jeff Gang
Western Mass. Coordinator
Students for a Just & Stable Future
Mass Climate Summer alum '09

Hitting the Ground Rolling

2010-01-08T12:24:00.001-08:00

Plans are underway for climate summer 2010!

A planning group met today that consisted of great leadership. Jay O'Hara and Marla Marcum, our co-coordinators facilitated some great discussion about how to make the next months go smoothly. Alumns Heather Bulis and Jeff Gang of last year's Cape Team, Leila Quinn of the Western Massachusetts Team, and Emily Schweitzer of the Cambridge Team were there to give valuable insights. Amy Goldsmith, an integral planner last summer has stepped forward again to fill many major responsibilities. Katie MacDonald, an influential leader from Students for a Just and Stable Future, has once again proven her commitment to strengthening the climate movement and offered many valuable connections.

Applications will be available online soon. Application deadline is April 1st, 2010.

Program dates are June 6th to August 8th.

Biking for Clean Electricity

2009-10-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

From the Archives

2009-08-02T19:41:00.001-07:00

Recently found a video on the Channel 13 News fan page on facebook that was recorded while we were in Williamstown at the end of June. Click Here.

A Team Leader's Reflections

2009-08-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

A beautifully written piece by Stephanie Black-Schaffer, leader of the Western/Central Mass Team, shared at the Climate Summer Finale in Boston yesterday.

Do you know who the hardest person to canvass was? Right now you’re thinking maybe it was the misanthrope who took vindictive pleasure cussing you out, or maybe the apathetic aristocrat who said ‘no’ before you opened your mouth, or maybe the talkative old lady who kept you on her porch for forty minutes.

--Incidentally, we had all three--

But the hardest person to canvass wasn’t any of these. It was the person who was totally informed. Informed but jaded. It was that individual who laughed when he heard your petition, told you he’d sign it because he thought it was a great idea, but that he’d been trying to change the world for decades and no one listened. That would get you wondering. If this active, experienced, informed person couldn’t get anything done, who were you—one college student—to try?

Now imagine living with such a person. My father had the highest National Merit score in the state of Ohio. He’s extremely smart, extremely well-read. Though he’s certain climate change is occurring, he doesn’t believe we can do much about it. He gets me wondering. If my intelligent, informed father doesn’t think anything can be done, who am I—one little student—to presume?

But then it occurred to me: movements start with one or two little people. The Civil Rights movement started in the single digits. There were only nine Little Rock students, one Ruby Bridges, four sit-in demonstrators, one Rosa Parks, two black major league baseball players, one Martin Luther King Jr. If they could change the course of history, why couldn’t I?

--And by the way there are twenty of us, so this is practically in our pocket—

But boycotting climate change somehow doesn’t have the same umph as sitting on the wrong side of the bus. ‘I’m turning off my lights now—how do you like that?’ ‘Check out these solar panels. Pal.’

I don’t honestly think your neighbors would care.

Which is why we weren’t just boycotting, we were also petitioning, holding events, hosting workshops. We are a group of hopeful college students cycling across the state. And for every response that made us stop in our tracks and question our resolve, there was one that made us tuck our clipboard under our arm and skip to the next house.

Who was the best person to canvass? Right now you’re thinking maybe it was the woman who invited us in to use her toilet or the old man who gave us three chocolate chip cookies. (Which was very nice.) But it got better. The best person to canvass was the one who blinked like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing and thanked us for being real, for working to save his planet.

Because that’s kind of what it’s come down to: saving the planet. And we haven’t got much time. After cycling for two months, you start thinking of everything in terms of bikes—you don’t feel sad, you feel “flat;” you don’t feel happy, you feel “pumped.” So I will explain our situation, right now, in terms of biking.

For every steep hill, there comes a point at which you can no longer shift gears; you must either stand on your bike pedals—painstakingly throw your whole weight behind each push—or teeter to a stop and topple over. I sure as heck hope we haven’t passed this point yet, because I hate climbing a hill in third gear.

This is a call to shift gears.

This is a call to change the course of history. This is a call for 100% clean electricity in ten years. We are so passed the single digits at this point.

New ideas in Newburyport

2009-07-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

North Shore Team--Winchester
When we rolled into First Parish Congregational Church in Newbury last week, the first thing we noticed was a huuuuge vegetable garden out back! “I hope that belongs to the church!” LT said. We soon discovered that it did, and is a community garden called the New Eden Collaborative. It’s a project of the Green Artists League, which describes itself as “an interdisciplinary artists' collective that creates public art addressing the global environmental crisis.” Our hostess Erin Stack is its director, and is a big fan of “subversive art” that actually tries to convey a message and create change. She’s done pieces like “Recently homeless polar bear needs ice,” a performance artwork which you can check out on their website. Coincidentally, I once ran into the homeless polar bear in Boston Common last year!
It was great to talk with Erin about our project and all of hers, about the role of art in activism, and about all the great stuff happening in Newburyport. She’s excited to plan an event for the International Day of Climate Action on October 24th with the First Parish church, and her enthusiasm is contagious. She also treated us to a delicious meal of pasta with homemade pesto and fresh romano beans that I helped her pick from the garden out back. Erin, thanks for all your help and hospitality, we’re excited to work with you in the future!

Last Monday night in Newburyport we had the pleasure of dining with Elizabeth, John, Ben, Nile, and Bernard, the core group of Transition Newburyport. The Transition movement is a fairly new one, with chapters growing all across the state and the country. Based on the premise that climate change and peak oil are inevitably going to alter our society, they work to find ways for their community to drastically reduce carbon emissions, significantly rebuild resilience and greatly strengthen the local economy. The purpose of the core group, they explained, is to prepare a plan for the community to adapt, and then to dissolve as the measures are put into place. They also have their own permaculture plot in the New Eden garden, in which they allow lots of local plants to coexist and try to keep the soil in as natural a state as possible. Transition is a really interesting movement, working on the cultural change aspect of the problem and trying to strengthen the community. Their message also ties in very nicely with that of Awakening the Dreamer; as we start to see some of the imminent effects of climate change, we need to address adaptation as a whole, connecting with a strong community. As the Wombat and as Rev. Tom Bentley of Trinity Congregational Church in Gloucester remind us, all is one! Transition has also encouraged its groups around the nation to plan an action for October 24th, so I’m excited to see what the 20 or so groups in Massachusetts come up with.
Here’s a quick video of Elizabeth Marcus, the Transition member who was unbelievably helpful with getting housing and a place for the symposium while we were in town. Thanks Elizabeth!

Hearing about and connecting with these great people and projects was so encouraging and exhilarating for us. If you’re looking towards a sustainable future for Massachusetts and the nation, I think Newburyport is setting a great example for us to follow!

Lessons from Massachusetts

2009-07-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Cross-Posted with It's Getting Hot in Here

For the past two months, I've been spreading the word about the climate emergency as part of Mass Powershift's Massachusetts Climate Summer, a group of student volunteers biking around the state. (You might have already read about us!) We've been in cities and towns, past beaches and through slums, under the rain and sun, and on ferries, trains, and subways. We canvass every weekday, not asking for money, but building support for a movement and engaging leaders. And since our project is almost through, I thought I'd share some of the lessons we've learned during our time in the Commonwealth. First, I'll talk about the canvassing experience, and then I'd like to share some impressions about getting the message across.

What is it like going door-to-door? Well, as anyone with canvass experience can tell you, it can be difficult. But I've found that as soon as I tell folks, “we're not fundraising” or “there's no money involved” they loosen up, and begin to seriously listen to me. I'm not some kid with a fundraising script; I'm a volunteer, giving my time because I care about climate change. The message is clear: they should care too. Our efforts have been very successful - 4,000+ signatures thus far. I'd suggest that this sort of canvassing holds good potential for our movement across the country.

What does real America think about climate change, and how do they respond to it? First, the bad news: there is a lot of work to be done. Many people can't be bothered to think about climate change. If they are aware of it, it is on a very superficial level – an understanding that driving a Prius is good and SUVs are not (to which I respond, “why not ride your bike?") – and it's thought of as something that does not concern them, that they cannot change. At one house, a husband came to the door as his wife was signing our petition, and she told him it was about “climate control.” It's going to take much more effort to get the message through to the crowd that gets all their news from TV.

I'm reminded of a phrase I picked up from the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream symposium, which we have been presenting in each town. The phrase is from Maude Barlow - "the right not to know." It's the feeling that allows some people to "check out" and ignore the world's issues. She summarizes it:

"I don’t have to know about poverty, I don’t have to know about racism, I don’t have to know about environmental degradation or environmental justice or injustice because it’s not me, I’ve got my life and I’ve got my family and I can do what I want."

Especially in certain affluent neighborhoods, this feeling is tangible in the way people occasionally react – as though I'm somehow bothering them by reminding them that our way of life is affecting the climate, harming the poor, indebting our children. What can we do? We need to keep trying, but I've also come to realize that my efforts are better spent elsewhere . And while there are some folks (even in Massachusetts!) who aren't "on the same page" about climate change, our very presence – as students, as volunteers, as young people doing their civic duty – makes an impression on doubters, gets them to think again, drives them to learn more. Some of them even have CFLs in their porch lights!

The good news? People really respond to the Repower America goals on our petitions: 100% clean electricity in 10 years. Whether a retired nuclear power plant worker, a third-grade teacher, a national park ranger, or a building contractor, almost everyone "gets it" - that is, they understand that we're burning too much coal and oil, and we have abundant alternatives here that are a good solution. Even those that don't know the terminology, who don't read or listen to the news, who have never thought about the greenhouse effect – all these people understand that polluting is bad, and solar and wind power make sense, and they may even have some inkling that we're affecting the global climate system. And they've all signed. Whatever their reasons for signing our petition, I'm glad that they are joining us.

Beyond that, we've found networks of engaged citizens who are educated on these issues, who understand that we need to live more sustainably. These folks are already involved in other issues - civic education, peace rallies, community health and social services, recycling, and local food – and they want to know what should be done about climate change. Yes, it's important to change your light bulbs, insulate your house, and begin to think about personal sustainability. But it is essential to change the laws, pressure your legislators, and give our industrial emitters a wake-up call - and before Copenhagen! These people immediately understand the power of an October 24th action, and with their help we'll keep pressure on as we move forward into the fall. These are the folks who give me hope, who have really powered this program by helping us find places to stay, groups to talk to, and supporters along the way. It's great to see that there are so many different roles to play, and each of us can find one that engages our strengths.

To sum up, I've learned that people in Massachusetts mostly understand the need for clean electricity, and want to do something about it. Our job has been to empower them.

We're finishing up soon, with a big rally in Boston. But the work is not done. Of course, we need to continue educating the public, presenting a credible message, explaining why climate change matters. And we need to continue to strive for sustainability, both personal and institutional.

More importantly, though, we need to strengthen the movement to push government in the right direction! The last presidential election showed what 1.2 million volunteers can do - and it's more than just clicking and donating. We all need to see people not as just names on mailing lists with checkbooks, but as individuals with ideas, energy, and commitment to offer. By channeling that energy, we inspire more and more action, rather than just asking for a click on an online petition. There's a need for boots on the ground, for voices that are concerned, for people to be engaged. And that's why I think the Mass Climate Summer model is a good one, and I hope you can use your energy to build change, starting right in your neighborhood!

We got a HIT... WBZ TV Style....

2009-07-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

The Cape Cod / South Shore Team get some coverage in Braintree....

Check it out ya'll...

http://wbztv.com/video/?id=79335@wbz.dayport.com

Peace and Clean Green Everything...
- Courto

North Shore News

2009-07-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

North Shore Team--Winchester
Check out this article that was written about us in the Lawrence Eagle Tribune while we were in Haverhill/North Andover!
(The picture was taken by Roger Darrigrand from the Eagle Tribune, in front of Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul church, where we stayed in Haverhill)

We All Scream for Ice Cream

2009-07-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

"Western" Mass Team - Waltham

News has traveled fast among the Climate Summertistas and MAPS associates of our team's great success in Maynard. Not only did we have a great response going door to door, but at the Saturday Farmer's Market as well. (Pictures on Picasa http://picasaweb.google.com/climatesummerphotos/WesternMassBerkshires#) We managed to get 136 signatures in just 3 hours!

