Focus the Nation

This initiative draws on both technology and face-to-face connections to bring people of all ages together to raise awareness about, and spark action around, the environmental issue of global warming.

Specifically, Focus teams organise events to discuss climate and energy solutions with their elected representatives. For instance, a Nation-wide Town Hall Meeting on America's Energy Future, set for April 18 2009, will involve one event in every congressional district designed to engage communities, campuses, and elected officials on the topic "Seizing the opportunities of the new energy economy - together." This nation-wide town hall meeting (called by its creators "teach-out, reach-out") is the evolution of FTN's original teach-in model, and is designed to connect campuses to broader communities to more effectively engage politicians.

A key strategy is to encourage and enable educators to plan symposia and other events to energise children and youth for earth-friendly change. The first nationwide dialogue took place at colleges and universities, houses of worship, secondary schools, businesses, and civic organisations in January 2008. Students nationwide participated in workshops and panels in which they brainstormed about global warming solutions. Organisers say that this event turned out to be "the largest national teach-in in U.S. history, educating nearly a million people at more than 1,900 Focus the Nation events and catalyzing the conversation on global warming solutions with 64 members of Congress, 15 governors and countless local and state politicians." In preparation for the event, educators seeking to learn about the "Teach-In Model" designed to guide these efforts were invited to visit a dedicated page on the Focus the Nation website, where a sample agenda was provided for those seeking to engage faculty members, students, staff, and community members as teach-in presenters.

Mobilising people to use their voice for environmental advocacy is also a central Focus the Nation strategy. As part of "Green Democracy: Campus to Congress", citizens are asked to tell top decision-makers in the country about solutions - for example, by inviting a US senator and congressperson to engage in person, or to talk with a student audience via a video-chat. Focus the Nation is working with leaders in the House of Representatives to make this happen, in conjunction with their efforts to "green the congress". The hope is that this face-to-face, intergenerational dialogue will move the United States to confront the challenge of global warming in a way that is fair, responsible, and sustainable.

Along these lines, Focus the Nation is using ICTs to involve those living in the United States in advocacy to help make energy central to Barack Obama's inaugural address (January 20 2009). Visitors to a dedicated page on the Focus the Nation website may download a letter template and access other organising materials designed to help them take part of this day of action, which is being carried out in partnership with WorldChanging and Climate Leadership Now. Having signed on to the letter to President-elect Obama encouraging him to talk about climate and energy in his inauguration speech, participants are encouraged to gather a group to deliver a message to their Representative's and Senators' district offices asking them to join them.

2% Solution is a national, interactive webcast ("The 2% Solution" title comes from the goal of cutting 2% of global warming pollution per year for the next decade and beyond), which aired live the evening of January 30 2008. It features actor and clean energy advocate Edward Norton, Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins, and green jobs pioneer Van Jones. Organisers urged those planning teach-ins to show the webcast as a launch, and to screen it at a high school, faith group meeting, civic organisation gathering, or even a house party. Focus the Nation also suggested that citizens invite their congressperson to attend the event via a SightSpeed video dialogue. An online Discussion Guide for the 2% Solution provides ideas for facilitating conversation following the show.

The use of awards and recognition is an approach for supporting the visions of youth climate leaders. For instance, 3 college students won US$10,000 summer scholarships through Project Slingshot. High school and middle school students are invited to enter Urban ReVision's Ecoliteracy Poster Contest. And all are encouraged to test their design and video skills through the "FaceIt competitions".

Environment.