Global Warming Rallies Across America To Demand Political Leadership
Climate Ark and Ecological Internet are pleased to once again support "Step It Up" climate protests, a national event on November 3, 2007 to call for U.S. leadership on global warming. There are a few things we particularly like about these events. Firstly, the message is just right for American society -- emphasizing (1) no new coal plants, (2) 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, and (3) 5 million new green jobs. Secondly, Step It Up is about action, not endless discussion. Last April we joined many thousands creatively protesting U.S. climate obstructionism. And lastly, Step It Up is so good at being inclusive -- they are a positive unifying force for climate action based upon good science and collaboration. We urge you to participate. See http://www.stepitup2007.org/ and the press release below for more information. Indeed it is time to step it up and take climate action to the streets.
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Step It Up
For Immediate Release
September 17, 2007
Global Warming Rallies Across America To Demand Political Leadership
Step It Up Organizing Second Historic Event November 3 To Support Plan to Curb Global Warming
Manchester, NH - Step It Up today announced it will organize a national event on November 3, 2007 to call for leadership on global warming. The event will build on Step It Up?s April 14 rally that produced more than 1,400 events in 50 states, the largest global warming event in U.S. history.
The events across the country?held one year before the 2008 election? will show the contrast between the intense concern of ordinary Americans and the leadership vacuum in Washington. At some of the rallies, people will dip an index finger in green ink, a reminder that they plan to cast their vote next fall with global warming in mind.
?November 3 represents a new move towards political accountability,? said author and Step It Up spokesperson Bill McKibben. ?So far it's been enough for politicians to say: I care. Now, one year out from a pivotal global warming election, it's time to see who's going to lead.?
The November 3 rallies will be organized using the same decentralized Web 2.0 approach by a core team of committed youth in New Hampshire and hundreds of independent organizers across the country.
?We unlocked a pressure cooker of public concern for global warming in April by simply calling for local action,? said Step It Up co-coordinator May Boeve. ?The enormous participation across the country, by people from all walks of life, should be a wake-up call to politicians.?
While Step It Up rallies issue a call for action from local communities, thousands of youth will gather at the University of Maryland at College Park, calling for change at the November 2-5 Powershift 2007 conference.
Participants in rallies will call for real leadership on global warming including these key priorities: (1) no new coal plants, (2) 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, and (3) 5 million new green jobs.
?Americans are demanding real solutions that will reduce carbon emissions and stop global warming before it is too late,? said Step It Up co-coordinator Jamie Henn. ?Many events will occur in historic places such as the Lincoln Memorial or on Paul Revere?s route to symbolize the need for politicians to provide leadership on global warming.?
?From melting ice caps to erratic weather, we already see the impact of global warming,? McKibben added. ?But while global warming presents our most pressing challenge, it also presents our most inspiring opportunity. As the first Step It Up event showed, Americans will unite across partisan, racial, economic and religious lines to pressure leaders to solve this crisis.?
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Contact:
Michael Khoo or Kate Geller, Fenton Communications, 202-822-5200
For more information please visit the Step It Up campaign website at http://www.stepitup2007.org/
Comments
Hi Glen,
I've been reading your emails with interest for a while now. A friend of mine sent me the link to another interesting article written by the UK Guardian newspaper. Thought you might like to see it. http://www.guardian.co.uk/congo/story/0,,2173442,00.html
Maybe one day people will be physically attacking the roots of companies like Safbois?
Best regards,
Nigel
Posted by: Nigel | September 24, 2007 7:05 PM
First of all, I want to praise those who feel so strongly about Climate Change - it really is needed, for time is of the essence.
But we have a problem that lies much deeper, and our politicians are not the answer. In fact, politicians are using Climate Change to their advantage to skim more tax from the masses in stead of pro-actively doing something constructive about it. The most obvious deception is that of increased aviation taxation - the commonly known 'jet engine' is by far one of the most fuel efficient engines ever invented. In fact, increased taxes are not the answer - punishing citizens with tax is not a real solution, it is a fake one; one to make more money from the already dumbfounded citizens of planet earth. If one only takes the time, and scan 'Web 2.0' for documents, videos and discussions; will one find the vast ammount of evidence showing that worldwide governments care not for the people; they care for their pockets, thus:
We need stop focusing on politicians, and start from the greassroot level upward. We - the nerve cells of web 2.0 - are the real solution.
Kind regards
Jean
Posted by: Jean Erasmus | September 25, 2007 3:07 AM
Step it up, infact it is a right step in right direction.And we in Nigeria,we are looking forward for ur successiful campain.we shall expect detail explanation on how you host step it up. so that another TAKE IT UP can host here in Nigeria.
Posted by: Salihu Alhaji Sulaiman | September 25, 2007 4:03 AM
Dear Glen,
Good luck with the protests on 3 Nov. but what about Bali on Dec. 8th.? The
whole world is protesting that day about climate change and the UN
conference there. Will you be part of that global campaign on that day? Will
a protest on Nov. 3rd. take away from American campaign efforts on Dec.
8th.? A united global campaign will have more impact, and especially in the
US (George Bush et al). All climate campaigners must work together for
maximum effect.
Best wishes,
Eric from Ireland.
RESPONSE: It is not an either or proposition, and Ecologal Internet supports all such protests. Step It Up is crafting an important customized message for the U.S. political context which we all know is much needed.
Posted by: Eric Conroy | September 26, 2007 3:04 AM
Thank you for taking part in Blog Action Day.
Unfortunately, I did not participate.
However, I wrote a belated post about an environmental issue. As a real estate agent in Minneapolis, I see a lot of people using a product in luxury homes that is very destructive in a number of ways. It may also be contributing to the changes in the environment. Check out this post, please:
Brazilian Teak Hardwood Floors, Slave Labor, and the Destruction of the Rainforest.
You can find this post at:
http://www.realestatetwincities.net/brazilian-hardwood-floors-can-you-say-slave-labor/
I realize I made this url too long. If it got cut off in the comment form, you can easily find it at:
http://www.realestatetwincities.net/blog/
Anything you can do to share this link or help promote awareness of this issue will be greatly appreciated. Most luxury home owners in Minnesota are unaware of the environmental and human cost of these products. I feel sort of ill every time I walk into a home that has Brazilian teak floors.
Thank you!
Posted by: Kermit Johnson | November 1, 2007 9:52 PM