More than 600 Sonoma State students have taken the PowerVote pledge to focus attention on environmental issues such as energy and climate change in the historic 2008 general election. Organizers hope to sign up from 2,000-4,000 students on the Rohnert Park campus.
SSU joins more than 300 other US campuses and communities using PowerVote to promote political action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in a clean energy economy.
PowerVote, a national non-partisan effort spearheaded by the Energy Action Coalition, seeks to elevate the issue of climate change in the 2008 election by mobilizing one million young "climate voters."
To do this, the Energy Action Coalition and its more than forty partner organizations are organizing young people across the United States to pledge their vote "for clean and just energy."
"Young voters are the demographic that polling has shown to care most about the environment than are their parents and grandparents," says Timothy Dondero, Green Campus President of the SSU Sustainability Coalition.
"A recent survey by Opportunity 08 found that "an overwhelming majority of young people feel Americans should do whatever it takes to protect the environment."
On the SSU campus, PowerVoters want to demand more bike racks and paths on campus, better food and dining choices, a campus farmers market on campus, and the continuance of campus sustainability issues.
Dondero says "the sad truth is, today's youth may be the first generation to face a lower standard of living than their parents. Major bailouts, rising bankruptcy, foreclosure and unemployment rates are all signs that our generation may not be able to feast at the smorgasbord of material wealth enjoyed by our parents' generation."
He says young people today have the highest unemployment rate in the country. "Investing in a clean energy future will create millions of jobs and build new industries, revitalizing our sagging economy, and protecting the environment." Dondero says.
"This election, the "Youth Vote" is more important than ever before. They comprise 25 percent of the electorate with 50 million representatives," Dondero notes.
Students can get involved by signing the pledge on campus or by adding the PowerVote badge application to their Facebook page.
Find the pledge online at powervote.org where information can also be found about national highlights and updates. Students can also go to ssupowervote.org for campus updates and ways to participate.
