Focus the Nation

THANK YOU to everyone who attended Focus the Nation sessions @ FSU, presented a session, or helped organize the event. With your participation, the event was a major success. We couldn't have done it without you! - the FTN organizing committee

Focus the Nation is organizing the largest national teach-in in American history to date! This event focused in on global warming solutions for America and took place on January 31, 2008. FSU is one of over 1,500 colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses that participated.

Focus the Nation Activities: Focus the Nation @ FSU involved 32 presentations by faculty at FSU and guests, 4 panel presentations by industry specialists, and 9 booth displays by faculty and industry specialists. The events were capped of with a "Focus the Nation" concert, featuring "Litany for the Whale", by John Cage. All events were free to the public.

Due to the success of this event, we will begin planning for a similar event next year. FSU's Focus the Nation Schedule can be viewed in PDF format.

Four Components of FTN
Based on information listed on the Focus the Nation web site, there are four major components to the event:

1. National Teach-in - On Jan. 31st , millions of students nationwide participated in workshops and panels to devise solutions to global warming problems.
2. Green Democracy - This is an opportunity to tell top decision-makers about solutions important to us. Focus teams invited US senators and congresspersons to engage in person or via video chat.
3. The 2% Solution - On Wednesday, Jan. 30th, Focus the Nation streamed a free, live, interactive Web cast called the 2% Solution. College and university Focus teams watched the Web cast to kick off their Focus the Nation event.
   • Why the title? To hold global warming to the low end of 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit, global warming pollution must be cut by over 80 percent in developed countries by 2050. Put another way, we need to cut roughly two percent a year for the next forty years.
4. Choose your future - During the week of Jan. 31st, 2008, students and citizens across the country voted on five priorities for action. This campus and citizen endorsed agenda will be held up to political leaders in Washington, DC, and state capitals across the nation. Examples of topics include:
   • Invest in the Clean Energy Revolution
   • Create Green Jobs, Save Energy
   • No New Coal Plants without "Capture and Sequestration
   • Cap Pollution & Cut Checks
   • Build Green: Carbon Neutral by 2030
   • Jumpstart Low Polluting Bio-fuel
   • Support Stronger Forests
   • Tax Global Warming Pollution
   • Cleaner Cars, California-Style
   • Power Renewables
   • Change Everybody's light bulbs (Get Efficient)