DISCLAIMER! What follows are real-world examples of different types of actions. They are not perfect examples!

Transcription

1 DISCLAIMER! What follows are real-world examples of different types of actions. They are not perfect examples! They would not necessarily score a 5 on the rubric. Use them as a GUIDE ONLY. Use the rubric to make sure you are including all the necessary components in your own project!!!

2 Dr. Jack Ableson 233 Haverford St. Cleveland, OH (787) EXAMPLE LETTER February 1, 2011 Ronald Pravy United States Senator 48 Dirkson Building Washington, DC Dear Senator Pravy, As you begin your deliberations in the new 112th Congress, I urge you to take a fresh look at climate change. Climate change is not just an environmental threat but, as I describe below, also poses challenges to the U.S. economy, national security and public health. Climate change puts the health of Americans at risk. The U.S. Climate Impacts Report, commissioned by the George W. Bush administration, states: Climate change poses unique challenges to human health. Unlike health threats caused by a particular toxin or disease pathogen, there are many ways that climate change can lead to potentially harmful health effects. There are direct health impacts from heat waves and severe storms, ailments caused or exacerbated by air pollution and airborne allergens, and many climatesensitive infectious diseases. This shows that climate change is not a futuristic abstraction; its consequences are real and require that we plan and prepare. The discoveries of the scientific process are worthy of your trust. This was perhaps best summed up in recent testimony before Congress by Dr. Peter Gleick, co-founder and director of the Pacific Institute and member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He testified that the scientific process is inherently adversarial scientists build reputations and gain recognition not only for supporting conventional wisdom, but even more so for demonstrating that the scientific consensus is wrong and that there is a better explanation. That s what Galileo, Pasteur, Darwin, and Einstein did. But no one who argues against the science of climate change has ever provided an alternative scientific theory that adequately satisfies the observable evidence or conforms to our understanding of physics, chemistry, and climate dynamics. There has never been an argument against climate change strong enough to sway the scientific consensus. Scientists agree that climate change is the only acceptable explanation for what we are seeing in the world today. Congress should hold hearings to understand climate science and what it says about the likely costs and benefits of action and inaction. I urge you to work together with other elected leaders to focus the nation on what the science is telling us, particularly with respect to impacts now occurring around the country. I am prepared to assist you as you work to develop a rational and practical national policy to address this important issue. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Dr. Jack Ableson

3 Dr. Jack Ableson 233 Haverford St. Cleveland, OH (787) EXAMPLE PETITION February 1, 2011 Ronald Pravy United States Senator 48 Dirkson Building Washington, DC Dear Senator Pravy, We, the undersigned, urge you to take a fresh look at climate change. Climate change is not just an environmental threat but, as described below, also poses challenges to the U.S. economy, national security and public health. Climate change puts the health of Americans at risk. The U.S. Climate Impacts Report, commissioned by the George W. Bush administration, states: Climate change poses unique challenges to human health. Unlike health threats caused by a particular toxin or disease pathogen, there are many ways that climate change can lead to potentially harmful health effects. There are direct health impacts from heat waves and severe storms, ailments caused or exacerbated by air pollution and airborne allergens, and many climatesensitive infectious diseases. This shows that climate change is not a futuristic abstraction; its consequences are real and require that we plan and prepare. Congress should hold hearings to understand climate science and what it says about the likely costs and benefits of action and inaction. We urge you to work together with other elected leaders to focus the nation on what the science is telling us, particularly with respect to impacts now occurring around the country. We are prepared to assist you as you work to develop a rational and practical national policy to address this important issue. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, The Undersigned Name Signature Zip Code

4 EXAMPLE PHONE CALL SCRIPT Staffer: Senator Feinstein s office, how can I help you? Caller: Hi there, I m a constituent of Senator Feinstein. Can I please speak with the staffer who would be handling her position on Trump s cabinet picks? Staffer: I m happy to take down any comments you may have. Can I ask for your name and address to verify you re in our district? Caller: Sure. [Gives name/address]. Can I ask who I m speaking with? Staffer: Yes, this is Joan Staffer. Caller: Thanks, Ms. Staffer. I m calling to confirm that Senator Feinstein will vote in opposition of the nomination of Jeff Sessions due to his history of racist, sexist, and anti-lgbt positions. According to the Washington Post, In 1986, Ronald Reagan nominated Sessions for federal judge. Sessions was rejected based on his comments on race and his role in prosecuting a voter fraud case against black civil rights activists in Alabama. If Sessions was rejected for a federal judgeship in 1986, he is not fit to be Attorney General in His proven disregard for civil rights makes him an incompatible choice for the head of the Department of Justice, home of the Civil Rights Division. Can you confirm the Senator s position on this and that she will vote against Session s nomination for Attorney General? If yes: I am so happy that Senator Feinstein opposes the nomination of Jeff Sessions. We will be sure to let all of our friends and family know about his/her support! If no: I am very disappointed to hear that. We will be sure to tell many of his/her constituents that Senator Feinstein supports Jeff Sessions, who threatens our civil liberties. Staffer: Sure, I ll note your comment. Caller: I am also deeply troubled that many of Trump s cabinet picks have not been vetted by the Office of Government Ethics. Is Senator Feinstein aware that Walter M. Shaub Jr., the Ethics Director s letter, sent a letter Saturday, January 7th expressing his concern? That letter states that cabinet picks are always vetted before their hearings. This makes sense, because the Senators have to know about potential conflicts of interest before they vote to give these cabinet members immense power in our government. What is Senator Feinstein planning on doing about it? Has she made a statement expressing her concern?

5 EXAMPLE VIDEO

6 EXAMPLE POSTER/FLYER

7 EXAMPLE POSTER/FLYER

8 EXAMPLE OP-ED

9 EXAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

10 EXAMPLE EVENT NOTE: This is just an article about a real upcoming event. If you choose to hold an event for your Gateway, you must ACTUALLY HAVE THE EVENT! A flyer about the event would NOT be sufficient!