What have we done? Have we been distracted, off-message, inattentive to the realities of political negotiations? Has the movement for change been simply unheard in the great halls of Washington? Today’s failure to resolve a negotiation to save the world at Copenhagen should cast serious disturbance into the windy sails of 350.org, TckTckTck, Avaaz, Power Shift, Energy Action, and all the hundreds of people working on this. It’s already causing a firestorm amongst the millions of normal people it will affect. Does climate change mean the end of our economy, resource war, and a future in Poverty? The false resolution of this deal has me questioning the strength of America and what it stands for.

Could things have been differently? Yes.
1. John Kerry as Political Target (along with a few others, post below). Kerry was not adequately pressured to work on Climate in the Senate.
2. Barack Obama push Climate and Economic agenda. There is no reason that Congress cannot work on healthcare for next year. Now, maybe healthcare will pass before recess, another spending bill.
3. Reframing Emissions Reductions: CERS are a profitable mechanism to incentivize clean energy. The first step to mitigation is a clean energy grid, which provides thousands of jobs to the middle class. America’s advantage lies in sustainable technology. (Obama: “We plan to continue to develop clean energy. We think it’s in our interest.”
4. The “Leadership Campaign”: I quit because the LC was not radical enough. The tightly formed “leadership” was not thinking outside the box, and were out of touch with the people reality of who we were supposed to be representing. We were again unable to connect with the community or outreach in our actions.
Hopefully, the retreat coming up will not be run by time agenda. Hopefully, real criticisms will come up. If there’s a restructuring and a leadership change for next semester’s campaign, may it be a coalition of student groups running parallel campaigns. Take a break from the Gantz’ model. Another climate conference doesn’t come quickly. Maybe take a sustainable agriculture campaign..

Can corporate lobbyists be stopped?

A dialogue of 160-character opinions to record the shock:

Text of Obama’s remarks at UN climate conference http://bit.ly/8fqJqA #COP15

Craig Altemose- ♫ just bummed

@350: “Chants of ’3-5-0 Survival’ are echoing through the crowd” in front of #COP15, We will keep our flames alive. http://j.mp/4ovFAU

Save Copenhagen petition hits 15,000,000 signatures: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen/

8:04PM #climate, #fail top twitter trending topics

Tcktcktck: 1000′s of global youth who know the science, & will accept no less. It begins anew 2morrow (via Noble)

…they’ve left the door open to do a (real) deal.

.. [live]

EDIT: I’ve found through the UN something that was drafted, potentially an avenue for Carbon Offsets provisions for LDCs. (Maggie Zhou wouldn’t agree:)

The following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph 1 of Article 3 of the [Kyoto] Protocol:
1 bis. The Parties included in Annex I shall, individually or jointly, ensure that their aggregate
anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of the greenhouse gases listed in Annex A do
not exceed their assigned amounts, calculated pursuant to their quantified emission limitation
and reduction commitments inscribed in the third column of the table contained in Annex B and
in accordance with the provisions of this Article, with a view to reducing their overall [domestic]
emissions of such gases
Option 1.1: by at least [X][49][15] [per cent ][QELRO] below 1990 levels in the
commitment period 2013 to [2017][2020]
Option 1.2: by 33 per cent below 1990 levels in the commitment period 2013 to 2017 toward
the aim of reducing overall emissions of such gases by at least 45 per cent from
1990 levels by 2020.
Option 1.3: by at least 95 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050 through the reduction of
greenhouse gases from sources and removals by sinks. This shall be achieved
during subsequent periods by the end of 2050.
Option 1.4: by at least [30][[at least] 45]][X] per cent below 1990 levels by 2020
[and by 80 to [more than][at least] 95 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050]
[and by 80 per cent or more by 2050 compared to 1990 or more recent years]

Dangerous information out of context? Read the full text proposal from the Land Use, Land Use Change, and Offsets section of Kyoto (UNFCCC):
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/awg10/eng/l15.pdf

The Climate movement must learn to be more flexible, if we keep our coalitions together, we will win in voluntary markets.

More unofficial MAPS: http://www.mapsblog.wordpress.com/

1. President Obama
- “will announce the specific target ‘in coming days’” official response, NYT 11.24.2009 A20
> Put in his ear (psst): why not 350 ppm in int’l treaty and 80% by 2050?
- “would decide shortly whether and for how long he might attend the December climate meeting, which runs from Dec. 7th to Dec. 18th” NYT
>Decided to attend Cop15 conference, but not all of it? Will he make a speech, and then leave? It takes more than that Barack Obama, #Stepitup!
-2ndary Target: Rahm Emmanuel- manages domestic issues in the Senate for the White House. Supports tax to implement clean energy.. rallying force behind senate.. StepItUp!

