Moving Planet USA

Contact:

Molly Haigh, US Communications Coordinator
molly@350.org | 907-750-1999

Press Releases:

 

September 24, 2011
Molly Haigh, molly@350.org, 907-750-1999
 

Massive Bike Rallies Organized in 700 US Cities as part of Global Call for Solutions to Climate Change

 

179 countries hold mass bicycle rides and rallies for “Moving Planet” global day of action to move beyond fossil fuels.

NATIONAL -- Hundreds of thousands of Americans took the streets for mass bicycle rides and marches on Saturday, demonstrating their commitment to "move the planet beyond fossil fuels." The "Moving Planet" day of action brought together over 700 events across the United States and more than 2,000 events in 179 countries.
 
“President Obama always said he would need pressure to help him move his agenda forward. We're doing more than signing petitions -- people in every corner of the world are showing the path ahead,” said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, the international climate campaign that is coordinating the demonstrations. “This movement is only growing -- and, sadly, every weird storm and devastating drought will make it bigger still."
 
Events in the United States spanned from Florida to Alaska, with thousands in Boston biking to the Atlantic Ocean while thousands more paraded through the streets of San Francisco. In Colorado, 3,000 people tackled the 37 mile ride from Boulder to the state capitol in Denver, while hundreds swing danced on the steps of the Utah state capitol in Salt Lake City, and an interfaith procession of 3,000 took over the state capitol of Minesoeta. 
 
Nearly 100 elected officials took part in the day, with the Mayors of Seattle and Bellingham, Washington declaring September 24 “Moving Planet Day” and the Mayor of San Antonio, Texas declaring September “Climate Change Awareness Month.” 
 
“There is nothing more important on this planet than to join the 350 movement,” said Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin at an event in Montpelier, referring to the movement to dramatically reduce carbon in the atmosphere and take bold action on climate change.
 
Globally, Moving Planet events included hundreds of bicycle parades in places like Dar Es Salaam, Sao Paulo, and London; eco-festivals in Hanoi and Manila; mass marches through the streets of Cairo, Bujumbura, and Cape Town; boat races in Tuvalu, Tonga, and Samoa; flash-dances in the streets of Berlin and Kiev; and much, much more. In countries like Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia, participants often braved tense situations to join the global demonstrations. 
 
"Moving Planet, is a global expression of unity, urgency and purpose to show political and business leaders they need to move from rhetoric to action," said Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace International. "Time is fast running out for us to prevent catastrophic climate change and secure a peaceful, just and sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. Today, we're beginning to move in the right direction." 
 
In recent months, the US grassroots climate movement has increasingly taken to the streets to put their key priorities back on the political agenda before the 2012 election. This August, 1,252 Americans were arrested at the White House as part of a sit-in protesting the proposed Keystone XL, a controversial new oil pipeline. Hundreds of thousands attended Moving Planet events in all 50 states. 
 
“One of the scariest things you'll see in the news today is the false notion that Americans must choose between jobs and healthy people,” wrote Sierra Club Executive Director, Mike Brune, in a column promoting Moving Planet. “Corporate polluters and their allies refuse to face the facts -- that burning fossil fuels is making us sick, strangling our economy, and fueling climate disruption.”
 
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350.org is an international grassroots climate campaign with a network spanning 188 countries. ‘350’ stands for 350ppm, what scientists say is the safe upper limit of carbon in the atmosphere. We are at 392ppm.
 

September 20th, 2011

Contact: Molly Haigh, molly@350.org, 907-750-1999

Moving Planet: Over 700 Bicycle Rides & Marches in all 50 States for Climate Action

On bicycles, unicycles, and foot, nearly 170 countries are gearing up to rally for solutions to climate change as part of the “Moving Planet” global day of action this Saturday.

Washington, DC-- On bicycles and in kayaks, on foot and by public transit, 700 U.S. events and nearly 2,000 events across the planet will take part in this Saturday’s “Moving Planet” day of action to move beyond fossil fuels. While President Obama and Congress continue to drop the ball on the climate crisis, the grassroots climate movement will use mass bike rides, interfaith processions, puppets, and more to pave the way for solutions to climate change at all levels of government.

Highlights in the U.S. include:

  • In Minneapolis, a mass bicycle ride and interfaith procession including more than 5,000 people and colorful puppets will rally in front of the State Capitol.
  • In New York City, thousands will bike to the UN headquarters for a rally with the Vice President of the Maldives, leaders of indigenous communities, and NASA scientist James Hansen.
  • In San Francisco, thousands will rally with bikes, boats, and electric cars for a rally outside San Francisco City Hall with 350.org’s Bill McKibben, and the Sierra Club’s Mike Brune.
  • In Boston, 5,000 people using bicycles, public transit, and their own two feet will rally on the waterfront with 15-foot puppets of politicians who have voted against clean air and climate.
  • In Denver, thousands of cyclists will tackle the ride from Boulder to Denver stopping at two dirty coal plants along the way and ending in a massive rally in front of the State Capitol.
  • In Columbus, 500 cyclists will join “Bike to the Future” a mass bicycle ride and festival.
  • … and many more.

Visuals: Bicycles, large crowds, arrows representing a move beyond fossil fuels, large numbers of people forming “350” and “arrow” shapes with their bodies, signs calling for 100% clean renewable energy, solutions to climate change, and a move beyond fossil fuels.

Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org, sees the massive day of action as the natural result of inaction by both President Obama and Congress, “The planet has been stuck for too long--governments doing nothing about the biggest problem we've ever faced. This is the day when people will get the earth moving, rolling towards the solutions we need. People in record numbers are waking up to the fact that if President Obama isn’t leading, we're going to have to.”

“Moving Planet” is a global day of action where rally goers will move their bodies with fossil-fuel-free transportation to demonstrate their commitment to moving beyond fossil fuels. This event is 350.org’s third global day of action.

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Partners for the “Moving Planet” day of action include: 350.org, Sierra Club, The Alliance for Biking and Walking, Energy Action Coalition, MoveOn.org, National Organization or Women, the League of Women Voters, and many many more. For a complete list, see: http://www.moving-planet.org/partners

350.org is an international grassroots climate campaign named after the safe upper concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, 350 parts per million. Right now, the atmosphere contains 392 ppm of CO2. Scientists say immediate action is necessary to address the crisis.