We happened to be living with our wonderful hosts, Hasso and Bob, in Concord already by this point and were just visiting back to Maynard. Therefore, our friends with MaynardCAN (Climate Action Network), Tina and Mike, sent a note back with us to Hasso who is an active member of ConcordCAN. The note read: "Dear Hasso, MaynardCAN challenges ConcordCAN to see who can get more signatures for the Climate Summer students. Loser buys them ice cream."

In Concord, we canvassed outside of Debra's Natural Gourmet to see if we could replicate our luck. Hasso is a friend of Debra's and thought this may be the place to take on Tina's challenge. The spot was chosen strategically, and as one petition-signer noted: "You could stand out here all day - every person who walks in here is sympathetic to your cause!"

However, our canvassing in Concord proved to be less fruitful than it had in Maynard. Hasso took us out to ice cream at a nearby farm that night. Nothing like a little friendly competition among environmental advocates.

Pre-requisite Bio 11?

2009-07-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning the south shore team left Bridgewater for Brockton, a nice 7 mile ride between two adjoining but very different towns. Bridgewater was a great success, we met many great people who are involved in the climate movement and many, also, who are just starting to awaken. One such woman goes by the name of Diane and works at a small coffee shop across from Bridgewater State College called The Rockin' K cafe that sells fair trade organic coffee and specialties. We met Diane on our first day in town and she helped us by placing one of our Re-power America petitions on the counter and encouraging all her customers to sign, along with passing out our remaining Clean Power Now pamphlets and advertising for the symposium. We were very grateful for her help and are continuously reminded of goodness of the human spirit through our interactions with strangers.

Also, while in Bridgewater we had the privilege of attending their first ever Farmers Market, at which we met some amazing people involved with Citizens for an Informed Community. They insisted that we meet with them for dinner and discuss our project and we gladly accepted so last night we were picked up by one of the women and brought to a member's home for pizza and discussion. We were a little confused at first because no one seemed to know that we were coming but were glad to have us. The moment we walked in we were handed rulers, black pens, and a stack of 1000 or so pamphlets that needed a phrase to be crossed out.. we confusedly proceeded to tediously cross out the phrase "pre-requisite Bio 11" from the pile of pamphlets about a course in organic farming. A couple hours later, phrases crossed and hands cramped, we all gathered around the pizza and talked about our organizations and all the different issues we care about and work on.

These people, the majority of which are elderly, are the most enthusiastic and dedicated people I have met thus far and give me great hope and expectations for the future. Their praise and support for our program boosted our egos a little bit but also re established within us the drive to continue on and provided us with just the right motivation we needed while nearing the end of our journey.

Re-energized by our encounters last night, this morning we made a visit to the Brockton Brightfield, the largest concentration of solar panels in new england, to take some photos and see what can be done with land that had been deemed toxic and unusable. In the midst of a depressed city it seemed a little unusual to find such innovation, but from this can be seen that renewable energy is not something reserved for high income families and cities, but rather something that must be and is being implemented everywhere. Although this particular project only provides electricity for 70 homes, that is 70 less homes being run on fossil fuels and 70 more homes prepared for the future. Turning a toxic brown field into a solar bright field is just one example of the many noticeable signs of change popping up all around us. Hopefully the rest of the state, the rest of the country, and the rest of the world can take Brockton's example of the changing dream to heart and follow in it's bright footsteps. :).

Great People In Massachusetts

2009-07-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

Mark B. Cabral

What page are you on?

2009-07-23T08:54:00.001-07:00

While canvassing earlier this week I knocked on a man's door.

Hi, I said, I'm here with a petition to Repower America and make sure that we stop catastrophic climate change before it reaches the tipping point, or the point where a vicious cycle kicks in, and the climate shifts irrevocably.

Oh, well I'm not really on the same page as you are when it comes to climate change, he said.

We parted ways, but as I was walking away from his door I couldn't help but wonder, what page was he on?

Perhaps he was on the page where we allow the present course to continue and 50% of species are extinct in half a century.

Or perhaps he was on the page where we continue to rape the mountains of Appalachia, reducing beauty to a landfill.

Or maybe he was on the page where all of the glaciers melt, and the over two billion people of India and China don't have enough water to grow food.

Or quite possibly he's on the page where the climate changes enough that it is no longer suitable for the civilization we've built.

I don't know about him, but I'm on the page where 350 becomes law, where the mountains remain mountains, and where the future runs clean.

We're on the page where people say no to big business looking for profits and start looking out for themselves.

We're on the page where short term convenience doesn't hurtle us off of a cliff.

We're on the page where beauty is more important than money.

We're on the page of revolution.

What page are you on?

--Sam

The Kindness of Strangers

2009-07-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

In our efforts to halt the heating of the planet and thereby avert the collapse of civlization, we are possessed of a secret weapon and that weapon is ice cream. I am in deadly earnest. Not only does this wondrous substance sustain us at the end of the week - by which time the scrupulous budgeting of our meals means we are all starving for sugar - but it also serves as the locus of community events; the main attraction, so to speak, for people who may be only peripherally interested in the topic under discussion. In Beverly, LT canvassed an especially enthusiastic woman; a woman eager to do something now and too impatient to wait until July 25th. I was waiting at the end of the street when LT arrived, beaming, to inform me that all seven of us had just been invited to an ice cream party. We were the guests of honor.

On the appointed night the team trooped over, bearing gifts of watermelon. We were greeted by Rachel, her husband Mack, and their sons Jake and Simon. The former would be entering Bates in the fall and had tons of questions for Kyle. The latter presented us with a fresh garlic plant which he'd picked earlier that day while working on one of the Food Project's local organic farms. Mack, who took his degree in forestry and works for the National Park Service, was recently returned from a trip to Jiuzhaigou Valley, where he had been contracted to scope out the possibilities for motor vehicles to approach closer to the lakes and waterfalls which constitute the region's major tourist destinations. Jiuzhaigou is a nature reserve in western China along the lines of Yellowstone National Park, though infinitely less accessible. (I speak from experience: To get there, I rode in a richety old tour bus for two days along unpaved roads carved into sheer cliffsides practically hanging over the river.) Mack expressed apprehension about the newly completed airport, which surely augurs an exponential increase in the volume of tourists visiting the valley, as well as a corresponding hike in the CO2 emitted by these same tourists as a function of their airborne journeys. Jiuzhaigou could potentially boast hotels, restaurants, seas of cement and resort sprawl to rival Disneyworld.

By a fortuitous coincidence, Rachel's neighbor Dennis turned out to be Boston University's new sustainability coordinator (the position has only recently come into existence). He was naturally interested to hear what Emily and LT had been doing as ecoreps of their respective schools, Pratt Institute and Clark University. We agreed that while inter-dorm competitions are great, it is irrational and counterproductive to focus on total volume of recycling, as this system tends to reward frat houses because they throw lots of parties and buy lots of beer bottles. At this point we could have used Leila's input, as the ecorep program is only a couple years old at Pratt, kicking off this fall at Clark, and (Sally reports) in hibernation at Tufts. If we are to keep the momentum of the climate movement going, it is important for its coordinators to have informal meetings like these, during which we share our aspirations and our strategies, what works and what doesn't.

Finally, Rachel shared with us an article detailing how 34 Nobel Prize winners have written the President in an open letter decrying Waxman-Markey's failure to support research and development for clean energy technologies. (Al Gore was not among them, presumably because you had to be a Nobel winner in the relevant sciences.) While the letter did not contain anything we had not heard before, the very fact that it had been written at all helped to end the party on the right note - a note of hope. As we were leaving LT inquired whom Rachel was planning to invite to her Christmas in July party, to which Rachel responded, "Didn't we just have one?" And she was right. The point of Christmas in July is not the Santa hats, nor the informative videos, nor even the oppressively muggy weather that is supposed to remind us what Christmas would feel like should anthropogenic climate change be allowed to continue unchecked. You could have a Christmas party in September as long as it served its primary purpose - to open up a space for dialogue, to inspire people to take action in preparation for the International Day of Climate Action. On both these counts I think our slightly premature party succeeded spectacularly.

Just when we thought we had exhausted the North Shore's veritable cauldron of hospitality in Beverly, we arrived in Gloucester to find that Health Department sanitation codes prevented us (or anyone else) from using the dishware and cutlery at the church where we were staying. (They regularly relied on paper plates during the weekly suppers for the homeless.) But not to worry. A friendly couple serving the special vegetarian dinner prepared in our honor offered without hesitation to house us in their beautiful three-story beachfront home. They had showers and beds to spare, too. It was the easiest unanimous decision the Cambridge/North Shore Team had ever made.

The moral of our story is twofold: Ice cream, not duct tape, is the force that binds the universe together. And the Lord shall provide, because the Lord, He sure does love His environmentalists.

Now it's time to act. And party!

2009-07-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of Mass Climate Summer,

We hope you've enjoyed following some of our thoughts and progress on the blog this summer! We've got two more weeks on the road until all our teams converge in Boston (more on that later).

But with all this fun, we need to take a minute to be a little serious. I promise it won't hurt.

The short story is that we have to act decisively and boldly now if we want to have a chance to avert a climate disaster which will, in the words of a forthcoming U.S. Army backed report, “cause civilization to collapse.” This isn't about polar bears anymore, it's about people.

To bring the point home we're going to draw attention to the most famous climate refugee: Santa Clause. And we'll do it with a party!

It's time to celebrate Christmas in July!
Register a party here: http://www.masspowershift.org/xmasinjuly

We are asking you to join with us this summer to hold a “Christmas in July Party,” and focus attention on one of climate change’s most well-known future victims: Santa Claus.

Santa Claus and his elves have lived in the North Pole for as long as we can remember. And their home (the North Pole) is melting. Most people alive today will see a world where there is no ice in the Arctic in the summer time (scientists say it could happen as early as 2013). If the North Pole melts, where will Santa go? Where will the elves live? How will they make their toys if the factory falls below the seas?

And if Santa’s home disappears, how much longer will it be before global climatic disruption robs us of our own homes? Should we wait to find out?

Register your party today, and download the instructions at:
http://www.masspowershift.org/xmasinjuly

This is extra important for those of us here in Massachusetts because our Senator, John Kerry, will be a lead negotiator for the U.S. at international climate negotiations in December. He needs to get the message a little louder than he's been hearing it. We'll make it easy by providing two short videos to watch and a simple guide. You provide the fun and decorations, and you've got yourself a cutting edge climate movement!

We have a huge opportunity to make a difference this year – maybe our last opportunity. Only by working together with our friends and neighbors can we avert this crisis. Let's get to work.

Salem Harbor Power Plant

2009-07-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today Sally, Mark and I decided to voyage to the local Salem Harbor Power Plant to exercise our freedom of expression, by taking pictures with our Repower America sign. As this power plant is one of four power plants in Massachusetts which is still burning coal, we felt we couldn’t leave the town without a visit. After a quick ride over the bridge leading from Beverly to Salem, we arrived at the visitors’ parking lot and began to unravel our sign and position the camera for an up close and personal view of the plant.

Just as we got the camera at the perfect angle to take the picture, a middle aged woman came walking over to ask what we were up to. We told her we were there to snap a few photos! When she heard this, she instantly informed us that taking pictures of the power plant in a “post 9-11 world” was illegal. After a brief discussion of democracy and the Bill of Rights, she decided to question whether we were taking the pictures for “good or bad reasons.”

“Well,” I questioned, “what is your definition of good and bad reasons?”

The only response she was able to muster was “I’m not sure.”

Well, Salem Harbor Power Plant, since we were unable to answer your question today let us attempt to shed light on the mystery. If you were asking us whether we were doing this for the “good” reason of ending the alarmingly high breast cancer rates found in Marblehead, Beverly, and Salem due to the burning of coal at your power plant, then yes we were doing this for ‘good’ reasons.

