Tearful Delivery

Today, the first day of the conference, I had signed up to help deliver a petition with over 11,000,000 signatures on it asking for a fair, ambitious, and binding climate treaty out of Copenhagen. It would be given to Yvo de Boer,  Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC and Connie Hedegaard, President of COP15.

Copenhagen Craziness!!!!

Well, the 15^th Conference of Parties has begun! Thank gosh I have already been to a UN conference, because if I hadn’t, I don’t think I could handle this thing. 

COY More United Than The UN? Yup

This past weekend was the Conference of Youth (COY). A few hundred of us who are here to attend the UNFCC COP15 gathered on Saturday and Sunday to prepare ourselves for one of the most important events in climate history.

I arrived in the city of Copenhagen on Friday morning, and instead of being smart and taking it easy, I spent the day scurrying about doing errands and meeting the rest of the SustainUS Agents of Change. By 8:00pm Denmark time, I was exhausted. I had also agreed to wake up even earlier the next day to help register people for COY.

TATTOO Committed

I’ve always thought about tattoos. I like them a lot and I think they’re a cool and sexy way to show your full dedication to something, but I had yet to discover what I would permanently want on my body. That is until my friend Anna Keenan told me her idea of getting Climate Justice on the back of her neck.

Found: Inspirtation, Wanted: Brave Youth

Yesterday I was down, really down. It was difficult to explain when people asked me, “How are you doing?” Physically I was fine, mentally I was dead. My mom tried her best to sympathize, but really how can she? It won’t be her problem to deal with in the future. Plus, since the effects of climate change haven’t been drastically seen in our country, it’s difficult for Americans to comprehend unless they pay attention and care about other countries besides the USA.

I’ve tried talking to others about Copenhagen’s new pointless goal (according to some world leaders, but not all let me remind you). While my friends are extremely understanding and let me vent, my mood just wasn’t improving. I found myself questioning what the point of me going to Copenhagen even was.

So, I called up Tim DeChristopher, one of the most intense and inspiring people I have ever met.

Obama, NOT World Leaders, Agrees On Delay

It’s Sunday morning at 1:47. No parties tonight. I was too busy updating my blog, working on the Climate Countdown campaign, and organizing my solidarity group of Climate Justice Fasters. I open up Firefox to check my email and my homepage pops up, the New York Times. My eyes scan it quickly as usual, but suddenly stop.

WHAT THE HELL? I continue to read. WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!?! WHAT. THE. HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Help Us Out Senator Leahy!

Monday afternoon I had a meeting with Senator Patrick Leahy’s office. Mikayla McDonald, Jess Serrante, Connor Gibson, and I prepared what we were going to talk about and our initial “ask” of the Senator. This is a key factor to have when lobbying. No ask = no point of a meeting.

Starving for Climate Justice. Literally.

On Friday, November 6^th, a group of people from all over the world came together to began a hunger strike for the creation of a successful treaty at the 15^th Conference of Parties (COP15) this December in Copenhagen. It’s called the Climate Justice Fast. There is no end date to the fast. If an ambitious and legally binding piece of legislation is created, they start eating again. If one isn’t, they don’t.

October 24th: Global Day of Confusion

October 24^th. It was the biggest day of activism surrounding climate change in all of history. UVM participated in many ways. There was a massive bike ride in the morning, an aerial photo and rally in the afternoon and an awesome dance party at Slade that night. Everyone seemed to have a blast and be in a super positive mood.

After organizing and being in charge of the aerial photo, everyone who recognized me throughout the rest of the day was super supportive and friendly. “Great job today!”, “Damn, I’d be so proud of myself if I’d done what you did”, “Way to go April!”. Just really nice comments all around, from people I did know and people I had never seen before.

So why did I feel so strange about the whole process?

Hello UVM!

“ASSHOLES!” I found myself yelling this choice word all the time as I began to follow environmental news and the Bush administration’s response to many of our problems a few years ago. Just seeing what he was wasn’t doing enraged me. Being brought up with such a deep respect for nature and our ecosystems, it made it easy for me to visual how deeply affected our surroundings would be due to the actions of the government and polluting corporations. It was infuriating!

Though, I guess I do somewhat owe this man, who officially confirmed the term “stupid American,” for one thing –  a thank you for his encouragement to get involved with the environmental movement. Since I was 17, I’ve dedicated my time to make big changes (unlike a certain president who used that word constantly during his campaign, but has yet to prove it).