Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News

Mount Pleasant freshman Zoey Brunk shows her support for the 1sky environmental platform during a rally this past Monday in Washington, D.C. [Click to enlarge]

Eden Trenor, project manager of the Neighborhood Matching Fund of Seattle, left, goes over main points with Detroit senior Victoria McClellan. [Click to enlarge]

WASHINGTON, D.C - The west lawn in front of the Capitol building was flooded with nearly 6,000 passionate students rallying with a united voice for environmental changes.

The horizon line was filled with signs reading "NO COAL" and "80 by 2050." Wearing green helmets and holding signs, students chanted for change and challenged representatives for action.

"We are a band of youth ready to change the world and we want them (U.S Legislature) to represent our cause," said Amy Burdo, a Lakeview senior. "We're leading and using our voice and they will hear from us again. This is the start of something huge."

Burdo was one of 52 people from CMU who attended the rally this past Monday, which was a part of Power Shift 2007, a movement that works to confront global warming. The green hats students were wearing signified the fact that they were "hard-headed" about environmental issues.

The Michigan delegation included students from Northern Michigan University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. The group met with representatives for both Rep. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.

The students urged each representative to support the 1sky Campaign. The campaign seeks to cut global warming pollution by 80 percent by 2050, create five million green jobs and stop the opening of coal plants.

"I'm really inspired by the Michigan delegation," said Kate Smolski, a Greenpeace Legislative Coordinator. "I say keep up the great work. We can't solve this problem without you."

Student Environmental Alliance president Audrie Thelen said the Michigan delegation was one of the top five largest groups at Power Shift.

"We need to jump on this movement," the Eagle junior said. "Right now, we have legislation going through Congress to increase the miles per gallon and we have this energy efficient movement and this green movement. There is an explosion of movements all centered on reaching sustainability."

To prepare for the rally, students met at the University of Maryland on Nov. 2 for the Power Shift summit.

The summit gave students a chance to attend panels, career fairs and workshops. It also brought Ralph Nader, attorney and political activist, to speak to students.

"The panels and workshops have a lot to say and give us new information and fresh ideas," said Justin Robinson, Shepherd senior.

With about 35 panels and almost 160 workshops, students heard about a variety of topics, including corporate responsibility and how to make their campus more environmentally friendly.

"There are so many people here with so many ideas. I'm excited to bring them home to make CMU more environmentally friendly," said Connie Fitzpatrick, Lapeer junior.


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