“The world has changed, and we must change with it,” said U.S. President Barack Obama after his swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C., yesterday.

The message was like the morning weather — crisp, clear and hopeful. While nearly 1.5 million people from all corners of the nation converged in the almost-freezing temperatures of the Mall, Obama delivered his 35-word oath almost flawlessly. The newly-elected president became as calm, cool, collected and confident as he did the day he accepted the presidential nomination and delivered his campaign speech.

Among the myriad of important topics Obama mentioned that the nation must address, plans for defense, security, climate change, energy and jobs were among the priorities. The emphasis was placed on “we” and universal team work, not only at home but globally. “Honesty, hard work, loyalty, patriotism …” Obama said. We have been a “quiet force of progress throughout history. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility.”

General Wesley Clark addresses Environmental & Clean Energy Inaugural Ball attendees. (Photo by Monique A. Hitchings)

Many organizations during the past two days have held dozens of inaugural balls in honor of the administration changes and important issues Obama has pledged to address. Among the organizational events was the Environmental and Clean Energy Ball 2009 last night held at the Sequoia Restaurant in the Washington Harbor in Georgetown. Organizing committee members included representatives from Clean Fuels Foundation, Clinton Climate Initiative and Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Among the honored guests were General Wesley Clark; Administrator-Designate, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson; and Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA, Margaret Oge.

The message throughout the evening from the new administration, honored guests and special guests supported and echoed those Obama had passed along to the world just hours before hand — renewables, climate change, energy, jobs, security, reducing the environmental footprint — with the themed message “working together to build a better tomorrow.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 at 11:07 pm and is filed under Out and About. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.