Our organization will achieve these objectives through campus events such as inviting speakers, showing documentaries, hosting and planning sustainable information sessions, and taking environmentally-themed off-campus trips, among others.  Eco-Sense will advocate for the fall enactment of the President’s Climate Commitment and will continue to certify offices as “green” with our “Green to Green: Responsible Purchases and Practices” campaign.  We will also act as a driving force for getting AU students off campus and involved in the greater movement by informing them of conferences, habitat clean-ups, rallies and protests, and other DC-wide events. 

What We Do:

Over the past three years, Eco-Sense has seen a revival on campus, making it one of the most active and influential groups at American University. We have started an environmental revolution on AU’s campus with the passage of the Clean Energy Referendum in the spring of 2006, the enactment of many aspects of the 2007-2008 Bikes and Biodiesel campaign, and the ongoing eco-certification of campus offices through the “Green to Green: Responsible Purchases and Practices” campaign. We also persistently and successfully encouraged the administration to sign both the Talloires Declaration and the Presidents’ Climate Commitment.  Strong student support and involvement in club activities have demonstrated the student body’s devotion to environmental sustainability.  Over 100 students attended our first general meeting of the 2008-2009 school year.

Eco-Sense has worked closely with local and national groups dedicated to environmental sustainability.  By coordinating events, protests, and leadership trainings with Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Campus Climate Challenge, Energy Action Network, Step it Up! 2008, DC Woodlands, Power Shift 2007, and the DC Youth Environmental Alliance, Eco-Sense has been, and will continue to be, a major player in the national youth movement for a greener future.

This year, Eco-Sense will work to hold our leaders responsible for moving us into an era of clean energy and a lesser ecological footprint.  This campaign will take place on both a local and national level.  After President Kerwin’s signing of the President’s Climate Commitment in spring 2008, we will assist the university in writing a Climate Action Plan to ensure that this historic commitment is effectively addressed. On a national level, we took part in the Energy Action Network’s non-partisan Power Vote campaign.  Our Power Vote campaign garnered over 1000 individual student pledges to make environmental issues the leading priority during the 2008 election season. The week of February 27th-March 2^nd, Eco-Sense had 85 members join thousands of young people at the capitol demanding solutions to climate change from the new Congress and the new President.

We will also be continuing our “Green to Green” campaign, after receiving an influx of requests during the summer from on-campus offices wanting to be eco-certified.  We are currently in communication with nine offices, with a total of about 200 staff members, that we will be training this fall. Additionally, Facilities Management has contacted Eco-Sense hoping for assistance in spreading awareness of the campus-wide recycling program that will be implemented in 2008-2009.

Drew Veysey is a junior at American University, treasurer of EcoSense, and a founding member of the D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance.

Among the issues raised was the fact that young people in D.C. largely come from one of two backgrounds: those who vote here (or will vote here upon turning 18) – and those who vote elsewhere (the university student population). It was suggested by some that transient students are less invested in the challenges faced by the District than those who vote here, that only permanent residents understand the real problems we face.

I couldn’t disagree more. Especially in this city so troubled by racism, environmental injustices, economic disparity, etc., we simply cannot afford to further divide and marginalize.

The D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance was established nearly two years ago to bring young people in Washington, D.C. together. It hasn’t been easy. Building a community of youth that derives strength from and is representative of the city’s diversity has been an uphill battle – but one that we have no intention of conceding.

The assumption that only long-term residents of DC have a stake in what happens here only furthers the ingrained division that has made DCYEA’s vision of unity and community difficult to reach. In the end, we all breathe the same air – and want the same coal plants shut down. We drink the same water – and want the same lead service pipes removed from all communities. We share a common dream of opportunity and healthy, equitable neighborhoods.

Instead of marginalizing either camp, the locals or the transients, lets honor their different backgrounds as strengths. College students and other young transplants care deeply about achieving a sustainable city; just look to the fantastic work they’re doing to make their universities role model institutions. And of course long-term resident youth care just as much; this is where they grew up. DCYEA’s mission is to bring these two groups together, drawing on the strengths of both for the benefit of all.

Jeff Gustafson is the director of the D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance.

The average American uses 100 gallons of water a day. Activities such as washing the dishes, brushing one’s teeth, washing the car, watering the lawn, preparing meals, taking baths, and flushing the toilet, all contribute to this 100 gallons. It is a disturbing statistic to think about when you take into consideration that 1 out of every 6 world citizens has no safe drinking water. In additon to this, Americans spend $16 billion a year on bottled water due to a lack of faith in our local drinking supplies. Ironically, the water sources in which these bottled water companies obtain their water from are local sources in which many of us get our tap water. So, not only is bottled water no more safe than our tap, but fossil fuels are required to produce the plastic bottles themselves and for them to be shipped to the store. Not surprisingly, these plastic bottles wind up in our sewers, rivers, lakes, and streets were they will take hundreds of years to break down.

