Greenpeace introduces Project Hot Seat Bloomington

Last week, Greenpeace organizers announced the start of Project Hot Seat, a community-campaign effort focused on raising global-warming awareness and seeking energy alternatives.\nProject Hot Seat corresponds with the congressional campaigns of Democratic Rep. Baron Hill and challenger Republican Mike Sodrel. Hill and Sodrel have been pitted against each other in tightly contested elections since 2002. In 2004, Sodrel defeated incumbent Hill by less than 1500 votes. \n“We are seeing the effects of global warming in our own community,” Greenpeace organizer Edyta Sitko said. “Increased flooding, draught and more powerful storms are consequences of global warming that are affecting everyone, especially farmers.” \nA kickoff event last Sunday launching the campaign involved planning Greenpeace events, assigning community volunteers and writing more than 30 letters to each candidate, Sitko said. \nGreenpeace spokesman Daniel Kessler said the 2008 elections mark a critical juncture in U.S. environmental policy. \n“The stakes are really high all around the country,” Kessler said. “We are making sure that both candidates know that Bloomington supports global-warming solutions. We are trying to make those solutions a reality.” \nLocal organizers like Sitko urge community members to petition Congress for policy changes that will drastically reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and invest in renewable energy sources.\n“We need to see leadership from our congressional candidates,” Sitko said. “We’d love to get more students and community members involved.”\nGreenpeace offers internships and potential leadership positions to IU students who are motivated by environmental change. IU students help Greenpeace build relationships with media, volunteer, petition and improve the organization’s visibility in Bloomington and Indiana, Sitko said. \nSenior Harry Luton, a biology major, voluntarily represents Greenpeace at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, assists at events and invites others to speak out against global warming. Although Project Hotseat is nation-wide, Luton said every volunteer at the local level has an impact on their environment.\n“We are trying to get people to feel like they can make a difference, like they have a voice,” Luton said. \nLuton said that continuing the support of the Safe Climate Act is an important step toward confronting global warming. The 2006 bill, introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., would cut emissions in small increments with the aim of reaching 1990 emissions levels by 2020. The bill also directs government resources towards the development of \nrenewable energy sources. \nHill and Sodrel have each met with local Greenpeace representatives to discuss environmental policy, Sitko said. Both differ on possible solutions.