College Students Discuss Global Warming at Virginia Summit

Virginia Summit Brings Together College Students to Discuss Global Warming

by Navita Sahai, Northwestern University
AIDemocracy.org
July 27, 2006

They are in the State Capitol, in schools, and living on your street– involved student leaders seem to be lurking around every corner, transforming their energy into democratic action. Americans for Informed Democracy (AID) strives to take these globally conscious students and create a generation of Americans that will support a U.S. role in today’s interconnected world. Educating and engaging Americans in global issues has been the mission of AID since its establishment in 2002. Since then AID has expanded its chapters into over 500 university campuses in the U.S. and in more than ten countries around the world.

Each summer AID hosts summits in order to equip top student leaders with the tools they need to bring the world home to their hometown or school. The most recent of these summits was AID’s summit on environmental issues titled, Climate Change and Oil Dependency: We DO Have a Choice. Held in Pocahontas State Park near Richmond, Virginia, the retreat brought together student leaders from across the U.S. for a weekend of workshops, speakers, and discussions on how young people can take positive action to reduce U.S. oil dependence and to preserve our global environment. Students arrived from all parts of the country and varied in age and experience, yet all shared a common concern for moving away from oil dependency and improving the health of the globe. The students heard from experts such as Richard Rich from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and John Grant from the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund who skillfully addressed the issue and possible solutions.

Students were able to leave the conference not only with a better understanding on global warming and alternative fuel sources, but they also were able to hear from fellow student leaders and make connections with others who share their interest. AID prepared each student to get involved afterwards by bringing the discussion back to their campus communities as part of the Securing the Future initiative launching in September. The initiative allows students, with the support and guidance of AID, to set up town hall forums, where a panel of experts can share their knowledge of climate change and oil dependency while involving students in the audience.

These are just a few ways in which AID assists students in developing assets that are essential for a better global future. To learn more about AID or for information on upcoming AID conferences, visit http://www.aidemocracy.org/Initiatives.php!