On October 10, 2010 – 350.org‘s international day of action – there were more than 7,000 events held around the world to lower our emissions and raise our voices.

In Los Angeles, Kristina, Ethan and myself joined Action Team leaders, activists, friends and neighbors to rally against coal and oil in LA. Speakers included, among others, LA City Council President Eric Garcetti, Ellen Page of Juno and Inception fame (check out her hot DOT here) and an outstanding young leader in the climate movement, Matt Dang of Environmental Charter High School.

What follows is the speech that moved the crowd to roar as Matt stepped off stage:

“Everyone take a deep breath in and out. Anyone gag? Currently, one out of every three people living in LA has asthma. I am one of them. Growing up, I lived near an oil refinery in Wilmington where I inhaled polluted air every day and night. Living in Los Angeles, we are constantly exposed to bad air quality because of our addiction to fossil fuels and cars.

In recent years, we have learned that our biggest obstacle for the future will be global climate change. We have learned that we cannot be dependent on fossil fuels. And we have learned that we must once again change. Groups like Green Ambassadors and ACE: the Alliance for Climate Education emerged to address these sustained problems by focusing on the group that will lead the change to a sustainable world: young people like me.

My story began with two bikes. When I first started going to Environmental Charter High School, I only saw two students ride their bikes to school. ‘Why didn’t more students ride their bikes?’ I thought. Green Ambassadors taught me and my peers that Los Angeles needed to replace its dominant car culture with bikes.

Bikes are more healthy, they produce no emissions, and they are a more economical choice than cars. Then it occurred to me, “Why didn’t I ride my bike to school?” My parents answered for me, “Because there are crazy cars in the street that could run you over like dead squirrel.” This turned out to be true. According to the South Bay Bicycle Coalition, in 2008 the South Bay, where I live, experienced 21 reported, car-involved, bicycle accidents, a 50% increase from 2007.

Looking around at my school, my neighborhood, and my city, I noticed that most of my peers did not own or wear their helmets, most of them did not know proper street signals, and most of them own a bike that was too small for them, that creaked and groaned when pedaled, and that weren’t properly tuned to their needs. “I see dead squirrels,” I thought.

“We need something to address this.” I told Ms. Laimon, the Director of Green Ambassadors. She smiled, agreed, open her drawer and gave me a key to a shed at school. “Make a difference Matthew,” she said. The shed was named The Bike Shop, and Brian Lindquist, the owner Beach Cities Cycles, taught me and my friends how to maintain and repair our bikes. The South Bay area recently has been a hotbed of bicycle activity, so I have found a lot of local support.

We recently partnered with the South Bay Beach Coalition to create a map that makes riding in the South Bay area more safe. Also, the bike shop holds workshops where we teach students proper bicycling ethics. Now, instead of two bikes, there are at least 10 students who bike to school everyday, a 500% increase.

Getting involved in organizations like Green Ambassadors have given young people like me, the opportunity to make a difference, something I could not have dreamed of entering high school.

In two months, a new decade begins. In this new decade, we have the potential to end air pollution. We have the potential to see fewer cars on the 405 freeway, and more bike lanes and bicycles on the road. We have the potential to create new alternative energy industries and invigorate Los Angeles. Or we can let this decade, this opportunity, pass and pay more for expensive fossil fuels, let the asthma rate increase, and let the quality of our lives diminish.

My generation does not want an idle Los Angeles. We want a Los Angeles that is ready to embrace an innovative and sustainable future. I need everyone continue what we are doing today: rallying, bicycling, proposing, listening, fighting, and supporting the youth. Let’s also try to be friendly to bikers while we are at it.

Now everyone, take one last deep breath in and out. Remember this quality of air. In ten years, lets make sure this air is clean. Thank you.”

Feel inspired to hop on your bike? We were!