Brooke Kaye

           My work with Kyoto Now has been a rewarding leadership experience.  The Kyoto Now group is dedicated to reducing Cornell’s greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate our contribution to global climate change.  The group is also focused on raising awareness about global climate change, and clean-energy alternatives to fossil fuels. 

            My project this year was to raise awareness in the Cornell Community that the majority of electricity used at Cornell is coal generated.  Many people do not realize that coal was burned to generate the electricity used to power their computers, refrigerators, lights, etc.  In order to raise awareness on this subject I organized an effort to bring a performance art installation to Ho-Plaza.  The art installation consisted of 1000 pounds of coal dumped on Ho-Plaza.  Signs posted around the exhibit informed viewers how long common household appliances could be run on that amount of coal.  The goal of the installation was to encourage viewers to think actively about where the electricity they use comes from and to conserve energy.  The organization of this event required meeting with the Cornell University Planning and Safety Board, the head of Cornell Facilities, and other individuals involved with the planning and safety aspects of the installation.  I was also responsible for coordinating staffing at the information table, and for moving the coal to and from the location.

            In conjunction with the coal demonstration, I organized a media event, in which a mini-windmill was erected next to the pile of coal to show a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels and to support the group’s Wind Energy Now campaign.  For this media event I wrote a press advisory and press release, and served as the press representative.

            In addition to this event, as a two-year member of the Kyoto Now group, I served as a meeting facilitator.  I organized and advertised a meeting to welcome new members to the group.  I formed communication channels between the Kyoto Now group and members of the Residence Hall Association also working on energy conservation in the dorms in order to facilitate collaboration on projects and information exchange.  I also served on a special committee created to focus the groups’ goals and efforts for the next several years.  Estimated total time committed to the organization this year is 200 hours.   

            Being a leader in the Kyoto Now group has been a great experience.  I became involved with this group because human-induced global climate change is real and there are viable options to significantly minimize our contribution to this phenomenon.  Activism at the local level has been very rewarding because I have been able to see the effects of my work.  Feeling like one person can effect change is very empowering.  It has also been a great way to get to know and establish working relationships with faculty, staff, and students in the Cornell community. 

            The changes I have been able to effect on the Cornell campus have made me fully realize my potential to build a better future.  Leadership is not always easy.  I often found it difficult to motivate the group, to act as an impartial arbitrator, and to make unpopular decisions.   Overall, however, meeting these challenges and leading a group to make changes on campus with lasting impacts has made me more self-confident and empowered me to take charge of other areas of my life as well.