350.org: More than 700 U.S. cities gear up for Moving Planet and a day to move beyond fossil fuels

September 24, 2011 - Moving Planet: A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels

On bicycle, unicycle, and by foot, nearly 170 countries are gearing up to rally for solutions to climate change as part of massive “Moving Planet” day of action on September 24th.

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 September 24th’s “Moving Planet” day of action to move beyond fossil fuels. With no leadership from Presidentc Obama or Congress, the grassroots climate movement will use mass bike rides, interfaith processions, puppets, dance, and more to pave the way for solutions to climate change at all levels of government.

Highlights in the U.S. this Saturday include:

• In Minneapolis, a mass bicycle ride and interfaith procession including more than 5,000 people and puppets will rally in front of the State Capitol.
• In New York City, thousands will bike to the United Nations headquarters for a rally with the Vice President of the Maldives, leaders of indigenous communities, and 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 on bicycles, unicycles, foot and by public transportation will meet for a massive 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 Milwaukee, dozens of cyclists will ride 80 miles to Madison to rally in front of the state capitol for better infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• In Columbus, 500 cyclists will join “Bike to the Future” a mass bicycle ride and festival.
• … and many more.

“Moving Planet” is a global day of action on Saturday, September 24th where rally goers will move their bodies with fossil-fuel-free transportation to demonstrate their commitment to moving beyond fossil fuels.

Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org, sees the massive day of action as the natural result of years of inaction, “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 since too few of our elected leaders in Congress are actually leading, we’re going to have to.” This event is 350.org’s third global day of action.

Tags: North America, United States

Category: Tck Action