2. Role to lobby US Federal Congress to implement the Boxer-Kerry bill
- i’d just as soon #stepitup to finish health talks and start climate discussions before Cop15.. Can we jump in healthcare to ensure that climate passes?
- need a big petition here, from a reliable source. Anyone have any link?
- John Kerry and Barack Obama would have a much easier time representing us in Copenhagen. Bill is now in the US Senate. Lobby swing congressmen!

3. Swing and key players
Ideas:
Max Baucus (D-MO)- Chair of Senate Finance Committee, supports Climate Change.

Stephen Eule- vice president for climate and technology at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21 Century Energy. See him speak on Copenhagen at: here

[more]
[home]

Hint: New media can distribute petition links and contact links very easily.. #StepItUp Climate movement!
-Eddie Miller
Boston University

00-DLC10 on Aug 1, 2000
Modernize Environmental Policies
National environmental policies, mostly developed in the 1970s, have been remarkably successful in improving the quality of our air and water. But we face a new set of environmental challenges for which the old strategy of centralized, command-and-control regulation is no longer effective.

The old regime of prohibitions and fines levied on polluters is not well equipped to tackle problems such as climate change, contamination of water from such sources as farm and suburban runoff, loss of open lands, and sprawl. Without relaxing our determination to maintain and enforce mandatory national standards for environmental quality, it is time to create more effective, efficient, and flexible ways of achieving those standards.

For example, a system of tradable emissions permits would give factories, power plants, and other sources of air pollution and greenhouse gases a powerful incentive not only to meet but to exceed environmental standards. Decisions about solving local environmental problems should be shifted from Washington to communities, without weakening national standards. Finally, to empower citizens and communities to make sound decisions, government should invest in improving the quality and availability of information about environmental conditions.

* Goals for 2010
* Create a domestic emissions trading system to reduce greenhouse gases:

Emissions Reductions Targets
97%‐102% of 2005 levels by 2012
80%‐86% of 2005 levels by 2020
58% of 2005 levels by 2030
20% of 2005 levels by 2050
Source: us-cap.org

* Promote innovative agreements for community and regional partnerships to achieve national environmental goals and standards through local strategies.

* End government subsidies for sprawl.

* Participating counts on VoteMatch question 18. Topic: Energy & Oil
List of congressional supporters: http://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_00-DLC10.htm
Democrats: 72
Republicans: 0 so far.

Candidates: go on record at http://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_00-DLC10.htm
Gov. Deval Patrick: Copy of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s authorization to California Congress http://mapsblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/sb32_negretemcleod_signing_message.pdf
Citizens: Sign the petition! http://change.org/

-Eddie Miller
/twitter.com/stepitup09
eddiemill@gmail.com

After reaching the quota of 350 petition signatures in a single night (gotta love that new media sesh!), there was a limit to what my mind could take. There was more work to do, and the 350 block print stencil (distributed free from http://350.org) kept coming to my mind. Somewhat dazed and super cold from the wind, I wake up again and get out my stencil set. It was almost time to leave for thanksgiving break.

My main problem was choosing to test out the stencil around the camp itself, in the GSU plaza floor and trees. The situation was light, and the stencils were turning out so good that I did not see the car roll up from behind Commonwealth Avenue. The officer said he had watched me tag one before approaching. Defacing public property is a serious offense.. all of a sudden there were eight of them. Pat me down, take keys and wallet and phone, read Miranda rights and cuffed. For those of you who haven’t been arrested, it is intense. Nothing quite prepares you for it. I had known it was going to happen sometime, but Oh! so close.

The cars pull out of the camp at 3:27, through the black misty night up to West Campus. I’m lead to my solitary room, where I’m chained and wondering what’s going to come next. They keep you in the dark on these things, and it’s better not to talk to them. When cops are angry, they’re not your friends. Actually the biggest icebreaker was my Che Guevara tattoo. “Revolutionary,” they said. This would come up later.

The biggest holdup at the jail, other than basics like prints and bail and a phone call (got a machine), was the wait for the court marshall to appear. Guy works on call hours, at 4:30 in the morning, he wasn’t going to be there until 6:30. Well, there goes my flight. First phone call. I doze and think away the hours, still in shock.

