Spring Break
UConn students join 12,000 others for climate summit
Ronald Quiroga
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: News
Over the past weekend, 40 UConn students traveled to Washington, D.C. to join another 12,000 students from around the country for the climate summit, Powershift. The movement promotes environmentally conscious energy and climate policies by pressuring representatives and senators into passing legislation concerning "green" issues.
Sasha Seriakov, a 7th-semester environmental chemistry major, rallied over a three-day climate summit and lobbied through Monday.
"I didn't know you could go in and talk to them [legislators]." Seriakov said, "If you go, they will speak to you."
The group made the trek to Washington with UConnPIRG, which organized the same trip in 2007. The PIRG, or Public Interest Research Group, opened the invitation to any students who showed interest in the issues of climate and environment.
"We decided that 40 students was a good number," said Kevin Wilhelm, a 6th-semester economics major and state chair for UConnPIRG.
The bus, nonetheless, was filled quickly with students belonging to environmental advocacy programs like Ecohusky and Ecoguard. The trip also included plenty of students who simply felt impassioned by the issues concerning the environment and climate change. Along with the 40 students from UConn, students from UMass Amherst and the University of Hartford were also invited along.
"The peak of the weekend was the energy felt at the convention. Everyone was aware and care about the climate issues," Serikov said.
At the arrival night of the convention several musicians and shows promoted a green lifestyle and mentality. The following day, sessions and workshops were held at the Walter E. Washington Center that went over everything from how to conduct non-violent disobedience to the negative aspect of agro-fuels.
In other forums, like "Being Mindfully Green," participants were given an oversight on how to become green individuals. Buddhist Monks were introduced as the main speakers and began their panel with a calming meditation.
Sasha Seriakov, a 7th-semester environmental chemistry major, rallied over a three-day climate summit and lobbied through Monday.
"I didn't know you could go in and talk to them [legislators]." Seriakov said, "If you go, they will speak to you."
The group made the trek to Washington with UConnPIRG, which organized the same trip in 2007. The PIRG, or Public Interest Research Group, opened the invitation to any students who showed interest in the issues of climate and environment.
"We decided that 40 students was a good number," said Kevin Wilhelm, a 6th-semester economics major and state chair for UConnPIRG.
The bus, nonetheless, was filled quickly with students belonging to environmental advocacy programs like Ecohusky and Ecoguard. The trip also included plenty of students who simply felt impassioned by the issues concerning the environment and climate change. Along with the 40 students from UConn, students from UMass Amherst and the University of Hartford were also invited along.
"The peak of the weekend was the energy felt at the convention. Everyone was aware and care about the climate issues," Serikov said.
At the arrival night of the convention several musicians and shows promoted a green lifestyle and mentality. The following day, sessions and workshops were held at the Walter E. Washington Center that went over everything from how to conduct non-violent disobedience to the negative aspect of agro-fuels.
In other forums, like "Being Mindfully Green," participants were given an oversight on how to become green individuals. Buddhist Monks were introduced as the main speakers and began their panel with a calming meditation.
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