The Sunrise Movement

Hi everyone! We hope you all are doing well. It seems that there’s a lot of events going on in the world that have left us confused, angered, and hurt, so this week’s post will aim to be a little more optimistic and shed light on an incredible climate change activist group- The Sunrise Movement.

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So for starters, what even is the Sunrise Movement? What really differentiates this organisation from others, is that it is entirely youth led and takes on a grassroot movement approach. If you remember from one of our previous posts about climate justice and environmental racism, a movement characterised by grassroot practices is one that starts from the “roots” and works its way up through every level of society. This movement embodies our own mission statement for YWACC, we firmly believe that our youth will shape our rapidly changing world. The Sunrise Movement hosts rallies, protests, and fundraisers aiming to spread awareness about climate change and effectively save the future of this planet through sustainable policies like the Green New Deal. If you want to learn more specifically about the Green New Deal, check out our post from two weeks ago for an in depth understanding of the legislation.

The Sunrise Movement’s plea for the Green New Deal has garnered a significant amount of support in American congress, with 95 sponsors in the House of Representatives and 14 supporters in the Senate. The movement remains aware, however, that “We don’t have illusions of passing this with Donald Trump in the White House. He’s made it clear he’d rather do favors for his fellow billionaires than stopping climate change and fighting for working people. In 2019, we’ll build support for the Green New Deal in every corner of the country and cement it as a litmus test for every politician seeking the Presidency.” They strategise that we will not elect a president in 2020 who does not support the Green New Deal.

The movement’s success is accredited to the fact that more and more of this country’s youth are becoming more aware about global issues and the looming threat of climate change. Our generation is more informed, more aware, and more vocal than generations before us because of technology and social media. We’ve found the resources- now it’s just time for change.

I’d like to close this post with the Sunrise Movement’s mission statement: “We are not looking to the right or left. We look forward. Together, we will change this country and this world, sure as the sun rises each morning.”

Check out the Sunrise Movement's page directly:

https://www.sunrisemovement.org/