More than 12-thousand young environmental activists have descended on the District.
Jessica Forres reports… they are urging Congress to pass climate change and energy legislation.



At the Washington Convention Center, hundreds of students and young professionals are excitedly wandering throughout the foyer and exhibit halls.... where they are buying global warming posters, attending activist training sessions and protesting…

[NAT: HI HO, HI HO, WE’RE DONE WITH DIRTY COAL]

They are in Washington for the 2009 Power Shift summit organized by the Energy Action Coalition. Jessy Tolkan is with the group. She says Congress needs to build a green economy and address the climate crisis.

WE’RE HERE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION DIDN’T STOP ON ELECTION DAY. WE’RE HERE TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. AND WE’RE GOING TO DO WHAT OUR PRESIDENT ASKED US TO DO.

On Monday, the activists will head to Capitol Hill to lobby legislators.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News