You don’t have to have Super Powers to save the world. You just need information and dedication.
That was the message given to students during the National Teach-In on Global Warming held Feb. 5 at Laney College.
“You’ve heard about global warming and climate change, but not you’re going to hear some of the details,” said Geography Professor Mark Rauzon; organizer of Laney’s teach-in. Laney joined millions of people, including 67 California schools—eighteen of which were community colleges—who participated in a dialogue to save the impoverished planet. 
Global warming is the increase in the Earth’s temperature. While there are natural causes, the heating of the globe has increased due to human activity.
Laney’s teach-in began with a web cast with messages from national leaders in the fight against global warming, including a welcome from U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Senate Environmental Committee. Boxer was followed by Eban Goodstein, national teach-in co-director.
"You will be the greatest generation because you will bring an end to global warming."
Eban Goodstein
“You will be the greatest generation because you will bring an end to global warming,” said Goodstein, who also organized ‘Focus the Nation’—the 2008 teach-in that included nearly 2000 colleges, schools and community organizations. He said the National Teach-In was organized to encourage Americans to discuss solutions for the first 100 days of the new administration. “You have to demand leadership from faculty” on campus “and demand action from Congress,” he added.
Goodstein emphasized the need for young people to stay involved, especially with the momentum gained from the recent election, which young people largely decided.
My introduction to environmentalism was through recycling, but I didn’t do it for Mother Earth at first...I collected cans for cash. A different kind of ‘green’ and a different kind of ‘change.'
Reginald James
The Black Hour host Reginald James, who also interns at Alameda Contra-Costa Transit (AC Transit), shared his own personal experiences with environmentalism and the power students have to enact change.
“My introduction to environmentalism was through recycling, but I didn’t do it for Mother Earth at first,” said James. “I collected cans for cash. A different kind of ‘green’ and a different kind of ‘change,’ right?” James shared his experience as a student advocating for a discounted group bus pass program for Peralta students. A pilot program called the Peralta EasyPass began in 2008 and over 1,200 students took advantage in the fall semester, according to James.
“Students have power, but you have to exercise it,” said James. “You can help us with the upcoming referendum to make the bus pass program permanent or join your campus’ ‘Green Club.’
We are the greatest generation; we just have to act like it."
This article originally appeared in the Harambee Newspaper at HarambeeNews.com
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