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> WHAT IS CALPIRG?
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CALPIRG is a student run, non-partisan  organization which spans all across California. We fight against special interests that harm our environment, endanger the public, and rip off consumers. 

We're effective because over 30,000 students across the state pitch in $6 a semester onto their CARs accounts each semester so that we can hire our own professional staff (advocates, organizers, and scientists who research solutions, write bills, organize local and statewide campaigns, and lobby our legislators in Sacramento and Washington DC full time on our behalf).

For over 30 years, CALPIRG has been out getting our hands dirty while fighting for social change and winning. 

Check out some of our results here: http://www.calpirgstudents.org/results
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> WHAT IS PLEDGE? 
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Every year over 30,000 UC students pledge $6 every semester on their registration fees because they believe in the work we do. In order to stay an organization here on campus, we need 20% of the undergraduate population to pledge $6/semester on their registration fees (it goes to your CARS account). That's about a pearl milk tea or two cups of coffee you lose out every semester for your own advocates in Sacramento and DC. 


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> SWEET! HOW DO I PLEDGE?
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CALPIRG Volunteers will be out and about at various locations including Sproul. If you're having trouble finding a volunteer and you'd like to pledge, please, simply leave a message or contact any of the Admins/Officers. We will be more than happy to stop by a location that works for you.

Pledging merely requires you to fill out your name, student ID #, and sign the card. And that's it! :)


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> IS PLEDGE BECAUSE YOU NEED MY MONEY?
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 The short answer: Yes!  (and some other reasons!)

The long answer: Yes!  The vast majority of our funding comes from students on campuses across the state.  We have a campus organizer on each campus that teaches students how to organize (run press conferences, lobby, write media releases etc), full time issue experts and advocates at the state level, and full time issue advocates and experts at the national level.  

Right now, banks like Sallie Mae are spending millions trying to kill national legislation that would increase student aid by $40 billion dollars.  At the same time, oil companies like ExxonMobil have more lobbyists than there are legislators in DC lobbying to stop a global warming bill from passing.  Pledging means that you'll have your own cadre of experts and advocates working full time to represent the STUDENT voice in the capitol as opposed to the special interest one. 

Additionally, the pledge system requires us to have 20% of the undergraduate and graduate population pledging $6/semester in order to keep our chapter here at Berkeley. That is where you come in! 


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> WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO TOWARDS?
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Your money goes directly towards campaign materials (ie: brochures and flyers regarding global warming) and towards the hiring of professional advocates and organizers to make us even more effective.

Our staff..

1) .. research solutions.  Pledging allows us to hire the researchers/scientists to find the facts and counter the often skewed science of the special interests.  http://www.calpirgstudents.org/reports

2) .. write bills.  Our advocates write bills and help students interpret bills.  This allows us to choose campaigns that are the best for the public and inject our voice into the political process.  http://www.calpirgstudents.org/accomplishments

3)..organize campaigns.  Our on campus organizers help run the nations largest non-partisan youth voter registration efforts (the New Voters Project).  They are professionals on the ground helping us run our campaigns effectively. http://www.studentpirgs.org/new-voters-project

4) .. lobby politicians.  Each day we have our own advocates in Sac and DC lobbying for students - they teach us how to lobby and host a statewide lobby day and national lobby day each year. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4777994&id=56174542385

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> WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT CAMPAIGNS?
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Our current campaigns are: 

1. Affordable Higher Education:  We are working to save the Cal Grants in the next state budget, pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act nationally ($40 billion to student ad), make sure our gubernatorial candidates make college affordability a top priority this election, and make textbooks more affordable.  http://www.studentpirgs.org/higher-ed

2. Healthcare: the cost of healthcare will double in the next 8 years, and we're the generation that will have to deal with it.  Our campaign is working to make health care affordable for every student.  http://www.studentpirgs.org/healthcare

3. Global Warming Solutions:  We can't wait for scientists and politicians argue - we know we have the tools to start fighting global warming now.  We're starting an Energy Service Corp here in Berkeley to teach the community about how to fight global warming and we're gathering the grassroots support to show our legislators that WE'RE READY for global warming solutions.  http://www.studentpirgs.org/global-warming-solutions

4. Hunger & Homelessness:  Each year we run the Hunger Clean-up that raises thousands of dollars to fight poverty and sheds the light on the issue of poverty in our community and nation.  http://www.studentsagainsthunger.org/

5. Oceans:  The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a mass of floating plastic TWICE THE SIZE OF TEXAS in our ocean.   We are working to ban plastic bags in Berkeley and ban single use styrofoam in California to take the first steps to clean up our oceans.

6. Environmental Justice:  Currently, we're working to increase standards for our health in the bay area and pass a national law that will increase air standards in ports across the country.