Campaign Updates

It's relatively quiet now here at t 2nd floor lobby of the DC Convention Center, but 15 mins. ago it was controlled chaos. At tabling central, dozens and dozens of climate activists young and old(er) swarmed tables from all kinds of organizations: We Campaign, Green for All, Sierra--and of course 1Sky.

I'd been led to expect big things from my first night at a Power Shift conference--and I gotta say, it didn't disappoint! Having been to my share of progressive conferences in the past, I can say that this was an entirely different animal. Thanks to the sheer size of the crowd and its energy, the excitement in the air was contagious. (Check out the slide show at the end of this post!)

This week, President Obama presented his budgetary plan for the United States stating that our government must “invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education." Obama's energy policy marks a sea change away from the archaic energy regulations of George W. Bush. Think Progress' Wonk Room reports on the details of Obama's energy plan:

I can’t believe this weekend is already here! We’ve been talking about it for weeks, and now, in a matter of HOURS, 11,000 people are descending upon Washington, D.C. for Power Shift '09 to unite the movement and make our voices heard in Congress .

Wow.

I recorded this short video earlier today before heading out to the airport, with some thoughts on what we've achieved together so far this year and what lies ahead in 2009:

Designing a winning logo: $250. Solving the climate crisis: Priceless.

Last Thursday, we launched the Climate Precinct Captains program -- and now we're looking for a logo to represent it. We thought about hiring a graphic designer to do it, but we thought we'd go to you because no one knows better than you do what being a CPC and being a part of this movement is all about! Submit a logo design to the contest and learn more about what we're looking for in a winning design today. To learn more about being a CPC, click here.

Today, hundreds of climate activists will be taking the next step forward in climate leadership by signing up as Climate Precinct Captains. Here at headquarters and in various states, our organizers are gearing up to work with these leaders across the country. Join hundreds of other committed climate advocates nationally as a Climate Precinct Captain today!

2009 is when the rubber meets the road for the climate movement. After eight years of federal inaction and oilmen running the White House, we finally have the opportunity to exhort and support our national leaders to enact incentives for polluters to embrace renewable energy.

A few days ago, 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell recorded this video inviting you to come to Power Shift '09. Take a look:

Power Shift '09 is only two weeks away! Register today and make sure to pick 1Sky as your coalition member-group affiliation.

Power Shift '09 is only two weeks away! Register today and be sure to select 1Sky as your coalition member-group affiliation. -- Luis

Yesterday, I went to a meeting at the Energy Action Coalition office, where all the action is happening to put together Power Shift 2009 -- the largest conference on climate change ever.