Cross-posted from 350.org

Yesterday, Americans made history. We elected the first African American president and the first man in nearly a half century who understands what it means to look at this country with hope, not fear; with pluck, not cold political calculation.

It’s understandable that millions of Americans celebrated last night on the streets of Washington DC, in New York and San Francisco, in Phoenix and Cleveland and Miami, and that millions more celebrated in their homes with friends and family close by.

But, as we all know, celebration isn’t a uniquely American trait. Friends in Budapest and Sydney related jubilation from around the world, because what Barack Obama has the opportunity to accomplish on a global scale is truly historic. With any big win, as we all know, comes responsibility. Responsibility to those who worked for you and those who sacrificed on your behalf, but also those who did not even have an opportunity to take part in the choosing.

Billions of us around the world, some who voted for Obama and others who did not or could not, are saddled with an ailing economy, poverty, pandemic disease and an energy crisis that like dry tinder could ignite at any time — it’s already on fire in some places around the world.

Despite these warnings, the path has never been clearer towards a prosperous future, a robust economy and a resurgent America. We know as president, Barack Obama must follow that path to rebuilding America by investing in green jobs and pathways out of poverty, towards a carbon-free, clean energy future. In his victory speech, Obama said “There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created.”

And he has a responsibility to bring that vision — a vision he espoused again and again on the campaign trail — to the world. He must reengage the world’s leaders, as Nelson Mandela writes in a brief letter to the President-Elect. One way he can lead, and take a decisive stand against dangerous climate change and for clean development is by attending the UN climate talks this December in Poznan, Poland.

Yvo de Boer, the UN climate chief said yesterday that “It is impossible to advance on this important topic without the full engagement of the United States. I am very encouraged by the stated commitment of Senator Obama to the issue of climate change, and I really hope that he or his representatives can come to the climate change conference in Poznan and speak to his vision of the way forward.”

It’s up to us to make sure Senator Obama follows through with the vision of a world we desperately want that is now a little bit more within reach. Sending him to Poland is a needed first step towards rebuilding the world economy and solving climate change, tasks which will no doubt take years, if not decades, to accomplish.

At this historic turning point, it’s up to us to shed the yoke of history and move forward by joining with our new leaders and pushing for a bold new solution to these dual crises. The world is counting on us.

There are few things that reveal the true nature of the kind of power we’re up against. Surveillance is one of them. Who knew that the Patriot Act and our culture of fear would target some our most inspiring change agents?

In an Orwellian turn of events, my friend Josh Tulkin, a climate organizer with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Energy Action, received a letter in the mail last week from the State of Maryland that he had been under surveillance for about one year, and suspected of terrorism, simply for being a climate organizer.

Here’s the story from Andy Revkin’s dot.earth blog:

For a 13-month stretch starting in March 2005, three environmentalists working for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network were listed in a Maryland State Police data base as being “suspected of involvement in terrorism.” The description went on to note that the police had “no evidence whatsoever of any involvement in violent crime,” and the listing, and possible tracking, did not continue. But the activists — not surprisingly — were not happy to hear about this when they received letters from the state police earlier this month informing them of the situation.

more…

And a video response from Josh:

No! says Terrellita Maverick, a descendant of Samuel Augustus Maverick, who went to Texas in the 1800s and became famous for not branding his cattle, which led to unbranded cattle being called “mavericks.” The Maverick family has been active in progressive politics for generations, including Fontaine Maury Maverick, who was a congressman and his son, a firebrand lawyer who defended draft resisters. The Mavericks object strenuously to McCain’s being labeled a maverick, saying: “He’s a Republican. He’s branded.” Thanks to Debbie Scherrer for the pointer.

Source: FiveThirtyEight

Johannesburg is probably the most diverse city in the world. It’s layers of tribes, colonists, other colonists, immigrants and slaves all wrapped up together and living on a 12-million person chunk of savannah.

I haven’t seen too much of it yet because of the difficulty of getting around in taxis and so forth, but what I’ve seen and heard has been fascinating. I’m staying in the “hip” neighborhood on the outskirts of the central city - a pseudo-suburb of sorts - but on a quiet street in a quaint guesthouse called Pension iDube.

So far, I’ve been to downtown Melville, a strip of boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants,  more than a few times. Yesterday I spent some time at a colonial-era country club wining and dining with South Africa’s small cadre of environmental journalists, and this morning I went to probably the slickest mall in all of Africa in the northern suburbs of the city.

Finally, I spent all afternoon in the somber halls of the Apartheid musem, witnessing in photos and video the horrific regime that existed until well into the 1990s.

I’m sure none of what I’ve seen so far is representative of the city or the country as a whole, but I’m learning that really no one person or place will tell the full story of Johannesburg.

It’s truly the most diverse city on the planet.

From The Celestial Monochord:

Obama interrupts “Hopalong Peter” at a New Lost City Ramblers concert

In another clear sign that his campaign is in financial trouble, presidential hopeful Barack Obama is now fundraising among devotees of the southern Appalachian stringband music known as “oldtime.”

Apparently conceding bluegrass donors to his Republican rival, Obama’s campaign is appealing directly to less affluent and less numerous oldtime contributors.

Senator Joe Biden, asked for comment while attending a joint New Lost City Ramblers concert / Obama rally, said “This makes perfect sense. I mean, you got the first mainstream oldtime stringband who is articulate and bright and clean and nice-looking guys. I mean, that’s a storybook, man!”

According to John Edwards, also in attendance, “This is a great idea! You know, Kelly Harrell was a textile worker, just like my fath — Ow! Hey! Ow! Not the face! Watch the hair! Security!”

The oldtime demographic has been ignored by major candidates ever since its support doomed the otherwise front-running candidacy of Henry A. Wallace in 1948.

Understandably, Obama’s sudden embrace of the clawhammer banjo-playing set has left even some campaign staff puzzled.

“You know how you tell the difference between a bluegrass band and an oldtime band?” asked a high-level adviser to the Obama campaign on the condition of anonymity.

“The oldtime band is skinnier than the bluegrass band,” he said, citing the previous testimony of Garrison Keillor.

To appeal to oldtime jammers, the campaign has even changed its official theme song more than forty-two times.

“First it was Sally Ann, and then we changed it to Sally Goodin, and then Sally in the Garden,” said the exasperated campaign insider. “But the oldtimers didn’t even notice! Apparently, they can’t even tell their own songs apart!”

“Barack has got to put an end to this!  He has to lift his foot up!”

I’m making “Just another banjo player for Obama” tshirts. Anybody else want one?