You may have noticed a steady drumbeat on this blog recently, talking about the need for progressive organizations, coalitions, and campaigns to take a long view to build the kind of power that lasts between election cycles.
In our trainings and work with partners around the country, we've been pushing a model of organizing that encourages multi-year plans that move seamlessly between elections, advocacy, and back to elections.
We wanted to highlight the work of organizations doing just that.
Energy Action Coalition, a coalition of leading organizations in the youth climate change movement, is a great example of this work. I was struck by this blog post last week, which outlines their plans to pivot their incredible legislative advocacy work this year into a comprehensive electoral plan to mobilize voters on environmental issues and hold elected leaders accountable.
In Vermont, students are leveraging power in the Gubernatorial race to challenge candidates to replace a nuclear power plant, already slated for shut-down, with 100% clean energy in 2012. They'll be registering voters and raising awareness throughout the summer months and getting candidates to speak on the record about their energy plans.
The Ohio Student Environmental Coalition is running an innovative campaign to "Make Green a Primary Color" by engaging young people as climate change voters in the May 4th primary.
Energy Action Coalition and their member organizations are really thinking strategically about building power during the 2010 elections to leverage their agenda and grow their organizations in 2011 and beyond.
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You are completely right, we
You are completely right, we need more progressive organizations, coalitions, and campaigns to take a long view to build the kind of power that lasts between election cycles. Indeed, such Coalitions, guided by the best enviromnental scientists like http://bytesland.com/environmental+science , must unite all across the country people, who are working on a variety of issues and projects to ensure a just and sustainable future. I am sure this movement for clean energy, climate solutions, and environmental justice, will grow into some huge global action of creating a better future.
You are completely right, we
You are completely right, we need more progressive organizations, coalitions, and campaigns to take a long view to build the kind of power that lasts between election cycles. Indeed, such Coalitions, guided by the best enviromnental scientists , must unite all across the country people, who are working on a variety of issues and projects to ensure a just and sustainable future. I am sure this movement for clean energy, climate solutions, and environmental justice, will grow into some huge global action of creating a better future.
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