On October 5th-7th the Cascade Youth Climate Conference hosted 20 student activists from colleges, universities, and non-profit groups on Mt. Hood, Oregon. The conference was the first-ever meeting of the Cascade Climate Network (CCN), which had previously existed only through online communication. The addition of delicious vegan meals may have been a selling point.
Throughout the weekend, participants drafted the Declaration, a document emphasizing the need to address climate change in a local, just, clean, and ecologically sustainable manner. The CCN will use the Declaration as a sign-on for youth, students, community members, and politicians in Washington and Oregon. Through the Declaration, the Cascade Climate Network (CCN) plans to not only influence energy legislation but also to create principles that leaders in the Pacific Northwest will adhere to.
The CCN is now undertaking a momentous campaign that will serve as a national model for bridging the gap between campus organizing and local political involvement. All the schools in the region have been doing a great job on climate issues individually, but now with the CCN they will at last be able to bring together their collective and impressive capabilities under one awesome umbrella. Recognizing that regionalism is important, but also acknowledging the powerful national movement underway, the CCN is working closely with Focus the Nation organizers and will be presenting the campaign at Powershift. Look for us there!
If you are interested or would like to find out more about the CCN, contact Kristiane Skolmen (Kristiane_Skolmen@earthlink.net) or Nathan Jones (nejones7@gmail.com) or check out the CCN's website.
