Greenpeace

In my day to day work, I frequently think about the vital role student activists have played in social movements throughout history. Yet, when talking to individual students (which I have done a lot of in the past 7 years), I often hear them express doubts about their own power. Some feel as if student power peaked in the 1960s and has only waned since then. Others think that today's students have little to no ability to influence the multinational corporations that are the typical players at most universities.

Well, guess what? To those who may have doubted the ability of today's students to be powerful actors in their communities, today's Kleercut victory speaks volumes to the current strength of student activism!

Since 2004, countless student activists have asked Kimberly-Clark to save the Boreal forest. Hundreds of students hosted events on their campuses, and 22 colleges and universities took action by canceling contracts, phasing out products, and writing letters of concern to Kimberly-Clark. As a result of this and other work, the company that makes Kleenex, Scott, and Cottonelle announced a new policy today that places it among the industry leaders in sustainability.

That's right, students have been integral players in our Kleercut campaign over the past several years, and today we're announcing the successful end of our campaign!

This is a tremendous victory for ancient forests, including the North American Boreal, and it would not have been possible without dedicated student activists. Schools that took action on the campaign include the following: American University, Skidmore College, Harvard University, Rice University, University of Miami, University of Central Florida, LaSalle University, Northern Arizona University, University of Vermont, UC-Berkeley, Wesleyan University, Principia College, the University of Florida, Purchase College, Regis University, University of Indianapolis, Lakehead University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Goucher College, Kalamazoo College, Mercyhurst College, and Tulane University.

So if you are a student activist, take a minute to congratulate yourself as well as your fellow student activists. Just as importantly, please take a minute to thank Kimberly-Clark for its new policy that helps protect ancient forests!

Kimberly-Clark has set a goal of obtaining 100 percent of the wood fiber for its products – including its flagship brand, Kleenex – from environmentally responsible sources. By the end of 2011, the company will no longer use any pulp from the Boreal Forest unless it is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified. The policy also prevents the company from cutting Endangered Forests, and increases the company’s use of FSC-certified pulp and recycled fiber globally. Read more at www.greenpeace.org/kleercut.

Thanks for all your hard work, and congratulations on a hard-earned victory! Continue building power in your community and on your campus with the Greenpeace Student Network - check out ways to get or stay involved at www.greenpeacestudents.org.

I have been a part of such an inspiring and vibrant youth climate movement in this country over the past several years. From seeing students on hundreds of campuses take on (and win!) clean energy campaigns to being one of thousands of young people to converge in Washington D.C. for Power Shift in 2007 and 2009, it is clear that the youth voice on climate is only growing stronger and stronger.

Only recently, however, did I become aware that another youth climate movement is vibrant and growing on the other side of the world in China. Chinese youth are equally worried, inspired, and active in their country, and they are determined to see their government address the looming climate crisis that unites us all.

Despite the rallying cry of the youth, right now the United States and China are the world’s two largest emitters of global warming pollution and have not done nearly enough to address the problem. Both nations must play a leadership role in moving all of us to a clean energy future.

That’s why we (the Greenpeace Student Network) decided to team up with Greenpeace China to launch a project called “Climate Connections.”  “Climate Connections” invites the youth of China and the U.S. to come together on the issue of climate change and build a global youth climate movement to call on the Chinese and American governments to address the climate crisis with the urgency called for by science.



If you are a young American, I invite you to be a part of this movement by joining us at www.greenpeace.org/climateconnections. Share your story by telling us who you are, what you are doing, and what you think should be done about climate change.

Then, starting on August 3rd, you will be paired with a young person from China. Together you can share your stories on climate change and clean energy and help build the movement of Chinese and American youth that are united on this issue.

Don’t wait — be a part of this movement today.