Program helps schools conference-call US representatives on energy
Submitted by Eban Goodstein
2011-03-16 16:01:19
*Teaching a course related to environment, energy or climate? *
Here is a great opportunity to get your students involved in high-level dialog with political leaders in Washington, DC.
The Bard Center for Environmental Policy, through our *C2C/EARTH week* project, is sponsoring state-wide and district-wide Skype dialogs across the country between campuses and their respective Senators and Congress people about climate, clean energy and green jobs.
Are you interested in having your class participate in one of these dialogs? If so, all you need to do is sign an invitation letter [we can send you an example, see email image]. That's it! We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, and suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the Skype dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time.
Once the call dates are set for *April or early May*, we will let you know. Your students can then participate directly in the dialog, offering questions to their political leaders. C2C will provide background information to help students prep on current issues related to climate, energy and jobs. Your campus AV staff will help you dial into the Skype conversation.
One example: In Pennsylvania, a consortium of schools is working with us to set up a Skype between several campuses and their two US Senators. Last year, we organized such campus to Congress conversations with 23 Senate offices, including Alexander (R-TN), Collins (R-ME), Corker (R-TN), Landrieu (D-LA), Levin (D-MI), Murkowsi (I-AK), Nelson (D-FL) and Stabenow (D-MI). Dozens of Congressmembers have also participated in these dialogs.
Please e-mail [see email image] if you would like to learn more. With your help, we will get 100 important conversations launched between campus and Congress this Spring.
*C2C/EARTH week* is a nationwide educational dialog, not a lobbying effort. Political leaders from both sides of the aisle value these opportunities to talk about the work they do in a genuine way. Young people have the moral authority to move climate change and energy policy out of a partisan frame. For them, it is not about Republican and Democrat; it is about the future they will inherit.
If you would like to create this kind of opportunity for your students, please e-mail us at [see email image]. Thank you for your consideration.
Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy
http://www.c-2-c.org/