And a huge thanks to the partners who made the event possible: University of Western Sydney, GetUp and Greenpeace. Important – please click on this video on YouTube (bottom left of video), rate, comment and link.

What’s next for youth climate action? AYCC and World Vision have joined forces to bring you an exciting new campaign: Youth Decide ‘09!

http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/powershift/wordpress/the-conference

You can see workshop descriptions here:

http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/powershift/wordpress/the-conference/speakers/

You can see speaker and workshop presenter bios here:

http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/powershift/wordpress/the-conference/speaker-and-workshop-presenter-biographies/

]]> http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/powershift/wordpress/program-for-power-shift/feed/ 59 http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/powershift/wordpress/the-power-shift-dance/ http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/powershift/wordpress/the-power-shift-dance/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:42:28 +0000 Anna http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/powershift/wordpress/?p=1358 The final day of Power Shift involves a huge “flash mob” dance on the steps of Sydney Opera House! We need as many dancers as possible for this – so if you’re a dancer of any level, please get involved. The choreographers are Sean, Steven and Hilton from A-Live Entertainment (see them in the video below) including former finalists from So You Think You Can Dance.

Rehearsal Schedule for the Power Shift Dance is:

This Friday 10th July – 11am – 4pm, Victoria Park

Monday 13th July 8.30 – 9.30am, UTS Alumni Green

Performance – be at Opera House steps at 1.00pm, flash mob begins at 1.45pm

More information on the dance contact Anna on 0410 375 755 or Liam on 0412 459 280.

HUGE thanks to Ian Thorpe and the AYCC Team for appearing in this video, to Jarra McGrath for filming it, and to The Conscience Organisation for editing, animation and post-production. This should start screening on Channel 10 in the next few weeks – so a big thanks to them too!

We want to give these young people a voice – to be able to tell their stories and demand stronger climate action from our leaders.

So… the AYCC is offering a number of travel and registration scholarships for young people from climate-affected regions.

If you have been affected by recent extreme weather events, or come from an area that will be hardest hit by climate change (particularly an island e.g. the Torres Strait) – you’re eligible for a scholarship that covers your travel to Power Shift as well as your registration.

Please download and fill out this form and email it to ellen.sandell@youthclimatecoalition.org by this Friday 26th June at 5pm.

The scholarships available include:

Darebin Council

What does it cover:Power Shift registration, travel and accommodation, worth $400

Who can apply: young people who live in the Darebin Council area of Victoria, which includes the suburbs of Northcote, Preston, Reservoir, Fairfield, Bundoora, Thornbury and Alphington

How to apply: write a letter outlining your interest in attending Power Shift, your relevant experience, and benefit to the local community that this would bring, and send it to Kathleen Kemp via email to kathleen.kemp@darebin.vic.gov.au

You can also call Kathleen on 03 84708405 for further information.

Due date: Monday 15th June

Waverley Council

What does it cover: registration cost for attending Power Shift ($90)

Who can apply: young people who live, work or study in the Waverley Council area of NSW, including the suburbs of Bondi, Dover Heights, Rose Bay, Queens Park, Waverley and more.

How to apply: write a letter, addressed to the General Manager of Waverley Council, outlining why you want to attend Power Shift (i.e. your interests, previous climate change and/or youth involvement) and the benefits to the local community of your

Due date: Monday 15th June

Yarra Ranges Council

What does it cover: Power Shift registration, travel and accommodation, worth $400

Who can apply: young people who live in the Yarra Ranges Council area of Victoria, which includes the suburbs of Coldstream, Chum Creek, Chirnside Park, Lilydale, Monbulk, Mount Dandenong, Mount Evelyn, Narree Warren East, Upwey, Yarra Glen, Warburton, Healesville and more.

Due date: Monday 15th June

Thank you so much to all the councils who are supporting Power Shift!

Here’s what people are saying about it:

‘A passionate and informative demonstration of how mitigating climate change can be compatible with economic growth’
- Professor Ross Garnaut, the Garnaut Climate Change Review

‘Humanity’s greatest challenge is to minimise the consequences of climate change. With challenge comes opportunity. This book is about opportunity’
- Professor Peter Doherty, Nobel Prize winner

‘A fascinating and provocative insight into how business can make the most of the environmental challenge’
- Geoffrey Cousins, business leader and author

Our offices (in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) have been full of new volunteers in the past few weeks, coming in after school, Uni and TAFE to make literally thousands of phone calls to our database to encourage them to register for Power Shift 2009.

With less than six weeks until Power Shift, it can sometimes feel like a roller-coaster ride. It’s a little stressful. Every day something new happens which lifts us up – like getting our incredible promo video media yesterday, or filming a message from Ian Thorpe last weekend; but then after the excitement dies down I’m reminded that there is still so much left to do.

In many ways, working on Power Shift feels very similar to when I was volunteering on the Obama campaign in the New Hampshire primary. Lots of young people from different places & backgrounds, all working really hard, working long hours, for one huge and important goal. And no matter how many phone calls you made, doors you knocked, or people you spoke to, there was always more you could do.

Tomorrow is World Environment Day, and normally I would be thinking about writing something about the current politics of climate change; the mess that is the CPRS debate and what the Government should be doing to salvage some genuine climate action out of it (stronger carbon reduction targets, less handouts to polluters, and transitioning from coal to renewable energy).

But today I’m just reflecting on the young people who are coming into our offices. Even though it’s exam time for Uni students and nearly the Trials for HSC students, they’re still coming in to volunteer.

And in this case, the movement is the message.

Next to me as I write this is 17 year old Sasha from Lismore, who came through our Schools program and finished her HSC last year. She took the year off Uni to volunteer with the AYCC, and has temporarily moved to Sydney, staying with a house-full of AYCC volunteers, to help out full time for the last 6 weeks. Sasha helped found an amazing network of students on the Northern Rivers called YES – Youth Environmental Society. She continually inspires me.

In some ways, whatever happens with Power Shift – no matter how many thousands of young people come, how much media coverage we get, how creative our Sydney CBD action is – the real value of Power Shift is happening right now, five and a half weeks before the event.

The real power of Power Shift 2009 lies in the grassroots infrastructure we’ve built – and are continuing to build – in high schools, campuses and communities in every State & Territory of Australia. Small pockets of young people almost everywhere, talking about Power Shift, fundraising to get to Sydney to attend, putting up posters and handing out flyers. And realising they are part of a national movement of youth taking action on climate change.

They’re meeting with their elected representatives, talking with their friends, and slowly but surely the message is permeating throughout the people they come into contact with: there is actually a Power Shift happening in Australia.

Young people are the most concerned group in society when it comes to climate change. We have the most to lose. Now, there is national movement to channel that concern, energy and passion into – whether it be through direct action at coal-fired power stations, being part of the Switched On Schools network, or coming to Power Shift 2009.

There’s so much more to write, so many stories to tell to celebrate this year’s World Environment Day – but to hear them all you’ll have to come to Power Shift 2009!

July 11th – 13th. University of Western Sydney, Parramatta. See you there.

www.powershift.org.au