If you were asking us whether we were doing this for the ‘good’ of 100% clean electricity in Massachusetts within 10 years, then yes we were doing this for a ‘good’ reason.

If you were asking us whether we were doing this for the ‘good’ of achieving an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling presence on this earth, then yes we were doing this for a “good” reason.

But if you were asking us whether we were going to use the pictures for the ‘good’ of your own personal short term gains, we would have to respond with a resounding ‘No!’.

So, Salem Harbor Power Plant, you can continue to try to intimidate us with your threats of arrest and lies to the public about “clean coal” technology. But just remember, we are young and motivated youth and we are not going away! We will continue until you end the madness of poisoning us and the world we call home.

Sincerely yours,

The North Shore Team

Emerging Local Leaders

2009-07-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Western Mass Team - Maynard

The days (and the bikes) roll onward as our team travels through the towns of Sudbury and Maynard. Sadly, our team is down to four people as Antoine has had to take some time off, but we're keeping in close contact, knowing that he is very supportive of the work we're all doing and we support him as far away as he may be! However, we are meeting some wonderful new local leaders everywhere we go!

Dean Holden, an activist with Sustainable Sudbury, and his family were wonderful hosts and had great networking connections. We had the largest turnout so far at that symposium! Currently, our hosts Mark and Lisa in Maynard are introducing us to the green life they live. They are growing rhubarb in an old bathtub in their garden and are using raised-bed planting techniques to keep the soil from getting compressed. They also just recently met with a representative from MASSSAVE and learned how easily they can increase the energy efficiency of their home. They were surprised about how much of the cost to insulate the rest of their home was covered, how easy it was to get this energy audit, and were very happy with the outcome. If any readers are interested, you can go to their website at www.masssave.com or call 866-527-7283. MASSSAVE just so happens to be one of the many things we're sharing with citizens when we canvass door to door.

Momentum for Christmas in July is picking up as we continue to find several hosts per night.

The next few weeks promise to be a whirlwind of excitement as do the next six most crucial months of the movement.

Stay Green!
--Leila

The North Shore Team hits the beach

2009-07-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Cambridge/North Shore Team--Beverly
The Weekly Dig published an article about our visit to John Kerry's office today. Check it out!
The North Shore team is finally on the North Shore! We're staying at St Peter's Episcopal Church in Beverly (NOT in Salem, we realized as we waited outside the St Peter's in Salem...)

I have been so impressed with all of the people I've talked to around here. People are especially aware of the effects of dirty electricity on the environment, because one of Massachusetts' five power plants is located right on the beach in Salem. Organizations like HealthLink have been trying to get it shut down for years. (We tried to go to their meeting this morning to meet them and see how we could work together to bring clean power to Massachusetts, but they're on summer vacation at the moment. HealthLink, if you read this, let's work together in the future!) One woman whose door I knocked on told me about how on bad days, you can see the soot collect on cars and windows and even skin when you go outside. As soon as the phrase "Clean Electricity" left my mouth, she grabbed my petition and brought it inside to get five other people to sign.

Today was my most successful day of canvassing yet! Pretty much everyone I talked to was worried about climate change, excited about repowering the state and the nation, and quite a few were super excited to host a Xmas in July party. Way to go, Beverly!

Next up: maybe finally getting to go swimming? Taking some sweet pictures with a giant banner and a huge ugly coal plant? An ice cream party with some really cool local activists that Lauren met canvassing? Keep reading!
Sally

Pedal to the Metal

2009-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Another week has closed here in New England, and Mass. Climate Summer has passed the half-way mark with nearly 20 students soldering on, biking from town to town building the movement. While this has been an exciting and dramatic week for climate action; from L'Aquila to Washington and Mt. Rushmore, Massachusetts Power Shift continues to focus our energy on building a powerful movement capable of working for bold, science based solutions. And of course we've had a bit of fun in the process.

To date we have visited over 25 towns, found over 3,000 people eager to Repower America with 100% clean electricity in the next decade, presented sustainability workshops in 12 communities, recruited dozens of organizers ready to work towards a powerful show of force on October 24th and scored over a dozen media hits from small-town papers to the Boston Globe and NPR. But we haven't stopped there. This week our teams' creativity was on full display...

On Thursday July 2nd, the Cape Cod team worked with our partners at Greenpeace and Clean Power Now to showcase exactly how global warming and sea level rise will bring destruction to Massachusetts. Several weeks ago extreme high tides washed away several cottages on Cape Cod, and last week as the remainder of the cottages were being dismantled by cranes, our team went to point out that “Global Warming Looks Like This.” Heather Bulis, a senior at Westfield State College said, “it was awesome to get out there and see what global warming actually looks like and collaborate with other organizations. We were out there when they were demolishing the houses, it was pretty powerful.”

Over the holiday weekend the Cape Cod team was at it again, riding their bikes in the Hyannis July 4th parade towing giant cardboard wind turbines on their trailers, passing out buttons and carrying a “Repower America” banner. They followed the next day with a beach party in downtown Hyannis called "Rising Waters, Raising Awareness,” that playfully showed where the beach might one day be with runaway global warming.

This Thursday the Cambridge team hit one out of the park. With “Christmas in July” quickly approaching, Santa and his elves paid a visit to Senator John Kerry's office in Boston to deliver “coal” in the form of recycled incandescent bulbs. They let the Senator, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, know that when he comes back from Copenhagen in December he needs to bring a treaty that will save Santa and his workshop, and reach a stable 350ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere if he doesn't want to get any coal in his stocking. Sally Sharrow, a junior at Tufts University explained, “the idea is that as the polar ice caps melt, Santa will become the world’s most celebrated climate refugee. But ultimately, climate change impacts us all. We’re conveying that message in an unusual way – even though it’s a very serious issue – because we’re young, and this is an issue that the youth of this state care passionately about.”

“It's incredible to be working with the local chapters of the Mass. Climate Action Network, it really jumps out how committed people are to going green and taking action. It's clear that we're ready for change and are already building a sustainable new world. All we're waiting for is our politicians to catch up,” says Sam Rubin, events coordinator for the Western Mass team. Having logged 300 miles in 30 days, the Western Mass team has finally settled into a slower migration in the outermost suburbs of Boston. This coming week, the team is working with local chapters of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) in Sudbury and Maynard to host the “Awakening the Dreamer Symposium.”

While these are some highlights, the daily work of knocking on doors, talking with local faith and community leaders are the nuts and bolts or good organizing. We're grateful that others recognize this and have lent their support; from Filter For Good who has provided the bulk of our funding to the Massachusetts Council of Churches which is working to house our teams, and the myriad of committed environmentalists across the state. Everywhere we go we find people who recognize this enormous problem and want to know what to do about it. They have changed their light bulbs, worked with their towns to make their communities greener, and they are looking to make a difference in what must be a national and international solution. Our job is to knit them together, give them a sense of their own power, and provide a plausible strategy for them to make a difference. That's what builds a movement, brick by brick.

Too Legit to Quit

2009-07-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

Western Mass Team - Sudbury

While on a brief canvassing foray to Maynard last week, Sam and I bumped into a group of MassPIRG employees. The conversation went as follows:

PIRG: "What are you guys canvassing for?"
MCS: "100% clean electricity in the next decade. You?"
PIRG: "Recycling."
PIRG: "Wow. Your shirts are so much cooler than ours!"
MCS: "Yeah, we like the logo. It's pretty sweet."
PIRG: "Where are you guys canvassing?"
MCS: (pointing to the map) "Here."
PIRG: "Oh man, they got to our territory first. That's exactly where we're going."
MCS: "Sorry."
PIRG: "Where did you guys park your car?"
MCS: "We don't have cars. We're biking across the state. We locked our bikes down the street."
PIRG: (mouths hanging open) "You guys are so cool! Look at us, here in our gas guzzling Ford."
MCS: "Haha. Thanks."
PIRG: "So where is your office?"
MCS: "We don't have an office. We pull all of our stuff on trailers behind our bikes."
PIRG: "So where are you guys based out of?"
MCS: "We don't really have a home base. We use google docs and cell phones mostly."
PIRG: "You Guys Are So LEGIT."
MCS: "Here. Sign our petition."
PIRG: "Here. Sign ours."
MCS: "Where is it?"
PIRG: "In the back. It's actually the least important part. So, how much are you guys asking for?"
MCS: "Nothing. We don't ask for money."
PIRG: "What? You don't ask for money? That's so legit. And let me guess, you guys are all volunteer too?"
MCS: "Um, yeah."
PIRG: "These guys are so Legit."
MCS: "Haha, thanks guys. But we better get going, it was nice talking to you. Peace."

We are that "Legit." But thumbs up PIRG -- doing some cool recycling work. In the mean time, we've got miles to wheel and movement to forge.

An Early Christmas

2009-07-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hope you all enjoy,

Mark B. Cabral

a Week "On Island"

2009-07-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Cape Cod/South Shore team is now officially done with our Cape Cod portion. We arrived in Wareham (Wear-ham? War-um? No one seems to agree.) yesterday after a long, sun-drenched, flat-tire-abundant, wind-turbine-adoring, Bourne-Bridge-crossing ride. We've truly enjoyed our time in the surreal vacationland of Martha's Vineyard, and I thought I'd fill you all in to our latest adventures.

Our time on Martha's Vineyard was a bit different from our experiences thus far. It was generally difficult to find folks who actually lived on the island, but people were generally interested in signing our petition and learning about what we were doing. We were lucky enough to attend an early-morning beach yoga session, join Tibetan Buddhist monks in meditation, watch them making a sand mandala, tour the FARM Institute, and relish in the wonder and beauty of the Vineyard, all served by marvelous bike paths. I can wholeheartedly recommend that, if you ever have the chance, you spend some time (and as little money as possible - good luck) on the Island.

But what I want to write about today is the symposium. Vicky and Lauren presented the Awakening the Dreamer symposium in the Oak Bluffs Public Library, a truly beautiful space, and while attendance was hampered by the beautiful beach weather, we met some folks who were interested pushing the movement further. Clearly, if we're going to get strong climate legislation, we need to increase and sustain pressure on Congress. And the best way to do that is to organize people within the communities who can help us keep it going. We found several people who were psyched to host Christmas in July organizing parties, to get more people involved and decide how they can have an October 24 event to further raise awareness and empower the movement.

And you? This is a model for further involvement. We need YOU to organize within your community. We can provide the tools, we can help you do it, but your expertise, energy, and enthusiasm are all needed if we're going to fight climate change. You can host an event, volunteer, sign our petition, write a letter to the editor, call or visit your Congressperson, support a local organization, and more!

As we biked down the hill from the library and back into town, we spotted a car painted with the Tribe Hummus logo. "Tribe Hummus?" I shouted at their open window. "That's our favorite hummus!" (I should mention that our group is, collectively, a hummus-eating machine.) We pursued the car, and it pulled over. I could hardly believe our luck as the driver handed Justin six coupons for free hummus. Dumbstruck and wide-eyed, we biked away. I guess it does pay to speak your mind, especially if you have an open window to speak into!

And if you didn't find that story interesting, I should add that on our way out of Edgartown to the ferry, we found 20 bucks on the road. Yes, seriously.

Awakening the Dreamer at the Cambridge Community Center

2009-07-12T21:20:00.001-07:00

Today we the North Shore team put on an Awakening the Dreamer Changing the Dream symposium at the Cambridge Community Center with the additional sponsorship of the Cambridge Energy Alliance. I and Sally facilitated the symposium today with Wenjun on audio/visuals. I was very pleased with the beauty of the day, the sun was out, the air was warm, and we all looked dressed for success. Upon arriving to our venue life was a bit hectic; given our short setup time and Kyle biking to the rescue at the last minute with a projector compatible laptop along with the amazing 26 attendees "milling" on in I was at first a bit worried and anxious, but soon realized that I shouldn't be because I knew that my teammates would come through. Technical setup was rocky this morning and we had to start about ten minutes late. To quote an elderly gentleman at the symposium "It would not be a symposium without the technical hiccup" Despite these challenges however the symposium was a great success. I felt very connected today to the attendees, they ranged from young to elderly and all had unique perspectives on our human role on this planet. I felt honored to be among them. I truly look forward to our future symposiums and look forward to them knowing that I will step down as a facilitator for the remaining weeks as my teammates take up the role. I believe that going to and watching the symposium to be a powerful step, an experience for some that leaves them breathless. To facilitate however is in itself just as profound an experience.

