The Alliance for Climate Education is one of Service-Learning's top partner organizations. More commonly known as ACE, a national student movement to address global warming, the organization seeks to educate young people about climate change and mobilize them for action. In Chicago that means students conduct carbon audits and then mobilize to reduce the school community's carbon footprint. These actions range from starting recycling programs in their school to launching a DOT (Do One Thing) campaign to reduce energy consumption.
Two super activist CPS students were thrilled to learn they would accompany an ACE delegation to Washington DC on February 17, 2013, to participate in the largest climate change rally (40,000 strong) in the country's history. Fiona McRaith from Whitney Young and Sara Kruse from Northside Prep - http://bigstory.ap.org/photo/bill-mckibben-fiona-mcraith-leah-qusba-maayan-cohen - marched alongside climate activist Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, throughout the demonstration and demanded that President Obama and Congress put an end to the Keystone XL pipeline as well as fracking, the practice of drilling 1-2 miles into the earth's surface to break up stone deposits with a combination of fresh water and toxic chemicals to enable natural gas to flow. These practices continue the country's reliance on fossil fuels and wreak havoc on the environment.
We are grateful for the excellent partnership with ACE and the opportunity for our students to practice their first amendment rights to safeguard the environment for future generations.
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