SATURDAY 2/9: Citizens Climate Lobby Workshop

The public is invited to attend a workshop for the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, February 9, at Central Green (formerly Central High School) in Painter.

What this workshop is about

Presented by Steve Valk, Communications Director of Citizens Climate Lobby, this 3-hour workshop will cover the history of CCL, how the organization works, and train concerned citizens how to be effective advocates with their legislators and the media.

We advocate the reduction of our dependence on fossil fuels while encouraging the production of renewable sources of energy via a consumer-friendly, revenue-neutral carbon tax.

Our plan minimizes government regulation and uses the free-market to achieve our goals.

RSVP to: [email protected]

What is the mission of Citizens Climate Lobby?

The purposes of CCL are:

1) To build the political will for a stable climate;

2) To empower individuals to have breakthroughs in exercising their personal and political power.

How did CCL get started?

“After I had given just a few talks about the climate, I realized that the actions I was suggesting to my listeners to take, while essential, were not a match for the problem. I realized that anything they intended to do would be swamped by what the government did or did not do. I realized that ordinary people like me would have to organize, educate ourselves, give up our hopelessness and powerlessness, and gain the skills to be effective with our government.” ~ Marshall Saunders, Founder of Citizens Climate Lobby

What does climate scientist Dr. James Hansen say about CCL?

“Most impressive is the work of the Citizens Climate Lobby, a relatively new, fast-growing, nonpartisan, nonprofit group with [73] chapters across the United States and Canada. If you want to join the fight to save the planet, to save creation for your grandchildren, there is no more effective step you could take than becoming an active member of this group.”

How does CCL work?

CCL uses a mix of group empowerment and support that includes monthly national conference calls with a guest speaker for all Partners and weekly calls with group leaders.

CCL trains Partners to speak powerfully to their elected officials, the media and their local communities in order to inspire members of Congress to be leaders and spokespersons for a stable climate.

CCL Partners meet with their members of Congress, launch letter-writing campaigns, write letters to the editor and op-ed pieces, and generate editorials to promote a sustainable climate.

In 2012, CCL Partners:

— Had 534 meetings with congressional offices

— Met with 24 newspaper editorial boards

— Published 537 letters to the editor

— Published 87 op-eds

— Generated 22 editorials

— Wrote 65 articles

— Participated in 636 outreach events

What is CCL working on now?

CCL is working to enact legislation that will put a direct and steadily increasing fee on carbon-based fuels that will wean our nation from fossil fuels and move us toward greater use of clean energy sources like solar and wind.

This legislation should also return revenue from the carbon tax to households so that consumers have the income to pay for increased energy costs.

CCL volunteers will work with the media, their communities, and members of the 113th Congress to introduce and pass bipartisan legislation for a consumer-friendly carbon fee that returns revenue to households.