There is a GREAT program called the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (aka "Cool Cities"). Basically it states that every city that signs it will shoot to lower CO2 emissions from 1990 levels by 7% by 2012, and that that city will try to meet or beat the standards set by the Keyoto (excuse shitty spelling) Protocol rejected by Bush. So far well over 200 cities have signed on, the most recent one to be my hometown of Atascadero, California, where me and a group of other environmenally minded activists came to city council meetings, met with our mayor (Mayor O'Malley), and kept the pressure on to sign this agreement. We were successful, and now the next step is to see that he follows through. Now I am urging everyone here to do the same thing. I'm sure there's at least one person in your hometown who is very knowledgable on local politics and would support something like this. Meet this person, present this idea, and get moving in your community. I will be glad to provide my help and advice to anyone who wishes to do this. I strongly urge you all; this is a great opportunity to really make a change! Here's a link where you can find out just about everything you need. Cool Cities So here's the steps: 1) Understand basic concept 2) Contact someone in your community who is very knowledgable about how local politics work there, and who would be willing to support this 3) Make an initial plan for how to present this to the City Council 4) Go to City Council meeting, present idea 5) Come to every (or almost every, if this is not possible) City Council meeting to bring up the idea and with more and different supporting points at each one 6) If necessary (which is very likely), arrange a meeting with the Mayor. It is generally quite easy to do so, and your politically knowledgable assistant in this should know how to. 7) Once the Mayor signs on, present him with some sort of thanks from a well-recognized local organization that supports you, which there will probably be. 8) Use this presentation of the thank you (maybe an award?) to explain what the next steps are and encourage him/her to persue these steps. 9) Continue to work with the Mayor to make the change happen 10) Feel free to contact me at any time throughout this process by email at: flashback716@gmail.com We here in the relatively conservative town of Atascadero made it happen, you can too. Good luck to those who choose to, and thank you! And remember... Peace is every step, Brandon
good post Brandon. We need more what we can do about it sorts of posts. Get involved with your PIRG and environment groups in your state, in the US. look up the green party for connects, too. Gandhi was correct we MUST be the change we wish to see in the world.
