With the intensity and controversy of the Presidential election finally coming to a halt, it is important to remember the issues of the economy, energy, health and security that swayed our votes. As was expressed in last week's column, the efforts made and the goal reached of producing such impressive young voter turnout is something to be inestimably proud of. We voted with the hope and faith that our leader would win. And, if that did occur, it would be through our voting decisions that, ideally, our ideas and issues would be implemented through the voice we elected. For many of us, this preference was achieved, which is all the more reason why we cannot allow such hard work to go to waste. This is merely the beginning, and now that we have a credible leader in office, we must do all that we can to attain the change"" that we have been waiting for.
A main organization already exemplifying this path to change is Power Vote. They were one of the featured groups in last week's edition due to their hard work leading up to Election Day. Power Vote is an organization dedicated to the Green generation and a 100 percent clean energy economy that we can live and work under. In such a crucial period that now sees a ray of confidence in environmental improvement - our future president actually believes that global warming exists - Power Vote is not wasting any time, campaigning to have 5,000 petitions signed by Nov. 18 that demand clean and just energy.
Although countless environmental organizations across the country and around the world preach much of the same, after meeting with organizer Susan Hildebrand, it is more than evident Power Vote can and will make the difference, as they have already gathered over 3,400 of these Power Vote pledges. Hildebrand did not hesitate to assure me, ""As hard as [they] worked to mobilize young voters these past few months, [they] will work even harder to make sure politicians enact our vision by investing in a clean energy economy and putting us on the pathway toward 100 percent clean, just energy.""
With that said, do not be a stranger to Power Vote this year. Keep your eyes and ears open while walking around campus, for you can make a difference in not only the world that we live in, but for the world that someone in your future bloodline will live in. In the next days, weeks, months and years, Power Vote is drawing members to urge leaders and representatives to innovate millions of green jobs, invest in 100 percent clean energy, and implement sensible climate policy. On Nov. 18, Madison college students will partner with community groups to visit Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, welcome her into the next Congress and remind her to be a leader on these environmental issues. Within the first 100 days of the Obama Administration, Power Vote will unite with over 10,000 young people in Washington, D.C., for three days of training and action called Power Shift. '""'""
The future of the environment holds a fate none of us can truly predict. To even think of the environment our children or even grandchildren will have to face is - in an understatement - frightening. The climate is rapidly changing, and the earth's everlasting existence is looking increasingly uncertain.
We can be scared, we can pretend not to care, we can leave it up to somebody else - or we can actively improve the situation.
For more information on Power Vote or to get involved, please contact Kaley at ingenito@wisc.edu.
Dan Josephson is a senior majoring in political science and legal studies. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
