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Summer Internship: Climate Summer 2007 - Applications due Wednesday!

Posted on: Mon, 03/26/2007 - 10:02
Summer Internship: Climate Summer 2007 - Applications due Wednesday!
Rising to the Challenge of a Generation
"We have at most ten years—not ten years to decide upon action, but ten years to alter fundamentally the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions…Such an outcome is still feasible in the case of global warming, but just barely."
~Dr. James Hansen, Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Science
In 1964 hundreds of American youth rose to the defining moral struggle of their generation and converged on a single state to change the course of American history. The "Freedom Summer" campaign in Mississippi made an imprint on the national conscience that impelled a federal commitment to voting rights for black Americans. Their demand for action at a scale and pace consistent with moral necessity, not political expediency, beckons us today.
The science is clear on our obligation in confronting global warming – our country must lead the world in having greenhouse gas emissions peak and decline before 2015 towards a minimum of 80% reductions below 1990 levels before mid- century if we are to avoid the collapse of the climate. We can make that happen with only 2% reductions per year over the next forty years.
But if we are going to succeed, now is the time to educate the public and encourage leaders to rise to the challenge of confronting global warming. This summer, in the tradition of the original Freedom Summer campaign, we will work with residents in New Hampshire and Iowa to change the current dynamic surrounding global warming and send a strong signal that inaction is no longer an option.
The 2008 presidential nomination process in these two states provides a national platform to engage and shape the public debate on clean energy and global warming. The focus and megaphone of the national media allow individual actions to gain national attention and make it so we can effectively raise the public debate to ensure leadership on this critical issue.
To do so, the Sierra Student Coalition, the Sierra Club and partners from the Energy Action Coalition and the Carbon Coalition will support between 10 and 20 full time youth organizers in Iowa and New Hampshire who will work with hundreds of volunteers to:
  • Give presentations and hold community discussions that elevate consciousness of the challenge and opportunity provided by global warming and the profound stakes for the youngest generations
  • Work with local residents to impel action from community leaders, candidates for office, and elected officials.
  • Build momentum for bold leadership on this most critical of issues.

All Climate Summer organizers will receive intensive training in public speaking and presenting on global warming as well as in training volunteers, grassroots organizing, and large-scale event planning. Organizers will then apply those skills throughout a summer of presentations, community discussions, field organizing, press conferences, and, in NH, a culminating 5 day citizen march through the state.

Tips for Fundraising at your school

~Application Process~
Timeline:
  • Applications available Thursday, Feb. 8th
  • Submission Deadline: Wed., March 28 th
  • Interviews: March 27- 29 or April 2-4 (depending on when application is received)
  • Acceptance Announcements: March 30th and April 6th

Responsibilities :

  • Play a lead role in planning various logistics related to Climate Summer including

    • background research on potential outreach venues
    • booking presentation sites and dates
  • Participation in SSC's Training for Trainers, May 25-28 in Washington , D.C.
  • Play a supporting role for in-state summer trainings, perhaps by being a trainer for the Summer Program in your state.
  • Commitment to full-time Climate Summer Organizing May 25 – August 1