Press Releases

April 1, 2004

STUDENTS DEMAND Southampton College MOVE TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
Take Part in National Day of Action, Call for Turning Away From Fossil Fuels

Contact:
Kasey Jacobs
631-287-8967

Southampton, NY - Southampton College students today rallied for a new clean energy future for the school. The rally is one of more than a hundred taking place today at schools across the country as part of a National Day of Action, and comes as the U.S. Congress is preparing to take up an Energy Bill widely viewed as continuing a policy of dependence on fossil fuels.

The Students of P.E.A.C.E. (Protecting Every Aspect Concerning the Environment), an environmental club at Southampton College, organized a Dine-in-the-Dark at lunch and dinner. The cafeteria turned off the dining lights and allowed the students to use candles for light instead. Also Eve Kaplan from Renewable Energy Long Island spoke about energy issues.

"Energy is a huge issue all over the globe and it's up to this generation to make sure these issues are handled properly", said Saida Joarder of PEACE, "We are sending a strong message that young people in this nation have the power to make change. The federal government should listen."

Following student-led initiatives, Cornell University, Lewis and Clark College, and the entire University of California system have each recently pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet or exceed the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. The UC system passed a groundbreaking policy that mandates a 10 MW installment of renewable energy. Nationwide, more than 40 Higher Education Institutions are currently purchasing over 107,809 MWh of wind energy.

The Climate Campaign, Student Environmental Action Coalition, Greenpeace, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Utah Clean Energy Alliance, National Wildlife Federation, EnviroCitizen, as well as other local and national groups.

Clean energy has become a very hot issue on college campuses. As more of these campuses link up and coordinate their activities, this movement will be able to affect serious change both on and off college campuses. This is just the beginning.

For more information about the National Day of Action, please see www.fossilfools.org.