Building Political Power

Everyday when I wake up, I wonder sardonically, what new surprises will Keystone XL bring me today. Sure, it's a zombie pipeline that just won't die; it's a whack-a-mole pipeline that pops up everywhere; but I'm surprised and saddened to say that today, it's a presidential pipeline.

Today, President Obama stood in Cushing, OK in front of a stack of KXL pipes, calling for the Southern Extension of KXL to be "expedited" and "fast-tracked." Under the guise of his "All of the Above" energy strategy, the President has shown how easily he can bend for Big Oil.

We talk every day about creating a clean and just energy economy. But what will it take to actually make it happen?

Last April, you were a big part of the answer — and we can prove it. Power Shift 2011 was the largest organizer training in history, and when 10,000 leaders returned to their campuses and communities the impact was undeniable. Not only was our movement energized like never before, we had the skills and experience to back it up.

From Keystone XL to defending the EPA and creating local clean energy solutions, 2011 saw some incredible victories. What’s more, as our movement grew, we found ourselves with a powerful new ally in the Occupy Movement. The fight for clean energy and the fight for economic justice are inexorably intertwined: the only way to have a clean energy economy is to have an economy that works for the 99%.

Now it’s time to take the next step. This April, we’re once again organizing a massive grassroots training, but this time, it’s in your communities and on your campuses. And once again we need your help. For this to work, we need organizers like you to step up as trainers and host events on campuses and communities across the country.

When I heard the news that the Keystone XL pipeline had finally been rejected my first thought was “It’s about damn time!” I rushed to a computer to peruse articles in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the BBC, Politico, everywhere I turned was buzzing with updates from our unlikely narrative. An update of our resounding victory and the power that every single one of you has within. But this is simply one small part of this remarkable tale. In order to fully understand what we have just accomplished we must go back to where it began...

There are many things to be thankful for this time of year, but above all we are thankful for you, and the leadership you have shown.

From Power Shift to Occupy Wall Street, we are seeing the resurgence of a youth-driven movement that has the power, ambition, and creativity to take back our country from the forces of corporate greed. And if anything is clear, it’s that you are at the forefront of this movement, and this is only the beginning.

For us, there is no better example of what this movement is capable of than your victory in the fight against Keystone XL. Thanks to your work, President Obama delayed (and likely killed) the pipeline that, back in August, was considered a done deal.