Power Vote

An update from the International Youth at the United Nation's Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland. Sent to us by Brianna, the Energy Action Coalition's Communications Director -

Hey everyone-

Super amazing (almost) last day at COP 14 in Poznan. As we all have been frustrated, outraged, etc by our governments over the last two weeks on Wednesday, the international youth delegation took matters into our own hands and drew a clear moral line in the sand. We demand, at the very least, that a global climate policy 'safeguards the survival of all countries and peoples." This principle was called by the small island states (AOSIS) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) last week when they demanded that targets must be in line with science that says no more than 350 ppm and 1.5 degrees.

International youth launched an impromptu campaign this week "Project Survival" where we basically stalked all governments and delegations to sign a card saying they supported the survival of all countries and peoples. So far we've gotten over 80 countries (developing and developed) to sign on and got the language included in the shared vision document that will lead us into Copenhagen. We also got cheeky yesterday and handed out very official looking "SURVIVAL" name tags to all delegates to put besides their country identification which got some AWESOME photos. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/11/AR2008121103822.html?hpid=sec-world

Today, directly after Al Gore's keynote we had an impromptu manifestation of some 200+ youth in the crossroads with a huge banner that read "SURVIVAL IS NOT NEGOTIABLE" Our chants filled the conference center, tons of people joined in, I did interviews to pools of 50+ cameras. Delegates and top ranking ministers came up to us afterwards to thank us for doing this and telling us how it made things easier for them.

Shadia, Christine, and Richard (through Fired UP media) have been doing awesome work documenting youth activity here. Check out some glorious photos from today and the last 2 weeks at http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery-show/G0000SIp4.f3wK2U/

Should position us nicely moving forward. I am more excited than ever to mobilze millions of Americans in demanding only the most equitable, binding, and neccessary domestic and international climate policy. Will start sending press clips out as they come..

Cheers, Brianna
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