Teach-In Gets Coeds Involved in Global Warming
Kicking off its
campus campaign for Earth Day 2008, Earth Day Network is sponsoring
Focus the Nation – an unprecedented teach-in on solutions to global
warming that will simultaneously educate close to 1 million youth.
Several hundred high schools, faith organizations and civic groups
will also participate. The national teach-in day, Jan. 31, was preceded
by a Web cast aired on Earth Day TV. Additionally, Earth Day Network
has developed the K-12 curriculum for the event.
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 began with a teach-in. Climate
change has caused a new groundswell of activism on college campuses,
which will play a leading role on Earth Day 2008 (April 22) when
1,000-plus campus events will take place.
"In this election year, young people are proving that they care and
that they count – especially on the issue of climate," said Kathleen
Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. "On Earth Day, thousands of
campuses around the country will hold events and register young voters
who will add their voices to those already demanding swift, bold action
on climate change."
The teach-in will culminate in solutions-based roundtable
discussions among students, elected leaders and Congress. All
participants will then vote on top solutions. The top five results from
the Choose Your Future vote will be announced on Feb. 13.
"We are excited to be working with Earth Day Network to continue to
‘Focus the Nation’ on global warming solutions this Earth Day,” said
Eban Goodstein, creator of Focus the Nation and professor of economics
at Lewis & Clark College.
The next step in the campus build-up to Earth Day is Chill Out:
Campus Solutions to Global Warming. The contest, also sponsored by
Earth Day Network, recognizes campuses and campus leaders for their
efforts to solve global warming issues.
Off campus, the network is spearheading major day-long events on the
National Mall in Washington, D.C. and seven other cities on April 20.
The flagship event on the National Mall is free and will feature
elected officials and candidates, community speakers, celebrities and
major musical acts as well as educational displays and voter
registration. Simultaneous free events will be held in New York,
Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas and Miami. The
events are being produced by Green Apple Festival and sponsored by
Chase.
In addition to these events, on April 21 there will be a day of
action. For the second year in a row, Earth Day Network is sponsoring
Earth Day on the Hill, which will bring community leaders from all over
the U.S. to lobby Congress on the issues of global warming and
environmental justice and equity.
Earth Day Network seeks to grow and diversify the environmental
movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle
for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals
through education, politics, cultural events, and consumer activism.