The environmental crisis is the no. 1 spiritual challenge facing the human race in the 21st century.
Spiritual Progressives should provide leadership in this struggle. We understand the dimensions of the issue, understand that we cannot save the planet without defeating the globalization of materialism and selfishness which provides the engine for unlimited exploitation of the earth without regard to the future consequences, and understand that a serious environmental movement would not only be involved in the day-to-day challenging of the worst offenses (as will happen at the demonstrations this weekend) but would ALSO be seeking to change the fundamental underlying assumptions about what is rational, productive and efficient in our economy, politics, and daily life. That is what we do with our “New Bottom Line” which is at the center of our Spiritual Covenant with America, and with our proposed ESRA–the Environmental and Social Responsiblity Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
No wonder then, that the Network of Spiritual Progressives has joined with over one hundred other organizations to support the Forward on Climate Rallies this Sunday, not only in the big rally in D.C. but also in the many other rallies around the country. Below is a list of locations we just received. If you can, bring copies of the ESRA to the rally, and signs indicating that you are one of the many Spiritual Progressives involved in this struggle (because doing so will encourage other spiritual progressives to feel safe to come out of the closet despite the religiophobia many people report experiencing in some liberal, progressive and/or environmental circles–and it will help alert secular demonstrators that they have spiritual progressive allies in this struggle to save the earth).
Hope to see you there this Sunday at one of the many sites!
Forward On Climate Rallies Around the Country
The Forward on Climate rally in DC will be the largest climate rally in history and put enough pressure on our leaders if every single person who can make it turns out — but sometimes traveling all the way to Washington, D.C., just isn’t in the cards. Here is a list of solidarity rallies around the country. If you absolutely can’t make it to Washington on February 17, RSVP for the rally near you!California
Los Angeles
When: Sunday, February 17, 1:00 p.m.
Where: Start at the South-West Side of Paseo De La Plaza in Olvera St. (Between North Los Angeles St. & Main St.)
Destination: South side steps of City Hall, 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA
What: City Hall events include Prayer for the Earth, songs, dance, speakers, and closing ceremony
Sponsored by: Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign, Tar Sands Action Southern California, Food and Water Watch, and other organizations
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/545359235484063/
Monterey
When: Sunday, February 17, 12-2 p.m.
Where: Window on the Bay Park, Del Monte Avenue at El Estero, Monterey CA 93940
What: Forward on Climate Solidarity Rally. Signs provided; participants are welcome to bring their own. Blankets and picnic items for sharing are encouraged. Let’s strive to make it a zero waste event!
Sponsored by: Unitarian Universalist Church Social Justice – Faith in Action/Legislative Ministry, Progressive Democrats of America Monterey County, and Sierra Club Ventana Chapter
To RSVP or for more details, including a map and contact info:https://www.facebook.com/events/200787623399106
San Diego
When: Sunday, February 17, 1-3 p.m.
Where: Mission Bay Park Visitors Center, 2688 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 921095 and I-5 overpass
What: Rally with speakers, giant banners, singing telegram for President Obama, and more.
Sponsored by: SanDiego350.org, Citizens Climate Lobby, Sierra Club San Diego, and other organizations
To RSVP or for more information:http://sandiego350.org/ai1ec_event/keystone-pipeline-protest/
San Francisco
When: Sunday, February 17, 1-3 p.m.
Where: One Market Plaza, 1 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Sponsored by: Local Bay Area 350 organizations, chapters of The Sierra Club, NRDC, and dozens of other Bay Area organizations
To RSVP or for more information:http://www.350bayarea.org/forward_on_climate_bay_area_rallyColorado
Denver
When: Sunday, February 17, 11:30 a.m.
Where: March from Auraria Campus (900 Auraria Parkway) to Civic Center Parkway
What: Student-led march and human oil spill (please wear all black!)
Sponsored by: Go Fossil Free Campaigns, 350 Colorado, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign, Greenpeace, Environment Colorado, Conservation Colorado, Protect Our Colorado, and other organizations
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/517131098320864/Illinois
Chicago
When: Sunday, February 17, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Grant Park (Michigan and Congress)
What: Chicagoans will gather in Grant Park to celebrate and display the growth of sustainable communities in our city and reject the authority of governments to destroy the future of our home.
Sponsored by: Chicago Youth Climate Coalition – CYCC
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/182372655219910/Iowa
Ames
When: Sunday, February 17, 1 – 2 p.m.
Where: Brookside Park
What: This is a family-friendly event. There will be a 10 minute talk about why we owe it to our children to address climate change now, and there will be a petition to sign asking President Obama not to approve the pipeline. There will also be a letter for kids to sign.
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/141150469381639/
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Iowa City, Davenport, and Dubuque
When: Friday, February 15
What: Iowans across the state are asking our Congressional representatives and senators for climate action by delivering letters and postcards to their offices supporting climate action.