When we shop for new clothes or other goods, many of the tags say: Made in China. China has sky rocketed over the past thirty years as a world super power and has become one of America’s most prominent trading partners. China has experienced great wealth as a result of their industrialization but at the great expense of their environment. Factories that are located close to water sources, spew out tons of harmful effluent filled with toxins, chemicals, and carcinogens. These pollutants trigger algae blooms which turn the water to a thick, green, sludge that makes it impossible for fish and other aquatic life to survive. Besides the issue of the endangerment of aquatic species, these species are not only important for biodiversity, they often serve as the only food source for these communities. The people who live in these communities are exposed to it all and have very high rates of cancer, asthma, skin lesions, birth defects, and other major health problems. 

We as consumers have the power to demand better treatment of our planet. Every purchase that we make, goes to support somebody somewhere. Whether we choose to support companies that use sustainable practices and fair treatment of their workers, or companies that further damage our planet is in our control. There are endless choices you can make as a consumer to support the fair treatment of the planet and it’s inhabitants. Everything from the food that you eat, to the toilet paper that you use, has some sort of impact on the world. It is all of our responsibilities to make these decisions consciously.

Ebony Payne is a a senior at School Without Walls in Washington D.C. This was a project that she chose to do for her senior project class in which they were also required to write a research paper. Ebony became interested in environmental issues only a few years ago but the subject has captured her attention immensely. She had this to say about her experience doing this project: “I can only describe caring about this issue as deciding whether to take the red pill versus the blue pill. The blue pill being the one that causes you to shut your eyes and deny or ignore what is quickly happening to us and our home, while the red pill forces your eyes open to see this overwhelming Matrix of problems and obstacles to conquer. This process has been a really good one for me and I hope that I am able to do more creative things such as this to help serve something greater than myself.”

We’re now just days away from our first Youth Summit.  This Saturday, DCYEA will welcome dozens of high school students from across the Washington, D.C. area to Sidwell Friends Middle School to launch the first environmental student network in the city’s history.

And it can’t come soon enough!  Just imagine: hundreds of young people organizing their schools and revitalizing their communities, all DC schools revered for their sustainability and quality, a youth green jobs corps, an end to environmental injustice in D.C. 

The DC Youth Summit is a first step toward this vision.  We believe that an empowered group of youth, drawing from all communities in the District, can and will set the course toward a greener future.

And what better place to have the Summit than Sidwell Friends Middle School, one of the greenest school buildings in the world?  We hope the building itself can serve a model, a vision for all DC students of what their own school buildings could be.

The Youth Summit will kickoff with two incredible speakers: Carter Robers (President of the World Wildlife Fund) and Philip O’Neal (CEO of Green DMV).  Students will then have a number of workshops to choose from, covering a range of skills and topics.  We’re excited to offer workshops on basic organizing, recycling, school gardens, spoken word & hip-hop, energy auditing, and more offered by the Cool Capital Challenge, the Sierra Student Coalition, the Earth Day Network, and student leaders from D.C. And aside from the free lunch, students will also get a chance to interact with a panel of young leaders already doing great work here in the District.  And most importantly, a good amount of time will be spent allowing students to get to know each other. 

At the end of the day, we hope to have the beginning stages of a youth network, a group equipped with the skills and tool they need to make a difference and empower their peers.  Making connections with other young people that share the same passions and interests will be half the battle.  Once the network is formed, high school students will be able to communicate, share best practices, help each other, and come together periodically to plan bigger and better projects and campaigns.

We would love for you to join us on March 14^th!  Register NOW at:

http://dcyea.org/dcyeahigh-school

Jeff Gustafson is the director of the D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance.  He started his environmental work after getting involved with a similar high school student organization in the San Francisco area.

Forests are one of our best weapons in fighting global warming. Forests can either absorb carbon from the atmosphere, or if logged and damaged, forests can release carbon into the atmosphere. Right now, deforestation produces 20-25% of all global warming pollution. That’s more than the entire global transportation sector.

But that’s not all. Forests provide billions of people with clean water, food, and medicine. Over 90% of the world’s most impoverished communities are dependent on these forests. Through illegal logging and deforestation, we threaten our climate, the world’s most vulnerable communities, and our most precious and biologically diverse natural resource: the forest.

Join us to safeguard the forests and protect people. Help us run the Forest Justice campaign on your campus.

