Over 1,000 people joined a massive protest Saturday In Portland, Maine in what was billed as the largest protest yet against the possibility of tar sands oil being piped through the region. After a speak out at Monument Square the crowd marched to the Maine State Pier overlooking the port where Tar Sands would pass if this pipeline plan went forward.  The demonstration on the Pier was to staged to form a symbolic wall of opposition to Keep the East tar sands free. Speakers included front line community organizers, activist from across the region, Portland’s Mayor Michael Brennan and Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who announced her opposition to the plan and called on the Obama administration to do a full environmental review of any attempts to pump tar sands through this pipeline. 

David Stember from 350.org who opened the rally said, “Our goal here today is to put the powers who think they can make this pipeline decision behind closed doors on notice. Whether it’s the National Energy Board deciding on Enbridge’s plan to bring tar sands into Montreal, or President Obama who can stop the Exxon / Portland Montreal Pipe Line segment of the project, by denying it a new Presidential permit.  The voice of the people will be heard: this is our water, our land, our homes, our climate and our future. and we say NO to dirty tar sands oil.”

We just sent out this email to our friends around the world. Not on our email list yet? Sign up here to receive crucial updates from the climate movement. 

Friends,

I immediately added my name to this open letter to President Obama calling for bold climate action, and I hope you will too.

President Obama is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to tackling climate change, but he's a very important piece.  This letter lays out exactly the kind of leadership we need from him in the coming 4 years. It calls for a rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline (the first and maybe simplest test of his seriousness on climate), a strong carbon rule that would address pollution from existing coal plants, and a number of other things which will need his attention right away.

The letter was written by our friends at CREDO, and the full text is below. In these early moments of Obama's second term, it's important that we are vocal about our high expectations. The more people who sign on, the louder our message will be.

Please add add your name here: act.350.org/signup/an-open-letter-to-president-obama/

We'll deliver this letter in bulk a few days before our big action in DC on February 17th, and I hope to have your name alongside mine when we do.

Thanks again,

Bill

MABINAY, PHILIPPINES – “When bats die, the world ends.”  That was the take-home message of the two-day environmental forum and exhibit held in Mabinay, the cave town of Negros Oriental.

The Bat was the point of reference that led the way into the forum discussing the planet’s ecological meltdown.  Mysterious and often disliked, bats captivated the audience as they listened to Dr. Apolinario Carino, bat biologist and member of the Negros Oriental Wildlife Conservation Council, explain how bats are integral to the Mabinay ecosystem.

According to Dr. Carino, bats contribute to ecosystems as pollinators and by acting as natural pest control.  Bats are indispensible to sustaining the unique biodiversity of Mabinay. However, as Dr. Carino pointed out, increasing temperature and unseasonal rains of the changing climate are acting to disrupt bat development, reproduction, food access, and rest.

Dr. Carino expanded his discussion to present the Wet and Wild Exhibit, which expanded the discussion to include all the endangered species of marine and terrestrial wildlife in Negros Oriental.  He concluded by challenging the local government of Mabinay to develop and implement a comprehensive cave management plan to protect bats and promote the conservation of all endangered creatures.

350 Philippines followed with a presentation illustrating the Earth’s increasing rise in temperatures and the affected climate patterns around the world.  The audience was made to understand the destructive qualities of carbon dioxide emissions when combined with the blatant deforestation and liberalized mining practices that continue to destroy forest cover.