When help comes in the form of the marshall, we connect almost instantly. “Che Guevara, huh?” And I show him my tattoo. “He was a revolutionary leader, who united the poor of Latin America,” I say. He’s looking at my case. Maybe thanksgiving is getting to him early. And he turns to me and says, “Well, I might do something revolutionary, here. I know you have a plane leaving, so I’m going to let you go. Defacing public property is a misdemeanor offense, AND we’ll let the marijuana possession (just a pipe) slide here.” The court date would be set for sometime later. I could go to my plane: Standby at 7:55AM to Ohio.

It feels good to be home safe, and yet again escape with a peaceful citation. Ohio is a great place to be with family and dog, and clean energy movement is going to be STEPPING IT UP these next few weeks. Stay tuned for more information.

I have two new online profiles!

http://twitter.com/stepitup09

http://twitter.com/newentry

And my old blog (This is cross-posted from there: http://eddiemill.wordpress.com/)

Thanks for following! Any more questions??
eddiemill@gmail.com, 440-935-5434.

-Eddie Miller
The Leadership Campaign

The policy response: strong incentives to develop a clean technology sector. Government deficit-spending can encourage real production growth in the economy, as shown in New Deal in the thirties. A green jobs potentials report shows growth across all sectors breaks down like this:
—about 490,000 (65 percent) are in engineering, legal, research, consulting, or government administration sectors;
– about 197,000 (26 percent) are in renewable power generation, construction, systems installation, and manufacturing sectors.

America needs these jobs. Download this fact sheet (pdf). Massachusetts will gain 38,410 new clean energy jobs from The American Clean Energy and Security Act, or spend 4.5b to oil and adaptation in the next ten years if it doesn’t pass. (not to mention the loss of the fishing sector). MA fact sheet: The Economics of Clean Energy.
Carbon tax as uncompetitive? Just the unsustainable businesses which are harming our planet. Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act as a start to a new economy. Thank you.

So, to Mr. Donahue:
Reorienting our antiquated energy infrastructure around the platforms of sustainability, efficiency, and reduced greenhouse emissions represents an economic engine for innovation, productivity growth, and international competitiveness in coming decades.

Senator Kerry, stay strong! Know in Copenagen that we
support you. (please click!)

New York Times Article on Green Jobs: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/business/businessspecial2/26collar.html
New York Times Article on Chamber of Commerce Decision: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/business/energy-environment/19CHAMBER.html?scp=1&sq=Storm+over+the+chamber&st=nyt
Clean Energy Resources: http://www.americanprogress.org/projects/energy_hub/
The Leadership Campaign.
A Global Organic Mindset: My own post on: 350 for the Economy

For Change.
Eddie Miller, concerned Student Activist
Community Outreach, the Leadership Campaign.

Please comment/forward!

People are good. Already, we’ve found that here at the frontlines in Massachusetts, (not just) young people are ready to give up time, money, or comfort for the cause of global environmental sustainability. These are the basic tenants that you need to give up in business, economics, or sociology to have a national will.

The solution lies there. It does. You can see some of my research on the commercial feasibility of clean energy designs in my other posts, but things that can participate in by the people are number one. My next post is going to be on the strategy of social change, bottom up (revolutionary) versus top-down (political mandate) sustainability and who’s going to win out. [ANSWER:) Both]

History’s evidence.
In all cases, having a healthy sense of historical context is good to correct any unrealistic presumptions. 1. Things happen when they are a priority to people; they give the time to make sure that it’s implemented. 2. Most of the work is in implementation, that is the real physical processes of business: who gives what to whom, how does it get there and what is the application to finish the job. 3. We are in an unprecedented time for the environment. What we decide in the next 50 years really will go down in history as either a mitigation or disaster management story.

… but Oftentimes what would happen to social groups like these is they get coopted into the jargon of organization itself. “Change” was fought out to be some point in the distant future, when we’d be Comparable to the “legendary” protests of the 1960s. Sometimes, we felt we are making a difference, but politicians couldn’t work over it until thousands of the world’s icebergs had collapsed. The forces of lobbying are ever-powerful.. has our cooptation meant too little, too late? Change comes only to those that are open to it.

In the news recently I see disturbing trends of Glenn Beck and the Fox news network… less people believing in Climate Change and more people worried about pennies the government is spending. Is America really becoming more divided as one side progresses? I am worried about the effect of these groups to stop a largely north-led revolution. How can we reach out to them? Even the food lobby is really holding us up.

Finally, real change requires community. It must target the public. Without these essential characteristics no leader can stay sane indefinitely. Leadership must be balanced and in control. However, they have to be able to get the goods there on time.

