U.S.: "The Climate Crisis Coalition and the 2006 Elections"

Our new video, The Climate Crisis Coalition and the 2006 Elections is out. It features authors Bill McKibben, Elizabeth Kolbert and Ross Gelbspan; students; and a broad spectrum of people determined to fight for a clean energy future. Global warming might be a grim subject, but we think that you will find this 28-minute DVD uplifting. The theme that resonates throughout the DVD is that climate change must be a prominent part of the 2006 election agenda.

In the DVD, Bill McKibben says, "Last year has finally seen Americans wake up and understand what is going on." Elizabeth Kolbert says, "There is absolutely no time to waste. The midterm elections in 2006 are not a moment too soon to begin."

We're asking you to take a quick look at the trailer on our new political action site: www.climateUSA.org; to help us distribute the DVD; and to help us make the ClimateUSA initiative have a significant impact in the 2006 midterm elections.

The ClimateUSA campaign was organized this summer. It is part of Kyoto and Beyond, a separate entity from the Climate Crisis Coalition, which allows us to engage in political action, without the constraints of a tax-deductible organization. Along with the DVD, we have prepared a three-point ClimateUSA Platform for citizens to use as a way of getting candidates to address climate issues. The platform calls for passing the strongest pending climate legislation, adopting the Kyoto Protocol, and transferring energy subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables. We are also offering a range of activities that citizens can engage in, during the coming weeks of the campaign season.

Finally we are continuing to circulate the Peoples Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty petition. Over the past year we have found this to be an invaluable tool to engage concerned citizens throughout the country. The People's Ratification was recently signed and endorsed by Al Gore. We encourage you to circulate this important endorsement, urging people to sign the People's Ratification online (www.kyotoandbeyond.org).

Al Gore writes, "My support for this petition comes from a unique perspective. As Vice President I helped fashion the Kyoto Protocol. As a candidate for President, I tried to make international cooperation on climate change a central concern. Now, at this critical juncture, the rest of the world needs to know that millions of U.S. citizens support the Kyoto Protocol, even if the current administration does not."

In closing please:

1) Order the DVD and spread the word about it;

2) Check the new ClimateUSA site for ways that you can make a difference in the 2006 elections;

3) Help circulate the Gore endorsement and the People's Ratification site; and

4) Make a donation to Kyoto and Beyond, to help us meet these objectives. One of our donors gave us a generous gift to launch this campaign and pledged a $5,000 matching gift. If you make your donation now, it will be worth double the amount.

You may choose one of the following:

* Buy the DVD for $5 (shipping included) online.
Be sure to mention the DVD and include your address with the online payment.

* Send a check for the DVD ($5 each) made out to:
Kyoto and Beyond, P.O. Box 125, South Lee, MA 01260
(Send your address to raya@kyotoandbeyond.org if you want the DVD sent immediately).

* Make a contribution to Kyoto and Beyond (online or by check) to help us have an impact on the 2006 elections.
(Please let us know if you would like a free copy of the DVD in return.)

* Get a free DVD right away to show to a group, a class or on your community TV public access station.
Send your address to raya@kyotoandbeyond.org, and let us know how you'll be arranging for people see the DVD.

Many thanks for your assistance,

Raya Ariella, Coordinator
ClimateUSA Campaign

Tom Stokes, Coordinator
Kyoto and Beyond

PS. If you’d rather make a tax-deductible contribution to the educational work of the Climate Crisis Coalition, please send an email to info@climatecrisiscoaltion.org for information on this.