SSC Gets Congressional Face Time on Climate Change
The Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas teamed up with the Southern Nevada Sierra Club and the Clean Energy Works Coalition to turn out 120 people for a 90-minute "meet-and-greet" on October 12 with Congresswoman Dina Titus in downtown Las Vegas.
That's SSC Chair Illonka Zlatar, above, speaking with Titus about the group's upcoming International Day of Climate Action event on the UNLV campus. Titus is a former political science professor at UNLV.
"She's been a leader in the environmental movement," Zlatar says. "I thanked her for everything she's done and told her about the SSC and our October 22 event on campus. She was really positive about our agenda." Below, SSC members with Titus at the meet-and-greet.
This year's International Day of Climate Action is centered on the theme of 350, a worldwide campaign to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, the level scientists consider safe limit for humanity. The current CO2 level is 387 parts per million.
At UNLV, SSC is teaming up with other student organizations to host the 12-hour event. "We'll have booths, tables, great food and music, cultural performances, an eco-friendly fashion show, a sustainability-themed art show, and an Earthstyles Lounge where people can learn about lifestyle choices that ease the weight of our footprint on the planet," Zlatar says.
A solar-powered trailer and panels from UNLV's solar energy program will help power film screenings and live performances. Starting this year, the university is offering a minor in solar energy.
"One of the big goals of our event," says Zlatar, "is to collect signatures demanding strong climate action from our elected officials-not only within our borders, but also at the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. Then the next day, Friday October 23rd, we'll rally at City Hall, deliver the signatures to our elected leaders, and literally make our voices heard!"
A photo of all assembled at City Hall will be taken at 1:00pm and uploaded to the International Day of Climate Action website.
Learn more about 350 and what you can do to get involved.
