The End of a Summer

Where do I start? This is my first year here, so I'm still like a freshman. I heard of this whole opportunity from my friend Gavin Huang, who was a part of the youth action team last year. I thought that it would be an interesting thing to do, and it was. Boy was I right.

Well, we have accomplished much over the summer. Some of us are exceptionally good at voter reg., some at mailbox painting, some at just pounding away on the keyboard. I'm sure we each found something that we excelled at, even if you don't realize it. We were each an integral part of the team, because we're the youth action team, and not just a group.

Mm I hope you've all had fun. I did. Even if we don't see the fruits of our labor, I'm sure John Liu appreciates it very much. But of course we can see it -- the STACKS of voter registrations.

But I think that we can all say that we have made a difference in our community. We have empowered the citizens with the right to vote and when the Asian constituents go out to vote in numbers, for John Liu and Ellen Young of course, their voice is heard. I am, and we should be proud of the fact that we took a part in this.

I don't know about you, but whenever I see a busted old mailbox that I would rate a 1, I would say to myself, "oo, this one needs painting." I am at least much more aware, and I have a newfound appreciation for all of those green and blue mailboxes.

How many of you are afraid of clowns? I haven't seen any of those scary clown movies, but I thought that the recycling clown was pretty cool. Let's see... I also got a little tan from being outside all day, and... we were third runner-up in the dragon boat festival!

I was also fortunate enough to be forced by Shiang to speak in the Democratic delegates meeting. It wasn't that bad, and I was on TV for uh, 3 seconds. But here I am, kinda being forced to speak again (just kidding, Liz).

I know that we don't have free Metrocards or free lunch or free Quickly's or those kind of perks. (We do have water coolers!) We aren't as lucky as those Peter Koo folks, but it's the people that matter, and the people that I've worked with are truly amazing individuals.

My summer would not have been complete with all of you guys, so thank you so much for a wonderful summer. Thank you everyone, and good luck in school and with all that you do.

What's This?

Here’s something. A little “speech” I made to a panel (a couple) of delegates going to the Democratic National Convention. It was like a town hall meeting where local residents and members of the community came to discuss what was important to them. The delegates are going to bring their ideas to the DNC.

I was actually just a volunteer working at the check-in table. I wasn’t even informed of the event until that day. The councilman that I work for wanted youth representation so one of his associates, Shiang, came and asked me if I wanted to speak. “Me?” I asked. “How c…”

Well after a few no’s, more instigating, and some pondering, I decided that I would talk about… the environment, of all things. I knew my environmental studies elective would come in handy at some time!

So I jotted this down on the Obama Democratic National Delegation – Listening to Our Community speaker form, or, a piece of scrap paper all while kinda working at the check-in/ SIGN-THE-MEDIA-WAIVER/ get-your-name-tag table.

‘There are SO many issues facing us, the youth, today because the issues today will affect us tomorrow. Well, what are we, the next generation, concerned about? One immediate thing that comes into mind is the rising costs of college tuition. Well what about the environment?

As we all know, global warming is not a myth and sea levels are definitely rising. Recently, former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore launched an ambitious new campaign called We Can Solve It that calls for the U.S. to go completely carbon-free within the next, I believe, 30 years or so. While I think that this may be improbable, it is definitely a step in the right direction.

I would like our next President, Obama, to gear his policies towards the environment because, as Shiang said, “it is the duty of one generation to look out for the next/rest”. We must do something soon, now, before it’s too late and I don’t believe that it is too late.

I would like the urging/encouragement of transportation alternatives and more infrastructure to be developed for mass public transportation. And this money should be spent wisely, and not on bridges in Alaska to nowhere. [Haha, applause on this one.]

We must encourage the research, development, and use of new, clean, green energy. The majority of power supplied to the United States is still powered by coal and we as a nation are seriously lagging behind.

We need to solve our oil crisis as well. It has an impact on the economy, everything… and it’s raising the prices of food and other essential commodities. The government must give more grants toward the development of renewable energy—wind, solar, geothermal, nuclear, etc. because as more, say, solar panels are produced, the price will fall… you know, mass production.

With regards to oil, we must also keep in mind the importance of the environment. I agree with the Democrats’ or rather, Obama’s current position on offshore drilling. I urge them not to back down, because the opening of protected national parks will not only endanger already endangered species, but it will only decrease the price of oil for a few cents within the next ten years. Drilling now will have a negligible effect on the price of oil.

I can’t find the conclusion. So, something must be done. It’s a worldwide problem and the U.S. can definitely take a part in solving this global problem. The youth of America are concerned with this problem and the solution can start within the next year (soon). [Where did that come from? I think I scribbled all of this in the room waiting anxiously to speak.] More funding will create more jobs for future graduates and engineers.

I’ve heard of Barack Obama’s 60-point? energy plan. Something like that. Can you fill me in on that later? [Haha.] He has all these ideas that I would really like to see put into action (fulfilled). Because this should be a bipartisan issue, though unlikely, because of Republicans and oil companies… but I digress.

I’m sure we would all love better mileage and better public transportation. I am sure that thise money allocated to the environment will be much better spent than [if it were _] on wars. Thank you.’

I don’t know. It doesn’t seem good at all now that I look back at it. I was really, really nervous starting off. Oh well. No one reads this anyways; it’s just for my own record.

I was asked a question about the strategic petroleum reserve… no, we shouldn’t open it. I was interviewed by Sinovision TV right after. I butchered the Chinese interview, did okay on the English one. They didn’t show the interview, but they did show me speaking.

Corrections: We Can Solve It calls for completely free energy within 10 years. Can’t find the x-point number, but it’s his New Energy for America plan.

Addition: McCain picks a first-term governor for VP and claims Obama has no experience. Plus, she’s pleased with Obama’s energy plan! Btw, have you seen McCain’s amazingly awful interview? Can’t wait for the debates, where Biden will own.