What Was Heard

As the Climate talks continue in Copenhagen, we begin to notice that our state and national view on climate preceptions are not only underestimated, but far less urgent than those who understand that inaction will have catastrophic impacts. In fact, some citizens and countries are face-to-face with the concept that within the next 50 years their country will be completely under water.  We need to reciporcate the urgent and passionate message that we see being displayed by some of our brothers and sisters on this shared space, and realize that this is a time to stand behind one another and create the soltutions that benefit all.  Although we find some perspectives different, uncomfortable and sometimes dissagreeable, we do find commanality in the ability to bring a shift, a shift of consciouness that is desperately needed within our cultures, our countries, our cities and our communities.

This past Saturday We came from across the state of Michigan to East Lansing, with the aim at harmonizing our energies toward our President's meetings in Copenhagen and building our communities toward a clean energy economny.  We carried with us diverse lineage, a multitude of experience and a blatant sense of excitment so that the contagious atmosphere could be felt across the globe.  We tapped into creative and innovative technology to converse with youth delegates in Denmark.  We were educated on conservation, energy efficiency, and taught the basic changes needed to lower your energy consumption and utility bills within the home.  We were priveledged to be welcomed into 7 homes on Lansing's Eastside where we able to apply our recent knowledge and skills.  We came away with a sense much bigger than any energy savings project and became apart of something much more important; We became Community.

Awareness is Asked, Action is Demanded.  The convergence of world leaders and organizations to Copenhagen provide an excellent opportunity to restructure they way we frame the climate and economic dialogue.  No longer can we accept conversation as a means to solutions and must begin to commence the era of action.  Actions that will rally around the manifesto of 100% renewable energy in the United States within the next decade.  We will challenge national agencies,  regional leaders, local and state companies and all citizens to engage and enforce this policy.  This demand is one of historic importance and will require historic responses. We as Americans can start that response and establish ourselves not only as the leader in clean energy development, but as a leader in clean energy implementation.  We as citizens of Michigan can be a model for what clean energy cities and communities look like, and become national leaders in the response to this demand. We will begin to see the transition of clean energy economies through the community lenses only to ake them off to view a world no longer dependent on fossil fuels or bubble economics.  The view today is one of promise and opportunity, with clarity of what lies ahead, our future.