WormracerStill trying to figure out what people they are convincing, and lobbying. And how having influencers fly around the world is going to sway a Republican congress person. Again registering people to vote is awesome but they are pandering to a base that is already behind climate change.
Many mountain communities exist in Republican-controlled states. Republicans are hesitant to talk about climate change, but they care a lot about jobs and the economy. Winter sports are a massive economic driver and job creator, and POW uses that to get into the doors of politicians on both sides of the aisle. I copied a little blurb from their website from a recent lobbying effort.
“Climate change shouldn’t be a partisan issue and we know that bipartisan action will be necessary to address our warming winters,” said Mario Molina, Executive Director of Protect Our Winters. “With that we met with both Republicans and Democrats, encouraging all Members of Congress to join the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. Representatives from mountain states have a clear reason to lead this caucus, as warming winters threaten the economies of their districts.”
"Delegations from Protect Our Winters were able to meet with the offices of Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ron Walden (D-OR), and Jon Tester (D-MT)."
"On the House side, they met with Mia Love (R, UT-04), Elise Stefanik (R, NY-21), Greg Walden (R, OR-02), Peter Welch (D, VT At Large), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), John Curtis (R, UT-3), Don Beyer (D, VA-8), Jared Polis (D, CO-2), Mike Simpson (R, ID-02), Curbelo (R, FL-26) and Scott Tipton (R, CO-03)."
"Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster (D, NH-02), who co-chairs the Congressional Ski and Snowboard Caucus and is a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, hosted a reception where Members of Congress and their staff could meet the athletes and learn more about climate change’s impact on snow sports. “It’s about jobs and it’s about the economy,” said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H., at a Capitol Hill reception. “Global warming is putting 191,000 snow sports jobs at risk”, she said."
“Coming from Maine, we don’t have a fossil fuel industry, but we do have important snow sports and outdoor industry. So our representatives are in a great place to have a voice on clean energy and climate,” said snowboarder Seth Wescott. “The experience of coming to D.C. and having these conversations is important to me. As a constituent, I can use my platform as an Olympic athlete to try to influence my representatives to do the right thing.”