Sponsored by: Iowa Climate Advocates
To RSVP or for more information:http://www.iowaclimateadvocates.org/nationalupdates/february15-climateactionacrossiowaMichigan
Fenton
When: Sunday, February 17, 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
What: Coalition teach-in on climate change in solidarity with the Forward on Climate Rally in DC.
Sponsored by: Interfaith Committee on Latin America, Joining Hands Action Team of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Climate Action Saint Louis, Sierra Club, Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, and the Gateway Green Alliance
To RSVP or for more information:https://docs.google.com/a/sierraclub.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG1oVXM0MTRxWllwNUt5Yk04cHJFZFE6MQ#gid=0Minnesota
St. Paul
When: Friday, February 15, 7 a.m.
Where: Amtrak Station, 730 Transfer Road
What: Join Minnesota storyteller Kevin Kling, National Book Award winning author Louise Erdrich, musicians Prudence Johnson and Simone Perrin, State Representative Frank Hornstein, Kate Jacobson of Mn350.org, Margaret Levin of the Sierra Club, and many others at a send-off rally for 72 Minnesotans riding the “Earth Train to DC for #ForwardonClimate Rally.” Press conference inside the Midway Amtrak station at 7:00 a.m. prior to departure.
Sponsored by: Interfaith Committee on Latin America, Joining Hands Action Team of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Climate Action Saint Louis, Sierra Club, Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, and the Gateway Green Alliance
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/508109692573514/Montana
Bozeman
When: Sunday, February 17, 1 p.m.
Where: The library at 626 E. Main St.
What: We will hold signs at 1 p.m., then watch a live feed of the Forward on Climate Rally in D.C. from the library. We will hear from speaker Kristi Chester Vance of Forest Ethics.
Missoula
When: Sunday, February 17, Noon – 1 p.m.
Where: N. Higgins St. Circle, at the XXXs
What: Missoulians will rally at the downtown red XXXs then march to the Higgins Street bridge to call on our leaders to take decisive action to solve the climate crisis. Speakers will include Mayor John Engen, Beth Schenk, RN at Providence St. Patrick Hospital, and Jan Hoem with Montana Elders for a Livable Tomorrow.
Sponsored by: Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, Montana Elders for a Livable Tomorrow, Transition Missoula, Blue Skies Campaign, University of Montana Climate Action Now, Montana Audubon, Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, and AERO
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/142713462559904/Nebraska
Omaha
When: Sunday, February 17, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Park, along Dodge St. (just east of UNO at Dodge St. and Happy Hollow Blvd.)
What: Nebraskans not making the trip to D.C. are holding an event to show solidarity in order to bring some local light to the importance of dealing with climate change. There will be one or two speakers who will say a few words about the importance of the D.C. event. All will stand together on Dodge Street in a rally to oppose KXL and push President Obama to move forward on dealing with climate change. It is expected that the entire event will last about an hour. We hope you will join to make this the biggest climate rally in history!
Sponsored by: Bold Nebraska and Nebraska Sierra Club
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/610484785634302/Oregon
Medford
When: Sunday, February 17, 1:00 p.m.
Where: 1 p.m. at the Medford Public Library (205 South Central Ave.) and 2:30 p.m. outside Porters Restaurant (147 N Front St.)
What: Art activities, rogue climate education, speakers, and taking a giant salmon photo with a crane!
Sponsored by: Southern Oregon Climate Action Network
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rogue-Climate-Art/117716961734629Texas
Austin
When: Sunday, February 17, 2 p.m.
Where: 5th and Lamar, in front of Whole Foods
What: Rally to show our support of the D.C. Forward on Climate Rally and raise climate change awareness here in Austin. Please wear a blue shirt (or a No KXL shirt if you have one) and bring an anti Keystone XL/climate change awareness sign.
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/121998384644026/Washington
Olympia
When: Sunday, February 17, 3: p.m.
Where: Heritage Park
What: Open rally with speakers, tabling and general merriment
Sponsored by: Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation, Sierra Club, and other organizations.
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/142713462559904/?context=create
Seattle
When: Sunday, February 17, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Golden Gardens Park (8498 Seaview Pl. NW)
What: We will take a crowd picture with our NO Fossil Fuel Exports signs and send to Gov. Inslee and Pres. Obama. At noon we will form a walking train and walk along the beach, wearing red no coal export t-shirts. Along the way we will learn about the dangers of exporting fossil fuels to our climate, waterways and local economy. Wear Red and bring something to make some noise — kazoos, tambourines, whistles, harmonicas, whatever you want!
We will joined by a special guest speaker, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.
To RSVP or for more information:https://www.facebook.com/events/200722496738864/
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Thank you for this inspiring message and exhaustive list of locations for climate actions this Sunday. I am going to DC and I look forward to seeing the thousands of protesters there.
We and a bunch of friends from First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto will be in San Francisco AND we sent a few folks to Washington DC. I’ll take pictures and perhaps post a story to Tikkun Daily about the SF gathering.
I was hoping there would be a rally in Beijing, and Delhi as well