Our Earth is dramatically changing due to the scientifically proven effects of global warming. People from all walks of life are recognizing the need to act as a pressing issue. The solutions are varied, but well within our reach, as long as we work together to solve the problem.

In the wake of the overwhelming global response to the Paramount Pictures documentary on Al Gore and his efforts to combat global warming, An Inconvenient Truth, Gore formed The Climate Project. The effort begins to form a coalition of global citizens, all being trained in giving the same presentation Gore gives all over the world and in the movie. The mission of the Climate Project is to educate and challenge citizens and governments into action against the growing crisis of global warming. Gore has been revising and giving his presentation for the past 15 years, and decided that the best way to get the word out as far and wide as is needed is to train "foot soldiers" to give it too, and as frequently as possible. Each Climate Project trainee pledged to give the presentation at least 10 times in the next year.

One of PennFuture's global warming outreach coordinators, Sharon Pillar, was among the first 800 from around the country (and beyond!) accepted to be trained by The Climate Project in Nashville, Tennessee. Participants came from all walks of life: NASA scientists, religious leaders, environmental educators, science teachers, artists, and university professors, just to name a few. During the breaks, Sharon was able to interview some of her peers about what brought them to the training, and about some of the things they are doing to fight global warming.

The speakers we hear in this podcast make it clear: at every scale, from the most local to the global, we can all contribute to the end of global warming. What is important is that we try.

For more information on PennFuture's campaign to fight global warming in Pennsylvania, visit our Cool Pennsylvania pages online. To learn more about the Climate Project, and to find out about presentations near you, visit their site. We also invite you to attend our conference Global Warming 2007: It's Time for Action in Pittsburgh on March 31, 2007, where we will be featuring global warming experts and where the keynote speaker will be U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. Register online to attend.