Mark B. Cabral

Santa brings early xmas gift to Kerry

2009-07-10T11:22:00.001-07:00

Thursday morning, the Cambridge team woke up bright and early to meet with a special guest--Santa Claus! We were teaming up with this special person to bring an important message to Senator Kerry's Boston office: The polar ice caps are melting, the planet is warming, and Santa's home could be gone in the summer in as few as 5 years, making Santa Claus the most famous of the world's climate refugees. We know that Senator Kerry is concerned about the climate as well--he was, after all, the co-sponsor of the first climate hearings in Congress, and he's worked to pass environmental legislation for years. And, lucky for us, he represents Massachusetts! But even more importantly, Senator Kerry will go to Copenhagen this winter as the top congressional representative of the US at the international climate summit, where new global carbon emissions targets will be determined through the negotiation of an international climate treaty to replace (if you can call it that) the Kyoto Protocol.

Santa heard that Senator Kerry will be going to this negotiation this December, so he told us that he wanted to bring him his Christmas present a little bit early this year. The present was a box of lightbulbs, incandescent ones which have been traded out by Massachusetts residents for more efficient CFL's. The lightbulbs were painted black to represent all of the coal and dirty fuel that won't be burned as we increase our efficiency and switch over to clean sources of power. They were also decorated with the number 350. This gift, explained Santa, was to show Senator Kerry that the people of Massachusetts are ready for a change and are already leading the country to a clean energy economy. We want our senator to keep this in mind when he goes to Copenhagen. His state and his country are ready. It's time to lead the world to a climate treaty that gets us back to a CO2 concentration of 350 parts per million, and fast. This winter's negotiations may be the only chance we have to get it right, to set off down the path towards emissions reductions and a clean future or continue on the path to destruction.

We know that Senator Kerry knows about 350. He's friends with James Hansen of NASA; he's even mentioned the target in speeches without committing to it as a goal. But the political pressures out there can be tough; his staffers told us that Senator Kerry would be looking to President Obama for guidance and leadership on what goals to set. But if Senator Kerry really understands the severity of the situation, then he should know that the US needs to take a strong lead to ensure a sustainable future for the world. What's the point of understanding the science if you don't follow it to create strong policy? What's the point of funding NASA and the top climatologists in the world if you don't listen to their advice?

I trust that Senator Kerry has every intention of coming back from Copenhagen with a strong climate treaty that enumerates clear steps for getting us out of the mess that we're in. We hope that he takes one of our lightbulbs with him to that negotiation to remind himself of exactly what that climate treaty should say: 350 ppm. And quickly. Otherwise, Santa may have to fill his stocking with another kind of coal this Christmas.

Check out the Article on the Globe's Green Blog about the event, and keep an eye out next week for one on the Weekly Dig.

And don't forget, you can add your voice to those calling for a stop to the destruction of Santa's home by throwing your own Christmas in July house party! As John Kerry's constituents it's especially important to make our voices heard calling for 350 ppm on October 24th's international day of climate action, and holding a party is the perfect opportunity for you to get together with friends and family to brainstorm how we can get this message across. For more information and to register your party, go to www.masspowershift.org.

Sally

Yarmouth to Martha's Vineyard

2009-07-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

On Monday the Cape Cod team took the ferry from Yarmouth to Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard which gave us some nice, relaxing, time to think about the events of the weekend. On Saturday, July 4th we were part of the Hyannis Parade, which provided much fun along with visibility for both the Re-Power America campaign and Clean Power Now. We constructed one 10 foot tall cardboard wind turbine along with another one half that size and strapped them onto the bike trailers. Myself and Lauren walked in front of the bikes with the re power America banner while Jeff and Vickey (with bikes decorated with green streamers and pin wheels) towed the turbines. Courto and Justin followed with Clean Power Now pins and Frisbees for the parade attendees. We were all very pleased with the response from the crowd, everyone seemed to be in support! It was nice to see afterwards dozens of little kids walking around with the Clean Power Now pins on their shirts. I think the parade was extremely successful for creating visibility for the campaign but wish we got better pictures of us doing it!

The next day, Sunday, we had an event appropriately called "rising waters, raising awareness: a business as usual beach party." If we do not change the was we depend on fossil fuels and other toxic practices the sea levels will continue to rise and the beach just might be located in the center of town. With this in mind we staged a beach party event on the Hyannis town green, complete with wind turbines and sea creatures. Although the projections can be scary we did not intend for this event to evoke fear but rather to provide people with the resources and knowledge they may need to effectively make the change we are striving for. In addition to the paper petitions we asked people to participate in a photo petition drive, holding speech bubbles calling upon congress to pass strong climate legislation. In particular, 100% clean electricity in the next decade. The event was fun and laid back and although we would have liked to see more people attend it was still seen as a success on many levels.

We learned a lot during our stay with Lady Barnett in Yarmouth including how much work goes into planning and executing successful events. The weeks have been flying by and now its Thursday and we are in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. We are having a good time but finding that canvassing in what Jay so appropriately deemed "vacation land" is a much different experience than in communities with year-round residents. Overall people have been fairly receptive but since they do not live here it is difficult to find committed community leaders. We will not let this get us down though and will continue searching for the small minority of people who are residents of this beautiful island.

Live Earth Article on Copenhagen

2009-07-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

An article from Live Earth about the International Climate Talks in Copenhagen this December:

Copenhagen Leaders Lead by Example

"When world leaders gather in Copenhagen this December they will be discussing some of the most important and pressing climate issues facing the world today.

These world influencers are leaving no green stone unturned as they make an effort to environmentally spruce up their trips to the event.

Denmark has developed a luxurious and eco-friendly solution to the issue of ground transportation throughout the conference.

The attendees will be transported in limousines that run on experimental biofuels made from plant waste.
How creative!

Although these alternative-fuels are not yet in commercial production, they are considered second-generation because they don’t use the actual crop for the production of the fuel.

This allows the crops to be used for food or other purposes, and then the remaining waste is used for development of the fuels.

These fuels even emit less carbon than the currently used first generation biofuels. These world leaders are setting a positive green example while all eyes will be on them!"

Rising Tide Boston

2009-07-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Emily and I attended the monthly open meeting of Rising Tide Boston, whose Points of Unity are so salient to our own efforts that I think they are worth quoting here in full: “We recognize … that combating climate change is not solely a matter of addressing carbon emissions, but also confronting the institutions that attack our communities and our cultures as well as our earth.” But I wouldn’t have expected any less of an organization that creatively urged Bostonians to “break up” with Bank of America on Valentine’s Day in order to protest that corporation’s funding of mountaintop removal coal mining. Environmental sustainability? Check. Social justice? Check.

Ironically, Emily and I were the only ones not to arrive by bike (we took the subway). The meeting kicked off with a documentary about the decades-long movement to democratize Mexican teachers’ unions, whose leadership has long been riddled with corruption at the highest levels. However, despite some notable victories in the eighties and nineties, the teachers’ campaign has lost momentum in recent years. The film identifies the crux of the problem as overpoliticization: Teachers have become so focused on their own crusade that they have lost touch with the communities in which they are rooted. After all, why did thousands of people – many of whom did not have school-age children – turn out in support of teachers when they staged direct action in the first place? Because historically, Mexican schoolteachers have been community leaders. It’s no accident that the movement is most active in Oaxaca, a province which boasts a sizeable indigenous population. These were the people most directly impacted by the state’s education policies (or lack thereof). These were the people who knew better than anybody that something needed to be done, and decided the teachers were the ones to do it.

It is a lesson that applies to the organization of grassroots movements in general. Despite all the valuable guidance we received from experienced organizers during our training, it is easy, when confronted at the door with apathetic residents, to fall back on your rap; to take charge and tell them exactly what to do. Here, sign this petition, come to a symposium, throw a Christmas in July party, have a good day. Even if I do end up having an in-depth conversation with someone, bubbling just beneath my subconscious is the desire to get them to do something for us, when really it should be the other way around. I don’t know if anyone else has had the same experience. Maybe I’m a worse-than-average canvasser. But as I recall now the woman who spoke of her town’s (ultimately unsuccessful) scheme to put solar panels on the high school, and the man who hosts a struggling environmental talk show on public radio, I realize that these are the people who need us. These are the people we are supporting in the endeavors, and calling and emailing and blogging about. We are the catalysts for the changes they want to see. Though we are the ones who are at present devoting our lives to the cause of combating climate change, our job is to ensure that it remains their cause as much as ours.

Cheers, Lesley

Shifting Gears, Building A Movement

2009-07-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

cross-posted at It's Getting Hot in Here and Blue Mass Group

Wow, Waxman-Markey narrowly passed last week; truly a historic occasion. This is cause to have a celebration – a chamber of congress has finally passed a bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The question of course is: what happens next? For many, that question is simple to answer – move on to the Senate to try to get it strengthened and sent on to the President.

Here in Massachusetts, we have a different approach. The window of opportunity we have leading up to Copenhagen is too important to miss. This summer 19 college and graduate students are devoting two months to bike through the state in Mass Climate Summer, a project of Massachusetts Power Shift, building a bigger, bolder, and better climate movement.

By all accounts, Waxman-Markey is not good enough. I’m not a climate scientist, heck I’m not a scientist at all, but it’s not a difficult deduction. Simply: if we are currently at 388ppm of CO2, and the north polar ice cap may be completely gone during the summer months as early as 2013, then the overly optimistic trajectory of 450ppm for Waxman-Markey is not tolerable.

If 388ppm is leading to wildly accelerating feedback loops in the arctic (tundra methane and carbon release, rapidly heating ocean endangering Greenland’s ice sheet, etc.) it’s not too hard to realize we need to have a number lower than that, something around say, 350.

But how do we get there from here?

One phrase from one of my political science professors sticks with me, “politics is the art of the possible.” And indeed, that’s what we’ve seen through the Waxman-Markey process. Good organizing, on the other hand, is the art of creating new political possibilities. By building an organized and powerful constituency that pushes for what is necessary instead of what is currently possible, we create new political realities.

That’s why Massachusetts Power Shift is working to Repower America with 100% clean electricity in the next decade to move us closer to the goal of 350ppm. This summer we’re shifting into high gear with 19 college students giving two months of their time to work with with Mass Climate Summer.

These students are biking through the Commonwealth, building a bigger and bolder movement. Three teams are biking from town to town, knocking on doors, talking with the press, and holding inspiring events across the state because we here in Massachusetts have a special responsibility to lead the country and the world. Massachusetts, after all, is where revolutions begin.

Already we’re starting to see new people engage, as residents across the state light up when someone bikes into town to let them know what they can do. Massachusetts Power Shift has teamed up with the Mass Council of Churches to arrange housing and events for the bikers, and we are partnering with local and regional environmental organizations across the state including Clean Power Now and chapters of the Mass Climate Action Network. And they are captivating the press with the novelty of their work.

So, consider this a re-introduction to our teams. The Western Mass Team is Steph, Antoine, Jane, Leila and Sam. The Cape Cod and South Shore Team is Heather, Lauren G, Jeff, Courtney, Justin and Vickey. The Cambridge and North Shore Team is Sally, Keane, Lauren T, Wenjun, Lesley, Kyle, Emily and Mark. We have a lot of work to do, so let’s get to it.

