Citizens Climate Lobby from SandDreams on Vimeo.
This documentary was filmed by Erica Flock, and details in brief the history and hard work of an international team of volunteers, who are working to change major national policies on carbon-based fuels, climate and energy. Here is a brief summary of CCL’s work:
In 2009, three activists went to Washington, DC, to make contact with government, to discuss doing something in the interest of the public good and the nation’s long-term survival. The idea: deal with climate, protect our future. How to do it: organize citizen volunteers from across the country to communicate directly with their elected officials; cultivate values like knowledge, honesty and respect, and build relationships that help shift the political winds.
In 2010, Citizens Climate Lobby brought 25 people from across the US together for three days in June, to meet make 54 visits to Congressional offices in both chambers, in both parties. In 2011, 82 volunteers reached over 140 offices. In 2012, 180 volunteers reached more than 300 offices, and last week, 372 CCL volunteers, including some from Canada, met with more than 439 offices of the United States Congress, as well as the IMF and World Bank.Among those meetings were the lead sponsors of past and pending climate legislation, including a face-to-face meeting with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), as well as the Republican leadership, including a face-to-face meeting with House majority leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). Part of the work has always been connecting in a human way: it is as important for citizens to have good-spirited contact with their elected officials as it is to push a policy that those officials might or might not adopt.
As the movement has grown, it has gathered an immense amount of information and insight into its activities. Over 100 local chapters in the US and Canada include senior citizens, college students, engineers and entrepreneurs, activists, writers, urban farmers, stay-at-home moms, college professors, financial professionals, at least one ExxonMobil manager, a former independent Senate candidate, and a Canadian Parliament staffer.
There are reporters, aerospace professionals, and a man who helped to land the Curiosity Rover on Mars. There are insurance risk management analysts, former biology professors, software engineers and new moms. There are people who in their day jobs are working to build the clean, green future, and others who like the vast majority of us, struggle to keep from perpetuating the less-than-clean, not-so-green status quo.
Read the full article about the 2013 conference, featured in Erica’s documentary, here.