There will be another congressional hearing about the climate bill tomorrow, and guess who is on the stand? Five people representing fossil industries, one faith leader, and an economist from the most corporatist ‘environmental’ organization around. 

There are no young people on the panel and our only ally, Maria Castellanos from the United Church of Christ, is also the only witness who isn’t white, a man, and whose pockets aren’t lined with bloody fossil fuel cash. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to let these people know what we think they should be saying? I looked around for their e-mail addresses for you. Pick one person, and send them a quick note.  I chose Mr. Keohane from the Environmental Defense Fund and this is what I’m writing him:

Dear Mr. Keohane,

I am a climate activist concerned about the direction that Waxman Markey is taking. The youth movement agrees that auctioning 100% of pollution permits is the only way to ensure that polluters, not working people, pay for reducing our climate emissions and eliminating the climate threat.

As you know, young people were not invited to testify at the hearing tomorrow. So I was hoping that in your statement you would recognize that the people who will inherit this planet do not want another corporate bailout. We want bold climate legislation. If conservative politicians need to be bought out, it is our job as environmentalists and concerned citizens to call them out on it, and not to play their corrupt games. 

I look forward to hearing your statement as I will be in the audience with other young people - listening and hoping that someone will represent our true interests and take a stand. Will it be you?

Tommaso Nicholas Boggia