Mass Climate Summer and Greenpeace Partner on Cape Cod to Show Potential Effects of Climate Change

2009-07-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

The last-minute planning finally came together: the six Mass Climate Summer participants stood on a dock in Chatham, along with two Greenpeace field organizers, Robbie Gemmel (the director of the Cape Wind documentary who has interviewed and even lived with us part-time these past few weeks), and a reporter from the Cape Cod Today. In a small boat we were ferried across the water to a barrier island, where only days ago, a brisk storm knocked a few picture-perfect cottages off of their foundations.

While undoubtedly a heart-wrenching site, a picturesque haven struck by the power of the gods, the wreckage was a clear picture of what could happen to many other coast-front properties if anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change is not propelled to the top of the governments' and peoples' "to-do" lists, PRONTO. David Pomerantz, the lead organizer from Greenpeace, had to make an important clarification in regards to our action: "While research cannot tie discrete events like the recent storm activity on the Cape and Islands to global warming, we do know that higher storm surges and coastal flooding are consistent with what scientists say will happen to Massachusetts' coastline if we do not act now." So we all stood in front of the wreckage and held a banner that said, "Global Warming Looks Like This." Then we held signs with pictures of the wind turbines and the word, "Yes." In the photos our expressions were glum. The intention of the action was that the photos would cause people to feel concerned about the effects of climate change and be propelled to take action to address it.

Media attention on climate change is crucial, especially in Cape Cod where Cape Wind is still up in the air. The hope is that the Cape Wind, when finally implemented, will lead the United States to a greater understanding of the benefits of clean-energy projects and ideally, to a full commitment by the federal government to revamp the infrastructure of electricity production to be 100% clean within ten years.

Yesterday's action was a worthy example of what can be accomplished by two separate organizations coming together and providing something unique to achieve a common goal. It was just a small picture of what Mass Climate Summer is trying to accomplish, bringing people from various backgrounds together to produce the bold change that we need.

MA Climate Summer Northshore Team at Critical Mass

2009-07-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Enjoy

Mark

Collaboration of MassClimateers and SummerSolutionists

2009-07-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

Western Mass Team - Worcester

After brief stop-overs in South Hadley, Amherst, and West Brookfield, we are now in Worcester (pronounced properly as Woo-stah). We are staying with the Summer of Solutions (SOS) students (they call themselves the Solutionists) just off the Clark University Campus. They're a really great group of people and we're learning so much from each other!

Last night we had a potluck and joined in on their weekly check-in meeting. Since both programs are just about at their half-way points, it was a great way to review how far we've come, what we have left to do or change, and compare strategies between groups! We discussed issues like time management, goal-setting, and motivation. We did a great exercise where we each wrote things we thought were going well with our programs and things we thought should change and passed the papers around so we could add/respond to other's comments. It was great to get the creative juices flowing and see the thought processes from everyone in the room (about 17 people in all).

Even though the MCS projects center around clean energy, and the SOS projects around gardening and green jobs, we found many similarities in what we liked about our programs. First, we found it empowering to know that we are not alone. (There are 10 total SOS programs around the country and of course our 2 other MCS teams!) Second, we all found great value in the lifelong friendships we have been forming over the past few weeks. Lastly, we recognize the importance of environmental programs like ours working together to create a better human presence on the planet.

The Solutionists are working with other organizations such as the local youth-led Toxic Soil Busters who use phytoremediation to create adequate back yard environments for families to grow their own food. They also have weekly guest speakers and "skill shares" where individuals offer to teach their special talents to the group (this week's just so happens to be bike maintenance by a local bike shop owner). As one of the head Solutionist organizers, Lila, put it, we are here "learning through others, and learning by doing."

In the Awakening the Dream Symposium it talks about Joanna Macy's three ways by which that the Great Turning is made possible (holding actions, creation of alternatives, and shift in conciousness). Neither of the three works by itself, but instead they all rely on each other, so there is no use in trying to determine which is the best. Between MCS and SOS and other people we have met this summer, we have all of those bases covered. There are those that better their local community with public organic gardens, farmers markets that boast Community Supported Agriculture, symposiums that change the way we think about our daily actions, those people that raise support for renewable energies. It is this stellar cooperation and collaboration of our efforts that will create our eventual success.

Stay Green!
--Leila

A Chance Meeting

2009-06-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Cape & South Shore Team was in Falmouth last week, and the continued cold, wet weather on the Cape was getting us down. Tuesday afternoon, Courto and I were canvassing in East Falmouth, and we decided to follow a street down to the end of the peninsula. We found ourselves amidst old and picturesque shingled homes, just a few steps from the beach, looking across the Sound [pdf] at Martha's Vineyard. People were surprisingly receptive to the petition, though some of the houses seemed to be more like weekend-only homes. It was certainly a glitzy neighborhood.

Then, a car drove slowly by. And stopped a hundred feet or so ahead of us. As we approached, the man inside asked us what we were doing; we feared we might've been breaking some private neighborhood's rules.

But, lo and behold, it was State Senator Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton), Chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change and all-around climate hero. He asked if we were with Powershift - and we were surprised that he'd even heard about it, until he explained his role in the Massachusetts State Legislature's climate heroism. I'll explain:

As you probably know, climate change is a looming crisis. The science keeps getting more and more ominous - projections of warming by 2100 are getting sometimes REALLY SCARY - on a Business-as-usual track, meaning if we continue without doing anything to change our ways. Worse, it looks like we have only a little time left to take meaningful action, since there's a new round of climate treaties being negotiated in December. But we already know what to do: change business-as-usual! Grow our own renewable energy industries here, reduce energy use, stop mining and burning coal, respect people's rights to live pollution-free. This will take legislative progress, of a stricter kind than found in Congress's latest attempt.

And that's where Senator Pacheco, and you and I, can help. Senator Pacheco co-authored a resolution, with Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline) and members of Mass PowerShift, that calls on Congress to Repower America with 100% Clean Electricity within 10 Years. (Read the resolution here.) It was passed by the Massachusetts General Court on April 9th this year.

Now, we're asking you to do the same thing. Sign our petition, either online or when we come to your door, telling Congress that WE DO CARE about renewable energy, and we want it to happen now. And help us keep the pressure on via community action, media attention, events, and more. Join Powershift and become a leader in your community. We can plant that seed, but it's up to you to water and nourish it in your hometown, since we'll be biking away soon!

We thanked Senator Pacheco, he thanked us, and then he drove off in his hybrid. And we got back on our bikes, to head to the next neighborhood.

The Purpose of Massachusetts Climate Summer

2009-06-28T21:09:00.001-07:00

As this is my final night as an active member biking with the Massachusetts Climate Summer program, and in response, or perhaps more accurately after being inspired by Jay's visit to the Cambridge team tonight where he re-focused us on the goals of our actions, I want to remind, encourage, inspire and/or introduce you to what we, in general, will accomplish this summer.

We are trying to find the people in Massachusetts who also have identified this huge problem and care about solving it. We are empowering those who feel hopeless to act, because of the enormity of this problem, to make them leaders in the climate movement.

In my experiences, I have felt so overwhelmed by the huge amount of work and the seeming majority of people who do not care or aren't willing to do anything to save the world's future. I would like to share one metaphor from the Awakening the Dreamer symposium that we have been facilitating which stuck out to me the first time I heard it and continues to bring me hope:

When a caterpillar begins to eat like crazy, up to 100 times its own weight, before its transformation, tiny cells called "imaginal cells" begin to awake in the caterpillar. They begin to find each other and cluster together. Even though they are in the minority, they gather and determine the genetic direction for the whole caterpillar. The rest of the cells dissolve into a nutritive soup and allow the imaginal cells to lead its evolution, which of course is to become the colorful, wonderful, and beautiful butterfly. If you had only seen the caterpillar and its cocoon, how could you possibly believe, or even simply imagine, that it could change so drastically?

With every person we meet that refuses to talk to us about this issue, chooses to ignore it, or slams a door in our face, we must remember that we do not need everyone, nor do we even need a majority of people for us to realize our dream of a clean and sustainable future for the world. Many people cannot imagine that it can be done, but who could imagine that an awkward 80-legged caterpillar could turn into a beautiful golden-winged butterfly? We believe, and we know, that it can be done, and that we have the resources to do it. We are finding those other "imaginal cells" out there in Massachusetts, then in America, and then around the world, that will guide the direction our world will head in. The others that don't care will not stop us. Our politicians and leaders will see just one message (as those who stand idly-by do not care enough to organize and send a message together), that a strong group of deeply committed citizens demand that we cap the world's carbon-levels in the air at 350-parts per million, and that we will not stop demanding this until it happens! Otherwise, there will be no more world left to care about.

"Never doubt that a small group of commiteed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

I'd like to thank everyone in the Mass Climate Summer program whom I've met in the past three weeks, and especially to my friends in the Cambridge team, for an amazing experience and for giving me such hope and inspiration for the future. I have personally grown so much in so little time, and it was incredibly refreshing to meet other passionate people who so deeply want to work towards this beautiful goal. I promise I will read the blog religiously and will see you all back in Boston at the end of July!

-Keane

MCS on NPR

2009-06-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

We were on the radio this afternoon! It was on WAMC, the NPR station out of Albany! We're all so excited that our message has reached 3 types of media now! Check it out.

Our First Symposium

2009-06-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

Well, we on the North Shore team have just finished our first symposium at the College Ave Methodist Church in Somerville MA hosted by I an Keane Southard with LT on Audio Visuals. About ten people came to the symposium today which I personally thought was nice. The group was not large but also not too small which I think gave us a good standing for our first symposium run through. Everything ran smoothly and we were all satisfied with our days work. I would like to express my thanks to all that came and participated today with a special thanks to Marla for helping us to secure our symposium location.

Mark B. Cabral

Moving East

2009-06-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

Western Mass Team - Greenfield

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Pittsfield and briefly seeing Jay on Tuesday. We got great responses while canvassing and held a small symposium. Next, we spent about two days in picturesqe Williamstown where we held a symposium with a sizable group of college students and had great luck canvassing in professor's neighborhoods. While in the area, we also helped one morning to weatherize Mount Greylock Regional High School by adding stripping to doors to make the building more energy efficient. We were joined by local alumns of the high school as well as Williams students.

We've had wonderful luck with the media as well! We were featured on the front page of the North Adams transcript http://www.thetranscript.com/northberkshirenews/ci_12685269 as well as being featured on the 6 o'clock news on the local NBC channel 13 out of Albany (not positive it has aired yet, but we had a great time with the interview and being followed canvassing. Link to follow soon!)

Today we have moved on (or back to) Greenfield. It was a long ride, about 40 miles, but included lots of stops for taking pictures of the beautiful Berkshires and a quick dip in a river. We've arrived safe and sound in local activist, Becca King's house and we're excited to begin our work here tomorrow!

We will not only be canvassing for our own petition here but we will also be aiding the campaign of Greening Greenfield where residents pledge to reduce their carbon footprints. We will also be helping retired citizens to access information to find out about qualifying for funding to help them weatherize their homes.

We figure that by this point now we have traveled well over 150 miles and I can honestly say that I am so proud of my teammates! We may be exhausted from riding but that does not stop our important canvassing and symposium work. I am extremely honored that I have gotten to meet and work with the wonderful people on the Climate Summer Teams, MAPS personnell, local organizers, and be a part of this great movement!

Stay Green!
--Leila

2009-06-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week we left the hospitality of Marla and her two next-door-neighbors for our current abode, a shared Anglo/Korean church just down the road from Tufts, where Sally's connections have been instrumental in procuring showers for our admittedly less-than-fragrant selves. Keane is keenly appreciative of the baby grand piano and the kitchen doesn't even smell like kim chee, as we had been warned it would, though the fact that all the cupboards and drawers are labeled in Korean does tend to enliven the hunt for utensils. Indeed LT has risen admirably to the herculean task of meeting all eight of our dietary likes, dislikes, foibles, and idiosyncracies, and we can boast of such healthy meal options as ice cream for dinner and make your own pizza night. In our rapidly vanishing downtime last weekend we made it to a bike worshop with Adam - a MAPS member who had hosted us for a scrumptious vegan dinner when we biked through Lexington - but Mark's proposal to attend an open-air concert in Harvard Square was ultimately defeated by the unremitting rain. This ought not to have come as a surprise to anybody, as we'd not gone a day canvassing without our ponchos and jackets. But we are excited to see it clear up this afternoon in time for Critical Mass, where we plan to collect signatures for the petition, distribute flyers for our first symposium (!) tomorrow, and initiate conversations/build relationships. We're off now so more later.

