New Momentum Gathers Behind 1Sky

Americans Want Real Solutions to Climate Change. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

 WASHINGTON — As more than five thousand young people gather in the nation’s capital for Power Shift 2007 and as Americans from all walks of life hold Step it Up events across the nation, they are unveiling the new 1Sky campaign and sending a clear message to policymakers: when it comes to stopping global warming, we won’t take “can’t” for an answer.

1Sky is the campaign being created to build on the energy of Step It Up, Power Shift, and many other growing movements around this country to carry that energy forward over the coming weeks and months to mobilize America for a safe, secure and prosperous future.

 “For too long, our leaders have told us we can’t make the changes necessary to stop global warming,” said Betsy Taylor, 1Sky Campaign Chair and one of the keynote speakers at Power Shift 2007. “With the launch of 1Sky, thousands of youth at Power Shift 2007 and people nationwide at Step it Up actions are saying loud and clear that we can rise to the defining challenge of our generation and stop global warming.  We can build a fair, prosperous clean energy economy that secures our future.”

The 1Sky campaign is bringing together hundreds of diverse organizations including students, faith groups, social justice advocates, sportsmen and women, business leaders and others to meet this challenge. 1Sky provided the policy platform for Energy Action Coalition’s intensive four-day Power Shift youth summit and lobbying effort and for the Step it Up climate actions nationwide on Saturday, November 3.

“Even more powerful than the message are the messengers,” said Gillian Caldwell, 1Sky Campaign Director and a Power Shift keynote speaker. “This generation has inherited a monumental challenge, and these young women and men are mobilizing to solve the crisis.”

Power Shift 2007 and 1Sky share a goal of making the U.S. Presidential candidates and Congress take meaningful action to stop global warming.

"Climate change is our generation’s greatest challenge and our greatest opportunity to create a more just, healthy, and secure future," said Jessy Tolkan, Executive Director of Programs for the Energy Action Coalition, the organization responsible for organizing Power Shift 2007. "If politicians want our votes they must enact bold, immediate action on climate change. Our future is at stake and we refuse to wait."

“The 1Sky Solutions do not focus on what politicians find tolerable, but on what the science shows is necessary to stop global warming,” said Bill McKibben, co-founder of Step it Up. “Now is not the time for compromise or half-measures. We need solutions that will help us tackle the challenges we face.”

The 1Sky Solutions policy platform is available at the newly updated Web site, www.1Sky.org.