From February 27th to March 2nd, Earth Day Network (EDN) will partake in the largest youth summit ever held on climate change and clean energy policies. Power Shift 2009 will mark the Energy Action Coalition's second Power Shift youth summit since its first in 2007. This year’s summit will consist of 10,000 youths from both high schools and colleges that will converge on Capitol Hill for one major cause: the environment.

Currently, President Obama and his administration face great challenges with a current economy that seems as hopeless as a penny with a hole in it. While a vast majority of Americans seem hopeful, still chanting, “Yes We Can!,” the reality is President Obama faces a “No We Can’t" economy, which makes these first 100 days even more critical. As a result, President Obama must address areas of interests in most dire need of reform. With Americans facing possibly the biggest deficit in history, we cannot afford to waste any more funds nor efforts that will hurt rather than help our nation. This means the decisions President Obama make must be both politically and financially feasible with long-lasting effects.

As President Obama expressed during his campaign, sustainability is important because we can use our own natural resources to both survive and make a profit, and most importantly, our world will be around for future generations. It is for this reason 10,000 youths have decided to converge on Capitol Hill— to hold these elected officials accountable for what President Obama promised during his campaign: the restoration of both the economy and environment.

In 2007, EDN served as a Gold Sponsor to the Power Shift political movement, by which it performed voter registration training, provided educational sessions, and directed a coalition of groups assembled for the youth climate movement. For those unaware of the Power Shift movement, you may think of voter registration as being an odd component to a climate change and clean energy summit. However, EDN, along with other organizations of which the Energy Action Coalition is comprised, want youths to understand the importance and empowerment of civic participation.

It is only when individuals become active in the decision-making of policies can change occur. As individuals reach further into adulthood, they often become jaded by a biased system, believing things will never change and that they lack the power to affect change. Yet, the power to rebuke, protest, and make allies and join forces for a cause lies within every American citizen-- this is the message EDN and other Energy Action Coalition participants stress to youths attending the summit. If the environment is important and one of the areas to which change should be most applied, an individual must first vote and become active in his or her community in order to affect change on a larger scale. 

This past fall, the Energy Action Coalition held an electoral campaign, Power Vote, for which 341,127 youths mobilized to vote and pressure our upcoming political leaders to create bold solutions to a clean economy; and to cut global warming pollution, end our dependence on dirty energy, create green jobs and take dirty money out of politics, and re-engage as international community leaders. Needless to say, Power Vote was one of the many stimuli to encourage 24 million youths to vote in this past election.

Realizing Power Shift's importance, EDN  has recruited 300 youths from schools within the DC metropolitan area to attend the summit. After New York and Pennsylvania, DC is the third most populated area that will have youths attending the summit. This is major because whereas New York and Pennsylvania are states, DC is only a tiny district— this is an indication of how dedicated DC youths are to the environment and economy.  

Sean Miller, director of education for EDN, told me in an interview many of DC youths participating in the Power Shift summit, understand the importance of civic participation and activism, as they work very diligently every day to convert their schools and communities green, while understanding the power of the vote. Additionally, Miller states how even some of the participating schools, such as Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School and Thomas Jefferson, have been working with EDN consistently to add solar panels, test ground waters, and find other ways to cut down on energy consumption.

This Power Shift 2009 youth summit will be a huge turnout, as prominent noteworthy speakers such as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; Congresswoman Donna Edwards; Congressman Ed Markey; President and Executive Officer of American Progress, as well as former Chief of Staff to former President William J. Clinton, John Podesta; Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson; Van Jones, head of the Green Jobs Movement and senior fellow with the Center for American Progress, and countless other politicians and activists will speak to 10,000 youths on how they will work to better the environment and economy.

Workshops, green job development and advisory programs, as well as concerts will be held during the three-day summit. Performances will be held by the legendary Roots band, urban-rock sensation Santigold, as well as other artists in support of a cleaner environment and stronger economy.