Apply now to qualify for a Forest Justice Organizer Mini-Grant of $500: Deadline has been extended to Thursday, March 12, so apply right now!

http://poprl.com/ISA

(Selected organizers may also qualify for a travel sponsorship to the UN Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark as part of the SustainUS youth delegation.)

-Deforestation accounts for nearly 25% of global emissions and the US alone consumes almost      30% of the total global wood and fiber supply.

-An estimated 60 million Indigenous Peoples are completely dependent on forests.

-The U.S. must join the international community in the fight to reduce deforestation worldwide and protect indigenous rights.

For more information and to see the campaign toolkit, check out forestjustice.org. We’d love you to join us in this campaign. An international climate treaty is the most arguably the most important policy of our time, and we need to ensure a just treaty to protect our planet and all peoples. PLEASE JOIN US!

If you have any questions, or would like more information, contact Kendra Kallevig at kendra.kallevig@sustianus.org, or (406) 480-2770.

Kendra Kallevig is the Climate Program Coordinator with SustainUS.

What got you to where you are today? What go you started with environmentalism?

My involvement in environmentalism began back in tenth grade of high school. My ninth grade history teacher was one of my favorite teachers, and I wanted to join one of the clubs that he ran. He was the faculty adviser for my high school’s Environmental Action Club (EAC). He had worked at the Sierra Club and had taught history at Drexel and Penn in the past as well. At the first meeting, being the type of person that I am, I signed up on all of the sheets for committees, one of which was the recycling committee–which a junior was just starting that year. For recycling, we met every Wednesday to collect all the paper from the bins across the school. The program evolved a lot over the years—from not having gloves to having gloves then to the bins (gasp!) actually having lids (thanks to the math department’s initial endeavors). Through this club, I made some close friends and became much more actively involved and aware of the issues surrounding the club. When I came to Georgetown, one of the first clubs I sought out was the environmental club, and I am happy I did so!

Describe your work at GU and beyond:

My commitment to environmental causes manages to filter its way into many parts of my experience inside and outside of college. Through EcoAction, I have led Georgetown’s efforts in Recyclemania, coordinated panels and speaker events, helped run fundraisers, worked on lobbying and awareness campaigns, and have worked with our dining hall to help make it more green, including an effort to reduce the use of plastic bags. I also serve as a chair on the board of Mission Three Ethical Consulting, a recently formed student-run CSR consulting firm on campus. I also serve as a sustainability program associate with the Sustainable Business Network of Washington, where I help with grant inquiries, networking events, and research. Moreover, I have a concentration in environmental history, complementing action with historical and cultural knowledge.

What keeps you motivated?

I am a perfectionist at heart, and I am also incredibly persistent. I was raised not to give up because, with a little more hard work and a drop of patience, you can see the results of your efforts even in the most daunting of tasks. I find that the environmental concerns facing our country and our globe deserve far more attention than they get in the media, and one goal I have for the future is to be able to see the environmental movement root itself in the concepts of American ideals (from moral leadership to work ethic to a powerful balance of individualism and duty to community) that have fueled so many successful nation-wide efforts in the past.

Why is it important for young people to get involved?

Well, the simplest reason is that today’s youth are the changemakers of the future–the lawyers, the businessmen, the policymakers, etc–who will be in charge of the country. High schools and colleges across the country and across the world are mini-think tanks, forming the ideas that will change our future. Plus, we have the energy and the idealism to try to make it happen.

What are your goals for 2009?

I have many goals for the year, but here are a key few (in chronological order):

1) To get a good turnout from Gtown at Power Shift ‘09 [Done! Georgetown University brought over 40 students to Power Shift]

2) To have Georgetown do as well in Recyclemania as it does in basketball ( a long shot, I know)

3) To be able to work with as many campus groups as possible

4) To figure out what I want to do with my life that can make use of my skills and make me feel genuinely good about what I do

5) To be able to use /participate in the political climate in Washington for some long-awaited social and environmental change–on many levels

Any words of advice/wisdom for young people looking to make a difference?

Be persistent–it’s the only way things every get done.

Power Shift 2009 is over.  The tidal wave of 12,000 youth converging for clean energy, climate justice, and green jobs has now settled back across the country.  Left in its wake are hundreds of inspired, passionate, and organized young people right here in Washington, D.C ready to kick some serious climate ass.

This will be the year of DCYEA, the year that young people come together and bring the clean energy revolution to Washington.  We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, so let’s get to it!

In early April, DCYEA will convene a major organizing summit of local youth.  We’ll be setting policy priorities, discussing strategy, and launching the largest environmental youth movement in the city’s history.