In almost all cases, it is the youth that lead social change. This is exciting to me, because it means we have the ability to effect change. We are not alone here, or misguided in any way. If the younger generation feels that it’s a priority, that means that the necessary steps should occur. For example, from the bottom left can come the protests, from the top come the reforms. From the young come the ideas (now, submit online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/), and from our super-awesome rockstar politician president come the executive mandates! (Like for a federal sustainability program by next June at the latest, that he already DID

Maximize power. Here are more basic steps on what you can do.

Accept responsibility to compromise: Listen to the people around you, even especially the ones with a soft voice.
People like visuals. People also like food. Start here in your planning.
Expect results, but be flexible with your goals. And the methods on how to get there.

Conclusion:

Change, I’ve learned, also doesn’t happen from within a vacuum. This is a common mistake which includes a 300-person “Hillarycare” drafting session, the 2-person small office at Small Planet, or a 8-person closed steering committee over one summer trying to solve “the world’s” problems. It doesn’t come from the left (see previous posts!), or the right (link). But requires both. If you are in charge of outreach or communications, how much can you forget what you think you know and move towards reality. That’s where the chance to save our future lies at.

I am going to keep working on it, and hope that you continue to follow on the bright path ahead. Now, to the sleepout! http://theleadershipcampaign.org/participate !

Other posts: Http://Eddiemill.Wordpress
Twitter microblog: Twitter.com/EddieMill
Twitter for my campaign: Twitter.com/theLCampaign
Facebook: Facebook.com/Eddiemill
the Man

1. Scope out bakeries in your area. Panera is what I went with because it is on the way and closes at 10 which is when we start the S-Os. Go by during the day.
2. Ask if they usually give away their extra bread at the end of the day. If they don’t, and they bake the bread there, they’ll usually be throwing a lot out.
3. Get a number of a night manager you can contact, thank them, and then call that night. Tell them that you were hoping to confirm the donation of extra bread and pastries, and go by either just before close or up to 30min later.

If done properly, you are going to have a lot of bread for your event. We got donations of wrapped baguettes, loose bread, pastries, donuts, bagels, and sweets. (The Blondies were delicious). We were able to have open boxes and plenty to share around. It was a source of community and friendly gesture to the people who were interested in the campaign.

I hope to follow up with Panera now to arrange a weekly schedule pickup. From just one load with 2 volunteers (we couldn’t carry it all!), we could support the S-O for two days.

Next up: figuring out coffee donations. Stay tuned for more from BU!
-Eddie
Community Outreach,
Tuesday Night Site Coordinator @ BU
440-935-5434

So I’d like to start out by saying that this is largely hypothetical what is in this post. Under no conditions do I represent food not bombs or the LC in drawing this out. If you want to hear about how the process of leadership happened, contact me 440-935-5434

What Could Have Been: Uniting Social Change Movements

Climate change, rising Carbon dioxide from global levels, and a new clean energy future mandated by strict cap-and-trade law. These are the premises we’ve agreed upon for the founding of our mission in creating Massachusetts Power Shift — The Leadership Campaign. But what if our platform could include so much more! Justice, green jobs, pollution, food, war, economy and security. There has been some feedback in the community area from choosing not to include these things, but from a lobbying standpoint it is just not possible to stray too far off of a single message. (Look at what happened at the G20 Protests..) A position at the bargaining table is about discipline.

Tenting is also a strategy that has worked before. Historically, it brought down a bad dictator (Kiev, Orange Revolution), raised awareness for Palestine/Israeli peace conference, and recently brought thousands to Bush’s ranch during the worst of the Iraq war period. Cindy Sheehan wiki Food not Bombs was, often, at the center of them.

What about a climate revolution? What about the grassroots, earth lovin’, sustainability, “get us out of iraq” crowd that describes most of Boston and the Northeast? While we have been expanding S-Os along the lines of well projected campus goals, I’ve been cautious to discount these people who are also very involved in our movement. After all, they are the constituents of Massachusetts. But, then, it would be hard to get real community members to sleep out, right?

Not so fast..

Food is the start, and a new celebrity

Food Not Bombs Founder Keith McHenry is in Boston this weekend. If you’ve never seen him speak before, he’s a stunning personality that is combination of ex-hippy, new rioter, pagan believer, and impromptu chef. He’s cooked food for millions of people before, including organizing a thousand-person Tent City Protest in Washington, D.C. One thousand is a lot to turn out for an event like this (*as anyone from the LC can tell you!), but the impressive thing is that it was all grassroots organized. Yep, email chains and word of mouth spread this event like wildfire to people and the media to trek out for a 27-day long protest at the White House for peace. It was at it’s most basic a peace conference, but also included aspect like justice, freedom from oppression, and a diverse movement of participating groups. It was, in a word, revolutionary.