Cheers, Lesley

Second Media Hit in Cambridge Chronicle!

2009-06-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

We just got our second article in three days in the Cambridge Chronicle! Check it out!

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/homepage/x1686364215/Student-activists-bicycle-across-state-to-organize-against-climate-crisis

Our first symposium is tomorrow and we are hoping to have a good turnout of people. Mark and I will be facilitating at the College Ave United Methodist Church (in Davis Square in Somerville) on Saturday from 1-4pm. We are also working hard on planning our first big event ("I know I'm not getting coal in MY stocking!"-Mark).

We've also been keeping tabs on the important House of Representives vote today on the new Climate Bill (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31565446/ns/us_news-environment/).

Tonight we are all biking to Boston to take part in the monthly "Critical Mass". Their website (http://www.bostoncriticalmass.org/) explains that "Critical Mass is a vision of a happy, bike-friendly world replacing our polluted, congested roads, a protest for better cycling facilities and against car culture, a mobile paean to bicycling’s joys, a merry ride downtown and through the neighborhoods with friends, and more – all rolled into one convenient monthly ride right after work! Critical Mass is a party on two wheels to celebrate bicycling – a fast, friendly, clean, efficient, healthy, cheap, sensible, and fun way to get around the city." We will be canvassing during the event and handing out flyers for our symposium tomorrow. We hope to connect with other motivated people and groups in Boston!

Also, while canvassing around Tufts University, we knocked on the door of one fellow who had already checked out our website, signed the petition online, and had seen us biking around Davis Square already. He is part of a group called Emergent Energy Group (http://emergentgroup.com/) which started up at Tufts and plans, designs, and facilitates the advancement of community-based alternative energy projects and sustainable ventures throughout New England and beyond.

Keep up the good work!

-Keane

Our First Symposium :-)

2009-06-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

This is a video that shows our first Symposium. We also had some attendees comment on what they experienced. It was great! Enjoy.

Cambridge Energy Alliance and Canvassing

2009-06-25T10:58:00.001-07:00

Enjoy!

-Keane

"And Cinderella and the Prince joined a yoga class and lived healthily ever after"

2009-06-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Currently myself and the rest of the cape cod team is at the West Falmouth library doing some office work, Lauren is schmoozing with the bridge club, Justin is planning out the days canvass routes, Vicky doing media stuff, Courto finding us homes, Jeff finding Symposium hosts and I am keeping up with the blog. After an awesome weekend in Centerville at Barbara Hill's (the director of Clean Power Now) house we trekked about 20 miles through 30 mile an hour winds and torrential down pour to Falmouth where we were greeted by a photographer from the Falmouth Enterprise who took a very wet picture of us all with our bikes and the re power America banner which was printed in yesterday's paper.

A documentary film maker named Robbie has been following us around and video taping us riding/having meetings for his documentary about cape wind- 'cape spin.' It is expected to be released in January and we are all very excited about the potential to be in it! he is coming back tomorrow to tape us canvassing (i think he just likes hanging out with us).

It hasn't stopped raining for days and although we are all perpetually wet we are excited to continue canvassing and for our second Symposium at the Falmouth Main library on Saturday. This morning we all biked to main st. for an 8 am yoga session that Lauren found us free passes to, it was a good way to wake up and to bond as a team. Coincidentally when we returned to the house we turned the TV on and watched sesame street, big bird read the end of a story to some kids. he read: "and so Cinderella and the prince joined a yoga class and lived healthily ever after."

I hope everyone is doing well and staying dry :)

Heather

Cambridge Chronicle and canvassing

2009-06-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Cambridge Team--Medford

The Cambridge Chronicle just wrote an article about the work that we "climate heroes" are doing with the Cambridge Energy Alliance, check it out!
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/homepage/x1662360053/Cambridge-Energy-Alliance-launches-community-outreach-program

We just moved into a new home, thanks to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Medford, and are getting ready for our second day of Climate Summer canvassing around Somerville. Hopefully the rain will hold off for a while and we can beat last week's success rate of over 80 houses each! Somerville is super densely populated, which makes it easy to talk to a lot of people in a short amount of time, and we'll be canvassing right around the church where we are holding our symposium this weekend so that those who attend can connect with other interested people in their neighborhood.
We're also looking forward to this Sunday, when we get to participate in a HEET energy efficiency barn raising at the Cambridge Community Center. I can't wait to get some hands-on experience of how weatherization is actually done; we'll be installing indoor storm windows with Lilah from CEA. Like any good old-fashioned barn raising, the idea is to bring members of the surrounding community together to help each other out, learn some new skills, learn about energy efficiency, and of course have a party afterwards!

US Global Change report

2009-06-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Global Change Research Program just recently released a report on the current and projected future impacts of climate change in the US (http://globalchange.gov/). In the Northeast:

Extreme heat and declining air quality are likely to pose increasing problems for human health, especially in urban areas.

Agricultural production, including dairy, fruit, and maple syrup, are likely to be adversely affected as favorable climates shift.
Severe flooding due to sea-level rise and heavy downpours is likely to occur more frequently.
The projected reduction in snow cover will adversely affect winter recreation and the industries that rely upon it.
The center of lobster fisheries is projected to continue its northward shift and the cod fishery on Georges Bank is likely to be diminished.

Northeast annual average temperature has increased by 2°F since 1970, with winter temperatures rising twice this much. Warming has resulted in many other climate-related changes including more frequent very hot days, a longer growing season, an increase in heavy downpours, less winter precipitation falling as snow and more as rain, reduced snowpack, earlier break-up of winter ice on lakes and rivers, earlier spring snowmelt resulting in earlier peak river flows, rising sea surface temperatures, and rising sea level. These trends are projected to continue, with more dramatic changes under higher emissions scenarios compared to lower emissions scenarios. Some of the extensive climate-related changes projected for the region could significantly alter the region’s economy, landscape, character, and quality of life.

Here's an article about what this report might mean for the enactment of federal climate legislation, especially with the House debate on the Waxman/Markey ACES bill just around the corner (maybe next week?): http://www.grist.org/article/index/2009-06-16-climate-science-impacts-usa/P1

Rainy Days in Lenox

2009-06-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Western Mass - Lenox

What an amazing time we're having! We left the comfortable church of Pastor Van's on Thursday morning after a breakfast of oatmeal. It was the end of the box of oatmeal and the raisins so Steph meticulously made sure we each had equal amounts dropping one raisin into each of our bowls in turn - 19 each in the end and none left over! It was raining HARD that morning and we gave up all attempts at keeping dry. We took refuge briefly on the back porch of an inn in Stockbridge to eat PB&J sandwiches for lunch. The ride proved to be not as difficult a climb out of Great Barrington up to Lenox as we had thought it would be. On the way we found out that it can be quite hazardous to pull the trailers in the rain. Sam had two close calls - once hitting a pothole and once making a tight turn when the trailer flipped on its side causing his bike to swerve and the nylon rope holding the tub to break. Everything was fine though. No injuries or lost equipment. This is why we allow for extra room between our bikes in the rain (this is to appease all of the worry wort partents out there!) ;) We arrived at Lynn Rist's house in the mid afternoon, our shoes completely squishy puddles. We did our best to not track in the dirt from the road though! After we settled in and a few of us showered, we briefly canvassed in the neighborhood (still in the rain).

Friday consisted of sleeping in, doing office work and canvassing. Steph and I achieved an almost 50% success rate in getting signatures at houses! That evening we had the most amazing potluck here with such wonderful people. Authors and editors of EnlightenNext magazine were here along with other local activists and friends of Lynn’s. We stayed up late into the night talking about biomimicry technology, the environmental movement, the situation in Iran, psychic parrots, and so much more. It was such a wonderful and intellectual group to be surrounded by; we were truly blessed!

Saturday, in the late morning Steph and I made a trip to Stop and Shop to buy food for the next few days. (A man we met in one isle had seen us biking there and told us we had made good time since he'd passed us in his car only a few minutes before!) After lunch, Antoine and Sam headed out to buy snacks for our symposium while Steph, Jane and myself went to Radio Shack to locate a USB for Jane's camera and an AV adapter for mac computers to connect to a projector. (We never found the latter, but we were all three asked to hang out/exchange numbers by the man working at the store who was obviously very impressed by the idea of 3 women biking across the state together. We walked out of the store with only the USB, a receipt, and a funny story for the guys.)

From there, we biked to town hall (up the newly dubbed "Hill of Death" on route 7 to Lenox center) where our symposium was held. It is called such due to its long, steep slope and we have ridden up and down it now a total of 8 times. Steph, Jane and I facilitated tonight and I must say, we worked very well together, and the guys were very supportive of us which we were grateful for. We had some technical issues with getting videos to run smoothly which was very aggravating and embarrassing and caused us to want to smash the computer and projector against the wall. However, we luckily had a very receptive and appreciative group. We got some great networking and media coverage (a newspaper reporter as well as Judy Eddy who made appearance #2 since she loved seeing us Tuesday. We look forward to seeing her at the program close in Boston!) We are so thankful for all of the work Susan Olshuff did for our group regarding the symposium and the potluck! She is truly an inspiring local leader.

Afterwards, we five were very hungry, over tired, but elated and inspired! The heavy rainstorm made for quite an adventure home. We wooped and shouted, as well as cursed the driving rain, on the way out of town. Jane and I dubbed the hill we decided walk up the "Hill of Death 2" since we simply lacked the motivation to bike so hard in the dark and the rain, but the rest of the team waited for us at the top as is our usual policy. However, going down the Hill of Death 1 was quite fun as it had been turned into a river and we were forced to follow the blinking red lights on each other's bikes as we squinted through the rain. (To anyone adventuresome or under 30 years old - it was EPIC. To mom and dad - we were very careful!) After a carbo-loading dinner and large cups of tea, we gladly welcomed bed.

Yesterday, Sunday, we had a looooooong bike ride from Lenox to Pittsfield (not really – it took about 20 minutes). I believe it was Jane who said “So when does the real ride start?” once we arrived. But we were thankful because the rides to Williamstown and Greenfield will be anything but easy. After settling in, Jane, Sam and Antoine went on an adventure to find a farmer’s market which turned out to be just a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) and had to opt for a supermarket instead. After an extensive team meeting and dinner, we had some free time and went to bed.

Today we are spending the day at the local library doing office work and will be canvassing later. We also bought a copy of the Berkshire Eagle yesterday which had an article on us! We hadn't realized that it was being published so soon that a friendly woman in the neighborhood we were staying at in Lenox saw us on bikes and when she asked who we were realized that she had just read about us that morning! It was written by the reporter who came to the symposium in Lenox. We were on the front page of the Local News section, though not the actual front page. But it was very exciting to see our names printed and be quoted. Here's the link to it online: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_12660078 And don’t forget to visit our picasa photo site at http://picasaweb.google.com/climatesummerphotos

Stay Green!
--Leila

Canvassing Experiences (so far)

2009-06-20T09:18:00.001-07:00

Cambridge Team - Cambridge

Yesterday we completed our first day of Mass Climate Summer canvassing after our first two days of canvassing for CEA. I must admit that coming into this program, I was extremely nervous to canvas. If anyone knows me well (or at least knew me before this program), you know that I am a pretty reserved and shy person when first talking to and meeting strangers. In fact I almost will never answer the phone if I don't know who it is calling on the other end (just ask my family). Last week at our training in Deerfield, we went out one night to do a short "practice" canvass in nearby Greenfield, and I was absolutely terrified. I kept thinking of how I react to people coming up to my door that I don't know (I don't even answer it usually), but I got up the courage to start knocking on the doors and an amazing thing happened. When we were done, I was just so pumped and excited. Talking to people and connecting with those that really care about this issue, gaining their support and realizing how the tides are turning, how people are now standing up and coming together to help pull the world out of the deep pit that we have dug for ourselves, was so invigorating. If I were going around door-to-door trying to sell people some junk that they really do not need, like knives or something, I would feel like a total jerk for trying to exploit them out of their money. But we aren't asking for money, we are trying to connect people and empower them to speak out and get involved in fixing this problem. We are not exploiting them, but we are joining together to help us all, and this is something I believe in so much that I can do this work that otherwise would be so difficult for me. I was so pumped and excited that I flew up that big hill back to Woolman's (you all remember that hill!) and I was excited about the work we were about to continue for the rest of the summer and as long as this problem exists. I'm proud to say that yesterday I knocked on 81 strangers doors and again felt that same excitement and hope connecting with people who care about changing the world.

