– 2009-03-02 21:43:34
http://www.capitolclimateaction.org/
VICTORY: THIS IS HOW TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING
Capitol Climate Action
It’s over. Its scale was the biggest example yet of the kind of public support necessary to solve the climate crisis. #climateaction
— from TweetDeck (March 2, 2009)
LARGEST CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ON
GLOBAL WARMING IN US HISTORY
Participants demand action
to avert climate catastrophe;
call for a clean energy economy
WASHINGTON (March 2, 2009) —More than 2,500 former coal miners, ministers, mothers, students, and climate activists, representing over 40 states from Arizona to Appalachia, successfully blocked all five entrances to the Capitol Power Plant for nearly four hours today, forming the largest display of civil disobedience on the climate crisis in US history. The organizers pronounced the event a success because its scale and the commitment of its participants was the biggest example yet of the kind of public support necessary to solve the climate crisis.
The demonstration was led by Dr. James Hansen, one of the world’s leading climate scientists, and some of the nation’s most influential environmental leaders, including Robert Kennedy, Jr., Bill McKibben, Wendell Berry, Gustave Speth, Vandana Shiva as well as Grammy-winner Kathy Mattea and actress Daryl Hannah. Participants, many of whom were willing to risk arrest, united to demand bold and far-reaching action on the climate and energy crises in 2009.
The demonstration has already left an impact on Congress. On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called for the removal of coal from the plant’s fuel mix. Prior attempts to remove coal entirely have been blocked by powerful coal-state Senators Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. While this is a very small step toward moving the country off of fossil fuels it does show that public pressure is essential for achieving swift action on the climate.
“I have been described as the grandfather of climate change. In fact, I am just a grandfather and I do not want my grandchildren to say that grandpa understood what was happening but didn’t make it clear,” Dr. Hansen said in a recent interview.
This is a critical year for strong US leadership on climate and energy, with a major domestic policy debate around the corner and a deadline for international action set for the Copenhagen climate talks in December. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has cautioned that the United States and other industrialized countries need to reduce their global warming pollution by 25–40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 to avoid the worst impacts of severe climate change.
Dr. Hansen told Congress that the world must begin phasing out coal immediately to avoid catastrophic global warming, including severe economic impacts. The climate crisis, if left unaddressed, is projected to put a $271 billion drag on the US economy by 2025.
Coal is the country’s biggest source of global warming pollution. Furthermore, burning coal cuts short at least 24,000 lives in the US annually, inflicts severe damage to the landscape and water supplies, and jeopardizes the lives of miners.
There are clean and safe alternatives to coal, like wind and solar power, which will create at least 5 million jobs and help curb global warming. A recent University of Massachusetts study found investing in clean energy projects like wind power and mass transit creates three-to-four times more jobs than the same expenditure on the coal industry.
The wind power sector has grown to employ more Americans than coal mining as demand for clean energy has jumped over the past decade. Investing in wind and solar power would create 2.8 times as many jobs as the same investment in coal; mass transit and conservation would create 3.8 times as many jobs as coal.
For more information on the Capitol Climate Action, global warming, and coal, visit www.capitolclimateaction.org. To follow the Capitol Climate Action online through live blogs and streaming videos and photos, visit capitolclimateaction.org. You can also follow the Twitter.com text loop at @climateaction. High resolution images and b-roll available upon request.
For quick facts on coal and the protest, visit
http://www.capitolclimateaction.com/?page_id=33
Pelosi and Reid’s letter is available at:
http://speaker.house.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1028.
More amazing images from the largest mass civil disobedience for the climate in US history where thousands of activists shut down the Capitol Power Plant. The only way we’re going to solve the climate crisis is by coming together and taking action.
• You can follow the action on Twitter (@climateaction) or post your own update by ending your tweet with #climateaction!
• More images and video up on flickr:
ALL GATES NOW OCCUPIED
March 2nd, 2009
Every gate at the Capitol Coal Plant has now been occupied. Strong contingents have broken off from the central march in order to block access to this symbolic plant.
VIDEO CLIPS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE MARCH
March 2nd, 2009
We’ve got our video clips coming in. We’ll keep posting them as we get more. Check back regularly.
THREE OUT OF FIVE GATES NOW OCCUPIED AT THE CAPITOL CLIMATE ACTION
March 2nd, 2009
Courageous activists have now occupied three of five gates at the Capitol Power Plant. The march of thousands is continuing to circle the plant. The situation is peaceful, non-violent, and of course inspiring.
PHOTOS AS THE MARCH BEGINS!
March 2nd, 2009
We’ve got out first round of photos up from the beginning of the Capitol Climate Action! Plus, check out pictures from participants on the flickr badge over on the right side of this page.
WALKING TO THE PLANT
March 2nd, 2009
The crowd, which has got to be at least 2000 people, is preparing to walk down to the coal plant. I just walked by the plant and there are police everywhere. We’re about to start posting photo and video in a few minutes.
LIVE STREAMING VIDEO OF THE CCA!
March 2nd, 2009
You can watch it below, or you can watch it here. Streaming now!
5 MINUTES OUT
March 2nd, 2009
15 minutes out. Hundreds are gathering in Spirit of Justice park. The atmosphere is charged with hope and excitement. People are bundled up in their warmest coats and staying active by chanting. I hear “Coal can never be clean.” There’s a prayer vigil in the south section of the park.
• CONTACTS:
Nell Greenberg, 510-847-9777
Michael Crocker, 202-215-8989
Anne Havemann 202-997-2466
