Sometimes when I research these issues and write these words I feel all alone, but just yesterday, I stood and walked and waited and marched with thousands of people concerned about the future of the planet and all its inhabitants. If you are concerned, you are not alone. The initial count for the Peoples Climate March came in at 310,000.
It’s difficult to explain the feeling of community and wonder as marchers just kept coming. A moment of silence was called for those that were already impacted by climate disruption. It was eerie among all those people on the streets of Manhattan, but even eerier still in the midst of quiet a powerful sonic wave came from behind and through the skyscraper canyon at first startling and then carrying my own voice multiplied by the 310,000 voices from back to front.
There were slogans and signs like the youth group with “Don’t Steal Our Future”. Others included “Don’t Worry Learn How to Swim”; “Listen to the Farmer Within”; “Another Teamster For Climate Action”; “She’s A Good Host Not One To Consume”; “Lets Build Community Not Corporations”; “Corporations Are Not People”; “Money Is Not Free Speech”; “Climate Justice” and countless more. My white lab coat read “World Leaders Do The Right Thing Act on Climate”. And of course, there was a small child on an adults shoulders with the words “ How can I make a snowman with water?” scrawled across her shirt.
I marched with the Peoples Climate Train contingent that had ridden Amtrak from California to the New York Island in a coast to coast climate statement. My burden - well in all honesty my great joy - was to carry half of a very large banner, with “Protect What You Love” in front of an approximately 12 foot diameter inflatable earth. The planet needed a crew of determined activists to carry it. There were giant heads, a polar bear costume, marching bands, labor, political community, indigenous and spiritual groups. There was even a large ark that had to be towed behind a truck.
There were an additional 2,646 events in 156 countries world wide.
On September 20 and 21 people around the world demanded climate action from our policy makers. Today, more activists wearing blue go to “Flood Wall Street” and disrupt business as usual with civil disobedience. Tuesday, 125 heads of state will meet in New York City at the United Nations for an emergency climate summit. Let them know their jobs are at stake. People are tired of talk and we want action now. www.350.org has a climate letter on-line that will be delivered to the United Nations. You can sign it to join the voices of common sense:
http://act.350.org/letter/ready-for-action/?t=1&akid=5297.1211274.03VsmY
Submitted from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY