Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: News

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi hailed the young people involved in the effort to curb global warming as the "magnificent disrupters of our time," praising their efforts to shift the status quo on environmental policy Saturday night at Cole Field House during what organizers called the largest conference on climate change in American history.

More than 5,500 people, most of whom were young, came to the campus for the four-day conference, dubbed "Power Shift 2007." The conference featured workshops, individual state and regional meetings, speakers, musical acts and panels.

"The message she was sending was that we are fulfilling our duty as Americans and young people to make noise and challenge the status quo," said Student Government Association President Andrew Friedson. "A very powerful message, and there's no better place to have that kind of message than on a college campus."

On Saturday, the biggest draw of the night was Pelosi (D-Calif.), who spoke along with the head of the recently formed Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.).

"It's a fabulous event to see all this energy and determination," Pelosi said. "It also has an informed nature to it - the young people know what they are going to do and what they are fighting for."

Today, about 2,000 young people here for the conference will go to Washington to attend a congressional hearing by the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which is considering legislation that would increase renewable energy use, create millions of "green" jobs and raise fuel economy standards. The group also plans to rally on the Capitol steps.

In her speech, which brought a standing ovation, Pelosi talked about changing U.S. involvement in global warming, saying that this country must be a leader in curbing carbon emissions.

People in the crowd also shouted comments about ending the Iraq War. When she responded that she was working to end American involvement there, the crowd erupted with applause.

Pelosi has made reducing global warming one of six key areas of focus, said her office. She helped pass a bill in August that requires greener buildings and appliances, as well as require U.S. leadership on global warming.

"Young people are going to change the world," said Markey. "The green generation is rising up and demanding that we change business as usual with the polluting industries."

Continued...

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