Power Shift NY
THE MISSION
This April 27-29, Power Shift NY will be a mass gathering of youth from every corner of New York to converge in Albany for a weekend-long summit that will awaken and empower our generation to put an end to hydrofracking and stand up for a green economy.
Power Shift NY will mark a turning point as young people of all backgrounds unite to take a stand and demand a just and sustainable future. Across New York, we’ll build grassroots campaigns for clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and accountability from our elected leaders in Albany. With powerful training and a bold vision, the collective power of young people will take game-changing action to create a livable future for all New Yorkers.
OUR MOMENT
In 2012 New Yorkers are face to face with the true costs of our societal addiction to fossil fuels. As climate change intensifies, New York State officials make plans to allow dangerous fracking across a wide area of our state, putting the water, health and climate of millions of New Yorkers at risk for the profits of big oil and gas corporations. With a limited window of time for the people of New York to reject fracking and choose a green economy, Power Shift NY will be a catalyzing force in the creation of a sustainable future for our state.
Youth have been a driving force in creating social change throughout history, from the civil rights movement, to the struggle to end apartheid, and now the international movement to achieve climate neutrality. As young New Yorkers from all walks of life, we envision a just and equitable society, powered by 100 % clean energy, and we are ready to take bold action to make this vision a reality. History is calling our generation to act, and we’re ready to answer.
OUR CHALLENGE
We have a big task. Power Shift NY is going to bring young people together from every corner of the state for one huge weekend of social change. From February through April, youth from North Country to New York City will collaborate and partner up with to recruit, organize and train a generation of activists for Power Shift New York. We’ve had great success so far; at Power Shift 2011, New York came back from DC with one of the strongest youth networks in the country, the Green Umbrella. Now we’re going to get our hands dirty building campaigns from the grassroots up that will organize our campuses, our communities and New York State for an unprecedented surge of youth action. Our task is no less than building an equitable, sustainable future, where a healthy environment is the cornerstone of healthy economies and communities.
