This is a guest post by Tria Donaldson about the upcoming Powershift Canada, a student climate conference ending with a great big action on October 24. That same day, an incredible organizing effort, Climate Day, will fill Canada's capital city with climate champions.

It is 7:55 at night and I am still working. and I have been working since 7:30 this morning. Sometimes I wonder why I do, but then I remember.

Like so many of the dedicated young people I work with, I am worried about my future. I am worried about the quality of the air I breath, and the water  I drink. I am worried about watching the very climate life depends on crumble apart due to our carbon addications and our inability to change

I am shocked and saddened by the continuation of the powers that be's  ability to ignore the drastic situation we are plummeting into. I live in British Columbia. In the midst of one of the hottest summers on record here,  Rex Murphy is declaring global warming is a hoax. I wonder how my friends  who have been evacuated from their homes because of the rampant forest fires
 in a hotter then usual BC feel.

When I think about all the fear that is driving me, I grit my teeth and  think forward to all we have to do in the coming months.
This fall is a critical time for all of us who care about the planet  or  each other. This December, at the 15th UN Conference of the Parties, the  governments of the world will come together to sign a new international treaty – a treaty that will decide what steps our governments will take and  by when. Much of my future as a young person depends on this treaty – will  our governments recognize te dire need to act or will my generation be left
 to deal with the consequences.

 This fall over 1,000 young people will converge on Ottawa for Power Shift Canada. This 3 day event will be a historic moment for the thousands of young people across Canada who are fighting every day for our future. We will go to Ottawa and demand that our government does better at Copenhagen and at home for dealing with climate change.

About Power Shift: On October 23-26, 2009, over 1,000 young people from across the country will converge on Ottawa to take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Parliament Hill. Power Shift will be two days of training, strategy and action and one mass lobby day to hold our elected officials accountable to for their part to solve the climate crisis, and to build a cohesive and effective youth climate movement. This will be the largest-ever gathering of young people on the
 environment in the history of this country.

 Canada has a choice to make. We can come to Copenhagen as leaders calling  for a effective and equitable global treaty. Or we can do what we have been doing – which is blocking all steps towards meaningful action.

Obviously I would like to see our government be a leader of climate change. But I recognize they are not going to have a sudden change of heart unless we, the electorate demand it. Unless we all stand together, you and I, and demand action.

Today's young people and the generations that come after us deserve a chance to experience the world as our politicians has know it. We deserve a future untarnished by unpredictable weather, drought and water shortages, and millions of climate refugees who have had to flee from rising sea levels and
 the changing climate. This fall I will stand with my fellow youth to demand this at Power Shift Canada.

About Power Shift: On October 23-26, 2009, over 1,000 young people from across the country will converge on Ottawa to take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Parliament Hill. Power Shift will be two days of training, strategy and action and one mass lobby day to hold our elected officials accountable to for their part to solve the climate crisis, and to build a cohesive and effective youth climate movement. This will be the largest-ever gathering of young people on the
 environment in the history of this country.

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