Keep up the good work!
-Keane

2009-06-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here is what is going on in the Cape :-)

Enjoy

J-Ro

It's Business Time...

2009-06-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

Canvassing yesterday proved much more successful for me and the rest of the team then the first day... Practice makes perfect I suppose... I find canvassing a really unique experience in that you can meet and connect with someone instantly over a problem that we are all facing together... However, for every interested, concerned person there usually is a door slam, however, it's still getting the word out there- good or bad, people are talking about climate change... concerned or skeptic...

We are hosting a symposium this Saturday the 20th June, 12:30 pm at the Sturgis Library in Barnstable. We have been madly making flyer's, calling media contacts and calling on some lovely ladies of St. Mary's Church to reach out to anyone they know who may be interested in attending. We are all pumped to be hosting our first one and can't wait to meet and connect and share this experience with the people who come...

Sarah, a lady whom me met through St. Mary's Church and her husband has invited us over for dinner tonight... We are canvassing near by and when we finish we will be going straight there to enjoy a nice meal and a shower- which we are uber excited about... We too have been showering via 'anti bacterial wet ones'...

As Heather wrote earlier in the week, the meeting with Barbara Hill (Ex. Director of Clean Power Now) and her crew has given us even more information and knowledge to share with the people of the Cape. We have been giving people flyer's that informs, educates and empowers citizens to support viable renewable energy projects and policies, and to secure their local and regional benefits. The proposed Wind Farm in Nantucket Sound, pulled some great coverage and had a story featured on 'The Daily Show' with Jason Jones, go to their website www.cleanpowernow.org to view.

My 30 minute time limit on the computer is up, so must cruise...

Peace and Pedal Love,
Courto

First Day of CEA Canvassing

2009-06-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

Cambridge Team - Cambridge

Today we completed our first day of canvassing for Cambridge Energy Alliance. We are giving people tips on how to conserve energy in their homes, exchanging compact fluorecent lightbulbs (CFLs) for their incandecent bulbs and getting people to sign up for free energy audits. Many people were not home, but many of those we talked to were excited about what we were doing and we even had several people who couldn't even accept the free CFL because they had changed all their light bulbs already! We've also been so delightfully suprised at how many people bike around Cambridge, in fact only 30 percent of Cambridges emissions come from vehicles, while most of it comes from buildings, which makes our work for CEA that much more important.

We have also scheduled our first Awakening the Dreamer Symposium for Saturday, June 27th, from 1-4pm at the College Avenue United Methodist Church at 14 Chapel St, Davis Square, in Somerville. It will be sponsered by Cambridge Welcoming Ministries (http://cambridgewelcomingministries.org/) and we are looking forward to putting it on! We are also planning our next symposium for the week after that will be sponsered by CEA.

Keep up the good work!

-Keane

Wind Mills and Wave Power on Cape Cod

2009-06-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hello from the village of Barnstable!
The Cape Cod team has had a great couple days here so far; we finally got the ball rolling with canvassing, and today we scheduled our first symposium for this Saturday at the historic Sturgis Library. Earlier today we initiated our newest member, Jeff, by doing a practice run-through of Awakening the Dreamer with him as our only audience member. It turns out that the front lawn of the county courthouse makes a great location for the symposium.

Canvassing has been going really well so far, especially since people on the Cape are amazingly well informed about the Cape Wind project. I've talked to people from all walks of life who are excited about the possibility of clean energy coming to Massachusetts and all of America. Yesterday I spoke to a tugboat captain who told me "Yeah, I know about all that stuff, I'm the guy who hauls all the oil," and then proceeded to fully endorse the call to re-power America. Today, I got the chance to meet some expatriate Swedes who told me that the Cape should borrow a page from their homeland and look into wave power generation. Apparently Cape Cod is a perfect location.

We never have to go very far to run into lawn signs with the big red "YES" and blue windmills of Clean Power Now. Hopefully our canvassing efforts will go a long way toward informing their supporters about the next steps in bringing wind power to the Cape. Who knows, maybe after Cape Wind becomes the first off-shore wind farm in the nation, Cape residents will be ready to embrace wave power as well!

Anyway, time to go make some burritos for hungry climate activists!

Bear of a Time in Barrington

2009-06-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Western Mass - Great Barrington

Yesterday (Tuesday) was a long intensive day of office work at the library. We took a brief break to complete an interview on the library steps and take a picture for the Berkshire Eagle newspaper. It will come out all over the county on Thursday (we're hoping for front page coverage!). Now people in Pittsfield, Lenox, Great Barrington, and several other towns we plan on visiting in the coming weeks will know about Climate Summer and the Symposium.

In the afternoon, we headed over to the Berkshire Community College South campus here on Main street to run our first Awakening the Dreamer Symposium. Before we started, we had a radio interview with Judy Eddy who stayed for the rest of the Symposium and was a very appreciative audience member. She plans to come to our symposium on Saturday as well in hopes of getting more material. She want to meet up with us again in Boston in the end so that she can create a series about us and pitch it to NPR - Naitonal Public Radio, here we come!

Sam and Antoine presented while I, Leila, ran the audio/visual components and Steph and Jane joined the audience. Everything ran smoothly but we discussed breifly as a team afterwords what we could imporove on for Saturday's symposium in Lenox (which may prove to be a very large group due to some wonderful connections we've made with local activists and environmental groups through the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN).

Before and after the symposium we feasted on Antoine's birthday cake, made specially for his 22nd birthday, by our very own pastry-chef-in-training, Steph. It tasted absolutely wonderful and we enjoyed our dinner outside in the little grassy cloister behind the church.

Today we slept in and then did our laundry down the street. We all shared ice cream and smoothies while we waited. Then, we had our first real down time of the trip when we went swimming in Lake Mansfield. Though Jane complained that it was not a "real" lake due to her Lake Eerie standards, it was beautiful sitting outside and eating our grilled cheese sandwhiches and then going for a quick dip. Sam dove in first, followed by Jane, who then both tried to swim to the other side, but were eventually deterred by the copious amounts of aquatic plants. Leila and Antoine then followed, and Steph dipped her toes in and took pictures from the water's edge. It proved to be a highly satisfying and refreshing swim since we haven't had a chance to take real shower since Saturday (shhhh). But Antoine has perfected what he calls the "dry shower" or "bird bath" in the meantime and passed his wisdom on to us.

Tonight we go out for our second night of canvassing and Leila will then prepare a taco dinner. Tomorrow we bike from Great Barrington to Lenox (all uphill) but it will be beautiful and we have more than enough time to make the trip.

Stay Green!
--Leila

Mount up, ride on... the journey from Deerfield

2009-06-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Cambridge Team, Cambridge

Video by Keane Southard,

Enjoy

Clean Power Now!

2009-06-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening the cape cod team arrived in barnstable after meeting our sixth teammate Jeff! it was a beautiful and relaxed ride along the canal followed by windy roads through salt marshes and cranberry bogs. With the team finally in tact we began to realize that this is really happening and we are going to bring the climate movement to Massachusetts' favorite vacation- The Cape! When we arrived at our destination we were amazed at how beautiful the church we are staying at is and how nice and hospitable the people are. We were provided with dinner, comfortable beds and good conversation while in the mean time setting up plans to present a symposium. After our dinner we spent some time teaching Jeff about the different team roles and what climate summer is all about, we are all very happy to have him here.

Earlier today we met in Hyannis with an organization called Clean Power Now who is working very hard to make the cape wind project, a proposed off shore wind farm in Nantucket Sound, happen. The Cape Wind project would provide 75% of the energy needs for Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard through the harvest of clean and renewable wind power. For those of us who are informed and awake it seems like a no-brainer, Cape Wind is the way to go, but there are still the special interests of the wealthy owners of beach front property (Ted Kennedy for example) who are opposing the project with all their might. These people are worried about the wind turbines ruining the beauty of the beloved Nantucket sound but, in reality, the project would be barely visible from shore and more than that... wind turbines are cool looking!

Barbara Hill, the director of Clean Power Now, has worked hard to find housing for our team on the cape and continues to help us in every way possible. She is even letting us stay at her house this weekend! I am excited to hear more of her ideas and for mass climate summer to become more closely involved with her, and many other's, initiative to have Massachusetts be the first (but definitely not the last) state in the country to have a beautifully beneficial off shore wind farm, perhaps the first step to re-powering America with 100% clean electricity in 10 years.

More to come-

Heather

Cambridge Energy Alliance - Day 1

2009-06-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

Cambridge Team - Cambridge

Greetings people of the internet. So, on today's adventure we find our climate heroes joining forces with the Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) for their first day of training. The CEA seeks to reach out to Cambridge community members by offering free energy audits in the efforts of saving people money through reduced energy consumption as well as building the city of Cambridge into a model of sustainability for the nation. We set out early this morning after having a lovely breakfast of oatmeal and fruit. We arrived at CEA headquarters ahead of the scheduled arrival time. Bicycling without the hindrance of gear and trailers was greatly welcomed by the crew. Throughout the day we were trained in CEA canvassing and what exactly would be involved in energy auditing. Check out the CEA's website at:

Cambridge Energy Alliance

and their blog:

Energy 2.0

and they were featured recently on an episode of "NOW" on PBS, part of which can be seen here on Youtube!

At roughly 4:00pm we took to the streets in pairs setting out across Cambridge posting fliers that simply stated the presence of the CEA and its intentions. To our advantage, Cambridge is very biker friendly having many isolated bicycling lanes designed in the traffic structure. Keane and I mainly hit up local businesses including laundromats and restaurants to post fliers. When we were at a local library's sidewalk we stumbled across an Eleanor Roosevelt project presumably created by a middle school student (Libby Mahoney, thank you for your work) which I happily presented on video. I'm sure you will all see that in the near future. At 6:00pm we raced home, merging with the rest of our group at the top of Sunnyside Ave. For now its dinner time, so I'll leave you with this "Without hydrogen bonds, the world would be completely different".

Peace Out.
Mark B. Cabral

Clear Sailing

2009-06-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Western Mass – Great Barrington

We woke up in Lenox yesterday (Sunday) morning to find a HUGE breakfast being made by two members of the church we were staying in. We honestly worried about whether we were going to be able to bike after eating French toast, eggs, lemon pound cake, fruit, toast, orange juice, and bacon. We went to a lovely service where the congregation kindly sent their prayers with us for our journey.

We made record time biking from Lenox to Great Barrington in exactly two hours. It was our most beautiful ride to date. We stopped several times to take pictures. As Sam said after one gorgeous vista, “That’s quite and Ansel Adams there!” Once again, we managed to avoid the worst of the bad weather. We ate a lunch of leftover food prepared by the Lenox congregation on the grass outside the First Congregational Church here and then moved our stuff inside.

We proceeded to go through the manuals and videos and practice our symposium. We took a break during which Sam and Leila went to the library (more like sitting outside on the front steps to get the wifi because it was closed) while Antoine and Jane went to grocery shopping and Steph napped. We had a yummy dinner of spaghetti and we got a bit hysterical with laughter due to our exhaustion. That’s how we knew it was time to call it quits and go to bed.