If Food Not Bombs founder managed outreach, food and Logistics at a sleepout-level, it would bring a whole new diverse coalition to our cause.
• For one, it would double our weekly outreach goals and potential endorser pool. The messaging is different, such as “just bring a fork and reusable plate and come support us,” rather than having to commit to be there every week.
• Food keeps people warm and attracts new onlookers. The media warm up at the tent near the food not bombs and LC start-up table. An event like this brings attention! Besides, there is no reason to not stop in on the common if lured by the smell of sweet apples with cinnamon, signs and banners and a guitar behind the bikes.
• The left community associates really well with the mission of the group. These are the ones who know how to Rally behind a food not bombs partnership. Boston has a full punk scene waiting to support a new riot. And MAPS Could be there behind them, with a real political message along the lines of our platform to enact the political-level social change.
• Finally, it would RePower the Leadership campaign and launch a new segment of permanent presence. It’s going to get cold out, we’ll need all the supporters we can get! Especially in the cold..

The vision, and the reality.

Unfortunately, according to LC Coordinator Craig Altemose, “how much you accomplish in this system really depends on what you look like. If we look professional, we’re going to get a lot more respect as equals.” And he’s right. Maintaining an image is important if we’re to be taken seriously as a youth movement, we don’t want to cause trouble. Things could easily escalate if we included the full spectrum in our lobbying efforts, so the campaign team has chosen to back off from bringing on Food Not Bombs as a part. Keith is still welcome to speak; on the condition that he supports our goals and invites no one who seems too controversial. It is an organizational priority not to scare off our “partners” by seeming too radical. We already have the numbers we need for a sustained media presence hopefully, and a committed and well-trained leadership team.

For more information about the sleepouts, follow hashtag #sleepout or http://theleadershipcampaign.org/participate/

If you’re left wondering more, please visit my Friday weekly post on the theory of social change, at A Global Organic Mindset or friend me on facebook. |twitter

Go LC! Out next sleepout will be Sunday, November 1st. Dress as a climate refugee!

Until next time, onward and upward,
-Eddie Miller
BU ’10
Community Outreach, Food.
eddiemill@gmail.com

Notable decisions include items on:
1. Flashdance Thursday, October 22nd.
2. Sleep-out materials, and messaging.
3. Contingency planning for the campaign ie. WhatIf…?
4. New media and partners engagement plan
5. NEW NAME FOR MASSACHUSETTS POWER SHIFT — to be decided on among some finalists Sunday.

Respond to someone if you have feedback before then! Keep tuned for a new website, before October 24th (say goodbye to this blog.. *sniff*)

-Eddie Miller
facebook.com/eddiemill
twitter.com/eddiemill
eddiemill@gmail.com (WAVE invite me)

Meeting notes 10.17 Boston

As a response to climate devastation, thousands of people have taken up in protest. In how they behave, in what they buy, in homes, in lobbying halls of congress, and on the internet. All with a message to spread: We need a new clean energy economy! Designing solutions such as solar and wind, along with reducing how much we do use as a state, can bring us together and provide jobs in a time of crisis.

It is especially important that everyone be involved in Climate activism in Massachusetts right now– Our senator, John Kerry (Follow on twitter, this is going to be essential in our lobbying approach) is long a champion of the environment and pushing new legislation that is sufficiently bold. But not enough to solve the real problems we face! Neither of the bills currently in Washington are strong enough to get us to 350, which is where our corn crop starts to melt and our coral reefs are gone already. We have to act, and fast. Kerry and Barack Obama can hopefully ride this wave of public support and bring home a great treaty for America. There’s broad support in the US, and Massachusetts is the “Saudi Arabia of Wind”. (Clean Power Now Website) Help us transform our energy future!

Get Involved
There are plenty of ways to get involved, right around you.
The easiest is to find a 350.org International Day of Climate Action Event nearby or help plan one with a local group. After that, join MAPS and its partners for a Sleep Out action until action is made at the Statehouse, MA. October to November we will be represented at the doors of the Statehouse or John Kerry’s lawn until better legislation comes up about this!

Sign/Support Blog Action Day! http://www.blogactionday.org/

MAPS Boston U,
-Eddie Miller
Follow me
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Massachusetts Power Shift Site