By Sofia Robinson* Originally published on youthpolicy.org "So for a week I sweated copiously, ate lots of watermelon and talked revolution, power and climate change. This was the week of Global Power Shift. Istanbul, Turkey. After coming away very disillusioned with COP18 in Doha last year, I was excited to go to an event based on grassroots and NGO lead change. So a team of 4 Kiwis/New Zealanders went to the other side of the world to see how we can ignite the fight against climate change on a national and global level."

Whenever I meet people overseas, there's usually a perception that New Zealand is one of the only places left on Earth that is clean and green. It's partly true - it's a very beautiful place. But it's time to set the record straight, because there's also the perception that the New Zealand Government is a relative saint when it comes to taking care of the environment and taking action on climate change. Rather than explain to you at length in words how this perception is dangerously wrong, all you have to do is watch a recent video clip of the actual New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key (and no, it's not a Flight of the Conchords parody, although I desperately wish that it was).

Some of you have already noticed - since May there are two more people on 350 Aotearoa staff. Two Latvians (Latvia is a far far away land in Europe) - Davis and Madara - have come to work for us for a year, and will be around to help out with whatever comes up.

Bill McKibben finished his New Zealand “Do The Maths” tour with an amazing talk in Wellington! Embassy was packed with inspiring, enthusiastic people who care about the climate and planet, …