In the mean time, our movement will take an exciting step forward on March 14^th at the DCYEA Youth Summit, which will bring together over 100 high school students from across the District for a day of speakers, workshops, and discussions that will give birth to the first environment high school student-led network in the city’s history.  With speakers ranging from World Wildlife Fund CEO Carter Roberts to Green DMV CEO Philip O’Neil – and workshops offered by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Earth Day Network, Sierra Student Coalition, Campus Progress, GreeNewIt, local farmers and students, and more – students will be given the tools they need to make their schools and communities green.  If you’re a high school student or know anyone who would like to participate, simply register at http://dcyea.org/dcyeahigh-school.  It’s free!

DC youth meeting with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

DCYEA will also continue to develop our Political Action Corps (PAC), which will work to organize a constant presence of local youth and students on the Hill and in the City Council.  With eight major universities and a growing number of high schools involved, DCYEA has incredible power and ability to influence decision makers on crucial climate, energy, and environmental issues at the city and federal levels.

But all this and more is impossible without you.  Whether you’re looking to help set up meetings or organize full campaigns, DCYEA has a place for you!  Get involved today by contacting me at jeff.gustafson@mac.com.

Jeff Gustafson is the director of the D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance.

The bill authorizes billions to be spent on creating a new green economy, including $18.5 billion for renewable energy programs.  In the past, the federal government offered a tax incentive per kilowatt hour of renewable energy produced (by wind/solar farms, biodiesel plants, etc), but now the stimulus enables the Department of Energy to offer grants to renewable energy start-ups of up to 30% of the project’s cost.  This funding is an INCREDIBLE incentive to start green energy programs immediately.

A pessimist might say that despite this new federal grant incentive, entrepreneurs will have an impossible time finding investors in our troubled economy.  Never fear, because the federal government also authorized $8 billion for loan guarantees in energy efficiency/ green energy projects, so venture capitalists and other investors shouldn’t be overly shy about the green energy industry.

Finally, the stimulus includes $17.4 billion for “other” energy spending, which includes $11 billion for modernizing the electric grid.  Though this isn’t nearly enough for an entirely new grid, it is a good first step for national energy efficiency.

DCYEA has an important job in making sure our national reps are held accountable for their decisions.  With the stimulus, I think we can safely say that they did a good job.

Mike Durante is a student at Georgetown University.

Though largely hidden from the monumental core of the city, the plant is only three blocks south of the Capitol Building. When seen from New Jersey Avenue, the plant’s two rust-colored smoke stacks line up perfectly with the majestic Capitol dome, marring the skyline. More insidious, the plant emits roughly 60,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, not to mention an assortment of air pollutants that plague the health of District residents.

Among the power plants that serve the District of Columbia, the Capitol Power Plant is the smallest – and it doesn’t even produce electricity; just steam and cooled water. Despite this, the plant produces an extremely high amount of particulate matter, ultra-fine particles that get lodged deep in the lungs and cause asthma, lung disease, and premature death in some cases. Combined with the other area power plants, studies estimate that the plant’s emissions cause hundreds of deaths, hospital admissions, and heart attacks every year.

The Capitol Power Plant is a symbol of the greater problem we face. If we are to reverse course and prevent catastrophic climate change, the U.S. Congress has to take a bold stand against coal and dirty energy. While last week’s letter from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to the Architect of the Capitol, calling for an end to the use of coal in the Capitol Power Plant, is a positive step in the right direction, they are missing the point. The Capitol Power Plant must be shut down, the first domino in a series of 600 coal plants in the U.S. to be closed and replaced with renewable energy sources.

The time for action has come.

Red Team blockading the west gate of the Capitol Power Plant.

On Monday, despite four inches of snow and freezing temperatures, thousands of people participated in the Capitol Climate Action, the largest act of non-violent civil disobedience against coal and dirty energy in American history. United behind a powerful call for clean energy, climate justice, and green jobs, hundreds of people linked arms and risked arrest by barricading the gates and entrances of the Capitol Coal Plant. The energy throughout the action was palpable – competing chants, songs, whoops of excitement, and dancing kept spirits high and people warm.

“No Coal! No Oil! We don’t want our world to boil!”

Marching to the Capitol Power Plant from the Spirit of Justice Park.

In a city so accustomed to the traditional rally, it’s about time that we move beyond the podium. If we truly want change, we’re going to have to think bigger. We’re going to have to be more courageous. In the words of Shakespeare, we must “suit the action to the word, the word to the action.” The Capitol Climate Action was a welcome change of pace – and it’s just the beginning.

In the coming weeks and months, the D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance is excited to continue the fight against coal and dirty energy here in the District and beyond.

Jeff Gustafson is the director of the D.C. Youth Environmental Alliance and helped block the west and north gates of the Capitol Power Plant during the Capitol Climate Action.