I don’t know about you, but the last few weeks have been hectic for me. From the Olympics, to Democratic and Republican National Conventions, not to mention getting ready for school—spare time is in high demand. But with the presidential debates on the horizon and the sprint to the finish in full swing, the time is ripe to tell Congress and the next President why climate matters.

Have you made your video yet? Have you submitted it? Well…what are you waiting for? There are only a few more weeks left before the end of the 1Sky and Brighter Planet Climate Matters Video Contest. But don’t worry. There is still plenty of time for you to get out and film your message before the September 22nd deadline -- submit your entry today!

I know, I know…you are probably thinking, "I don’t have time to make a video, I don’t have my own production company like that 10 year-old Nikos." Well I’ll let you in on a little secret. Shhhhh! Powerful videos aren’t necessarily the ones that are filmed, produced and edited flawlessly on an endless budget, but rather those with a powerful message that jump-starts change.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a camera and start filming! I know you have something to tell Congress and the next President—I’ve heard you yelling at your television—and now is the time for our leaders to listen. Right now the presidential candidates are making their final push for the finish and they are ready to listen to the America people. More importantly, they are ready to listen to you.

We’ve all heard the old and somewhat trite adage “I’ll believe it when I see it” but it’s trite because there’s truth behind the statement. Video has the power to bring about change and America’s energy policy is in dire need of rapid change. Our inaction over the last few decades has worsened the climate crisis and the only way in which we can protect our world and the world for future generations is through swift action today. But we must show our out-of-touch politicians that we want action, and video has the ability to turn otherwise unseen images, concepts and ideas into powerful works of art.

For more information about the contest and to submit your video, check out the contest website: http://www.vimeo.com/climatematters

I know we are ready for bold climate solutions, but the time has come for us to demand action from our leaders! Now is the time to end America’s dependency on fossil fuels and put an end to the federal funding and development of deceptive practices such as clean coal and nuclear energy. We have seen President Bush attack Congress about lifting the offshore drilling moratorium and have been following all the political candidate’s energy platforms. Now is the time to make your message heard and disrupt the status quo that grips Capitol Hill. The time has come for Congress and the next President to take action to stop global warming and they need your help to successfully finish the sprint.

So I’ll ask you one last time. What are you waiting for?