Solar Panels on the White House, Making Your Voice Heard, and Global Work Party

A few months ago (I guess August is a few months already), I mentioned a talk I attended by Bill McKibben. It was hosted by the Adirondack Writers Institute up at Paul Smith's College in Saranace Lake. As Bill spoke about 350.org, the advocacy group he formed to encourage reduction of greenhouse gases, he talked about his and others plans this fall to deliver to President Obama the original solar panels Jimmy Carter put up on the White House. Their intention was to ask the President to install these (or other) solar panels on the White House, mostly as a symbolic gesture.

After his talk, I asked Bill if advocating for policy change was worth the effort since advocating for change at any political level (local, state, national) can be very consuming of time and energy (and slow going), and it seems to me our efforts can sometimes be better spent on just moving ahead with making changes in our own lives, or supporting other community members (like, raising chickens or installing solar hot water, or building a greenhouse so you can grow greens all winter long.)

His reply was, yes, it can be draining and slow. But, the reason spending time working on policy change IS important, is that those policy changes CAN make it a lot easier to implement the changes we want to make in our own communities and our personal lives.

For example, changes in funding for sustainable agriculture would significantly improve the viability of small-scale diversified farming, which supports the local economy in many ways, and contributes to local food security and resiliency. He also talked about how disappointed he felt after the Copenahgen Climate Talks last year when the U.S. (again) didn't sign onto an International Agreement. He spoke how about how hard it can be to do this kind of advocacy work and yet how important it is. So, he kept persisting.

After more than a year of a lot of effort working on Sustainability issues here locally, honestly, I felt burned out and disillusioned. However, I left that gathering re-invigorated and reinspired, knowing all levels of advocacy were important.

A month later, I read online that Bill McKibben and some of the 350.org folks had travelled down to the White House to deliver the original solar panels to the White House, and were basically given a 'thank you very much we are working on our own thing here considering what to do' message. I read that - remembering Bill's passion, committment and enthusiasm, and realized, how disappointed he and the others must have felt receiving what seemd a rather lackluster reception from the White House.

In response, I wrote an email to the White House. Well - did I think it might change anything? Not really, but maybe someone would read it and pass it along. What I did know for certain was that Bill McKibben has a passion and dedication for protecting this earth, our environment and livelihoods, and I was plain mad at the response this supposed progressive White House had delivered to this dedicated activist.

I'll admit, my email basically said, shame on you Obama for not embracing this idea. I hesitated writing the email- he is the President after all, AND, I didn't really think it would have much effect, but I was really mad and disappointed myself. And I suppose because I felt so reinvigorated by Bill's talk that night, I felt it important to express my feelings about the need to support his efforts, even if just symbolic in nature.

Well - today I just learned, the White House is in fact going to put solar panels on the White House! I know there were plenty of folks involved in moving this forward to make it known the White House perhaps ought to be the leader in these kind of 'greening of America' activities. I've worked enough on other policy-advocacy related issues to know that politicians make decisions like this for a variety of reasons which often have to do with winning reelection or financial backers. But, I am glad to know that I made my voice heard because I do know that also matters. Perhaps my voice was one in a million, but maybe it was that one extra email that was needed - kind of like Horton Hears a Who.

So, below I'm copying an email I recieved via a group here in Saratoga about the White House announcement and 350.org's Global Work Party effort this weekend, to celebrate 10/10/10. There are some local activities happening here in the Saratoga/Capital District area, which I hope some of you will get involved.

And, my hope is that you WILL participate in the political process while at the same time grow a garden. I do know it IS important to stand up for what we believe in, and sometimes, we might be surprised that there were enough of us doing it that someone out there listened!!!

Thanks - Amy

A few links for 350.org 10/10/10 Global Work Party

350.org Saratoga Events http://www.350.org/map#/map/43.0964412/-73.7242486/11

Capital NY Region Paddles for Climate Action


Subject: 4 Days Left--and Obama is going solar!
Dear Friends,

Just in time to give this weekend's Global Work Party a White House-sized boost, the Obama administration announced this morning that they are going to put solar panels on the First Family's living quarters, returning to a tradition begun by president Jimmy Carter and abandoned by Ronald Reagan.

It's a great win for your efforts over the last months--everyone who wrote letters, signed petitions for our"Put Solar On It" campaign, and turned out for the Solar Road Trip as we rolled down the east coast fromUnity College towing one of the original Carter panels. We were disappointed that day that the White House wasn't prepared to go solar, but are now very happy and honored that they took our suggestion to look into the matter seriously.

Solar panels on one house, even this house, won't save the climate, of course. But they're a powerful symbol to the whole nation about where the future lies. And President Obama will wake up every morning and make his toast by the power of the sun (do presidents make toast?), which will be a constant reminder to be pushing the U.S. Congress for the kind of comprehensive reform we need.

And remember, President Obama's not alone: tomorrow, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and a crew from Sungevity will be putting solar panels on the Muliaa'ge, the "White House of the Maldives". It's a trend!

Of course, both of these initiatives are perfectly timed to lead into this weekend's Global Work Party, when 6127 carbon-cutting events (and rising) will take place in 187 countries. If you haven't already gotten involved, now is most definitely the time to join an event near you--or register your own.

The first account of the news from the White House, from Associated Press reporter Dina Cappiello, noted the efforts of 350.org to make this happen. In particular, I'd like to salute Jean Altomare, Amanda Nelson, and Jamie Nemecek, the three young women from Unity College who brought the Carter solar panels to Washington DC, and made such an impression on the White House.

They remind all of us why we'll be working hard this weekend for the Global Work Party--and why, when the day is done, we'll be putting down our hammers and our shovels and picking up our cellphones to call our leaders.

You never know what will happen when you ask for change.

Onwards,

Bill McKibben for the 350.org Team

P.S. Victories like this should be shared. Click here to spread it on Facebook, and click here to post about it on Twitter.


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350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, we will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to theclimate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project.

What is 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM-a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.