This morning (Monday) we awoke to the organ being played in the sanctuary next door for the children’s chorus rehearsal. After a quick stop at the post office across the street, we ended up at the library where we are all currently hard at work. First canvass here tonight and a symposium tomorrow night.

Pictures to follow here on the blog as well as on the new picasa account and the facebook fan page! We'll also be uploading youtube videos soon of our adventures which we will be sure to let you all know about!

Stay Green!
--Leila

Our First Two Days on the Bikes!

2009-06-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

Cambridge Team - Arlington

It seems like forever ago, but it has only been two days since the teams set out from Woolman Hill in Deerfield to help stop climate change across Massachusetts. After saying our goodbyes to the Western Mass team, we stayed with the Cape Cod team on our way to spend the night together at Barre Congregational Church, which happened to be a nice 47 miles from our launching point over many, many interesting and exciting hills. After a smooth and flat first stretch, we were all feeling confident in our biking abilities, feeling the cool air off of the passing brooks, smiling at the partly sunny, but not overly oppressing sky, above...and then we entered the wonderful world of bike maintenance. It seemed like everything possible that could go wrong did, short of someone crashing. The trailer hitches broke off sending our trailers flying across the road, Lesley’s brakes were stuck in the on position continuously, Sally’s rear wheel was as crooked as could be, Mark had a flat, or two…you get the picture. By the end of the day we were all expert bike repairmen/women.

Anyways, we eventually stopped to eat a packed lunch of Nutella and potato chips sandwiches (or at least I did) by the side of the road in Montague. We decided at this point that we were behind on our initial estimated arrival time of early evening into Barre, so we broke up into two teams, one faster that would arrive at the church first and prepare dinner so we could all be ready to eat as soon as the other team arrived. I navigated in the slower group as the other team disappeared over the hills. Town after town disappeared behind us as we passed many farms, roadside farm stands, rivers, and forests. On the back roads of New England, there are no chain fast food restaurants and billboards, just local country stores, lots of cool looking barns, churches with big white steeples, and trees. Sure beats the big interstate. But we were losing more time and going slower and slower each time we stopped at the top of another hill to catch our breath and drink some water, or because someone’s tire went flat. Each hill was harder than the last, and we kept thinking, will there ever be a nice long downhill after the top?

The sun was beginning to disappear around 9pm as we were traveling around the Quabbin reservoir, and not only were we getting tired of endless hills, we were very hungry and had only a granola bar and a box of Tic-Tacs to nourish ourselves and only one of the 9 of us in our group had a light on their bike. Suddenly our nice leisurely ride across western Massachusetts was turning into a real problem of how we were going to make it safely to Barre while we still had 8 miles to go. Exhausted, hardly visible by cars, and malnourished (the 1.9 calories in each tic-tac didn’t quite fuel us on as much as we’d hoped), we were forced to stop in the middle of nowhere in Petersham at 10pm and figure out a different solution. After debating over whether or not we should camp out on the side of the road and call it a night or dial the operator and find the nearest pizza place to deliver a pizza to us on the side of the road and then ask the pizza man to drive us to our destination, we called Jay with the other group already at the church in Barre and waited for him to find a solution. After a half hour, Lester, our new friend from the Barre church, along with Jay pulled up in a car to save the day, bearing gifts of chips, fruit, and granola bars, along with bike lights for several of us. Never had a meal of potato chips tasted so good! With our new strength and bike lights, we finally stumbled into Barre weary and drained at 11:30pm to enjoy a dinner of eggs and pancakes and then collapse into our sleeping bags, only to wake up at 8am and hit the road again in the morning for another long day of riding.

The morning arrived too soon, we said goodbye to our Cape Cod friends and hit the road, but we weren’t even across the street when the trailer and Emily’s bike broke, which delayed us nearly an hour. We figured out that biking the whole way to Lexington, where we were staying for the night, would be ride of 50 miles, and if there were as many hills and we went the same speed as yesterday, we wouldn’t make it until very late again (if at all). We decided instead to bike 22 miles to Fitchburg and take the “T” into Concord, then bike the final 7 miles to Lexington. After many more hills, bike problems (including Mark running over a dog, but luckily no one was hurt and the dog owner welded the trailer hitch for us), and worrying that we wouldn’t make it in time for the train, we hit a long downhill and cruised the last four miles into Fitchburg with high spirits. We lugged all our bikes onto the train and for some reason it was not leaving yet. In our train car, a man ran into the car telling us he was so thankful the train had stopped or he’d have missed it, only to have the police jump on in the other end and throw handcuffs on the man! After a few minutes, he was released after they realized he was not the suspect they were looking for and the train finally left the station. Strange happenings in Fitchburg.

We arrived in Concord and had a nice flat ride into Lexington to meet up for a nice vegan dinner with Adam, a member of Mass Powershift and bike repairman, but not before Kyle’s trailer hitch got stuck in his spokes and broke the tire. After a nice dinner and deep discussion on how the world and culture needs to change in order to stop climate change, we headed over to the church, across from the Lexington battle green, to spend the night, still without having showered!

So far we have had met a bunch of kind and interesting people on the road, from people letting us in their home to fill up our water bottles, to a man who was creating biodiesel fuel in his garage, to a lady who served us fresh and delicious lemonade and showed us a better route to go, but we are excited to soon settle down and work with the Cambridge Energy Alliance. We miss you other groups and are excited to hear your stories and successes as well! More exciting things to come!

-Keane

To The Cape!

2009-06-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today we arrived in Bourne, the gateway to Cape Cod, after an eventful weekend of riding both bikes and trains we finally made it to Jay's house where he prepared for us a feast- vegan and all! We are continuing to bond as a team and are very anxious to meet our sixth teammate, Jeff. Lauren was kind enough to let us stay at her house last night and we will be staying at Jay's tonight, we are being spoiled with home stays, hopefully the church in Barnstable wont prove to be too much of a shock for us.

I am excited to get some work done and begin canvassing and presenting symposiums. Right now we do not have any symposiums scheduled but we will be working hard the next few days to change that. Right now Lauren and Courtney are busy washing the dished from tonight's meal while Justin and Vicky declare their new found fondness of Massachusetts and all its hilly glory: "i think i would like mass better in a car."

Our first Sunday night team meeting is in a little while signifying the true beginning of our team's initiative to wake up the cape and further spread the movement for 100% clean electricity. We are all a little disappointed that Jeff will not be here tonight but hopefully he will be arriving tomorrow and we will all spend the day together biking to Barnstable and showing him the ways of the climate summer cape cod team and filling him in on all he missed out on during training. We have decided to practice the symposium sometime his week by presenting it to Jeff, allowing him to experience what it is he will be doing all summer while allowing us to practice our presentation skills.

I hope everyone is doing well and the other two teams are having as much fun as we are, we miss our fellow climate summer-ers and look forward to reuniting with many story and much experience under our belts.

good night :)
Heather

First Day on the Road Pics

2009-06-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

For Every Uphill There is a Downhill

2009-06-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

Western Mass - Lenox

Enjoying the sights, sounds, smells, and hills of western mass. Lush green trees line the roads and cool streams wind around the valleys so that we cross them multiple times or follow them for long stretches of time. Though tempted to jump in to the crystal clear lakes and rivers we see, we have kept biking, making very good time between each of our stops.

We are beginning to get a feel for our pacing and techniques for riding (for example, not letting a bike attached to a trailer tip over or else the hitch will snap!) Mechanics have gone pretty smoothly except for starting out with a trailer tire with a slow leak (already patched once in Greenfield), some issues with Jane's derailer and brakes today, and retying the strings holding the bins on the trailer. Jane and Sam are at a local bikeshop run by a trustee of the United Methodist Church here getting some of these issues solved. We often switch the order we follow each other while biking, but Steph has proved to be an awesome sweep making sure we all make it up the hills together.

On Friday we rode on routes 116 and 112 from Deerfield to Cummington. Though we were detained a while due to trailer issues we finally left the gas station in Greenfield around 2:30 and arrived at our destination at around 6:30. The back door of the church was generously left open for the ease of our coming and going. We found an extensive note left by Reverend Liza Neal that detailed everything we needed to know and made our stay run smoothly. We had a yummy dinner while enjoying the sunset and having deep conversations. We even had a special ice cream treat for desert courtesy of Antoine!

Today, Saturday, we rode route 9 (west) to route 7 (south) passing through Pittsfield and finally arriving in Lenox. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality of Pastor Val Roberts-Toler and her family here at the United Methodist Church. We were happily munching on brownies just moments after walking through the door! And oh, what wonders a shower can do after a long hot, humid day of travel!

Tomorrow holds a shorter ride than our two previous ones, to Great Barrington where we will canvass and hold a symposium. Another update to come soon!

Stay Green!

2009-06-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

The meeting house where we had our training sessions (in the picture set up for the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium facilitator training).

2009-06-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Training!

2009-06-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

We've had a jam-packed few days here at the Woolman Hill Conference Center and Retreat. We're tirelessly preparing for the summer ahead, surrounding ourselves with inspiring mentors and peers, and immersing ourselves in exciting environmental news and debates.

Here's a look at the week thus far:
Sunday brought our enthusiastic climateers from all over the world (yes, this is a global issue!) and involved first introductions, settling in, and much deserved rest!

Monday, we awoke bright and early for breakfast followed by an amazing 3-hour version of the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium. During this session we experienced the feelings of sorrow, enlightenment, reflection, hope, and empowerment. We will be trained in leading this symposium ourselves on Thursday so that we can spread the message as we travel around the state. Afterwords, we worked in exchange for our stay here which included weeding and gardening, brush removal, wood stacking, mulching, and window washing among other jobs. Lectures on creating a personal Public Narrative and the History of the grassroots environmental movement followed at the end of the day.

Tuesday we enjoyed a hearty blueberry pancake breakfast followed by more practice with Public Narrative tool use. After lunch we continued our work-for-stay projects. Later, we talked about relationship building during our canvassing. Lastly, we found out which routes we are to be on (Western and Central Mass, Cambridge and the North Shore, Cape Cod and Islands and South Shore) and worked on event planning together.

Wednesday (today), we completed canvass training, and more work-for-stay. We got a crash course on bike maintenance from John, a student at UMass Amherst. In the evening we finally got to put our training to work during our first trial run of canvassing in downtown Greenfield! We were very successful in our signature gathering for the petition calling for 100% clean electricity in 10 years. We learned a lot about how we can further hone our canvassing and public speaking skills over the coming months.

As a group we have grown very close to each other in such a short period of time and will be sad to see the teams go their separate ways. However, we look very forward to meeting up in Boston at the end of July to share our amazing experiences.

Be sure to follow our blogs, vlogs, tweets, status updates, groups, fan pages, etc!

Stay Green!

The Trailer Build - MIT May 30th

2009-06-05T05:57:00.000-07:00

T-1 Week

2009-06-01T18:09:00.001-07:00

Well everyone, this is it. We have one week until Mass Climate Summer kicks off with training on June 7th. We have an intrepid group of students ready to rock the climate world. We have a week of training lined up, and a host of amazing partner organizations eager to help build a better world with us.

Let's take the next week to think about what we're about to do. Lots of people knock on doors every summer, most of them trying to raise money for establishment environmental organizations. There are also several bike rides for the climate that are going on - the Brita ride and the Trek to Re-Energize America. None of them are doing grassroots organizing. We have an opportunity this summer to combine fun with effectiveness and the ironic thing is that those are one and the same. Why hasn't anyone done this before?

We're going to hone our community organizing skills and build the infrastructure for an incredible campaign here in Massachusetts. We're going to develop our leadership skills and bring those skills back to the campuses and states that we go to school in and propagate effective organizing all across the country (and the world!).

So I invite you, in the next week before it all begins, to reflect on your role in all of this. Take a step back and remember what we are trying to achieve, and then be glad in the realization that our generation has been given a challenge so big as to call out the best in us. Let's rise to it.