Climate Action Day

Update: Many of these events were in heartland areas previously immune or hostile to environmentalist initiatives. But the American West is changing, as evidenced in part by this: For Al Gore's presentation on the Climate Crisis in Boise, Idaho, organizers hoped for an audience of about 1,000. Instead they had to move the event to the basketball stadium, and sold 10,000 tickets in 5 hours. Mcjoan at Daily Kos puts this in historical and political perspective.

A version of what follows was front-paged at E Pluribus Media , on the recommended list at European Tribune, and on the Eco-Diary Rescue at Daily Kos.

The National Day of Climate Action today was the definition of a grassroots event. With practically no media coverage, or mention on even climate-related internet sites, thousands of people gathered in places large and small across the U.S., in large groups and small, for events associated with the Step It Up campaign for action on the Climate Crisis.

Though seniors were conspicuously present at many events, this is basically a youth movement, and though officeholders like Senator John Kerry attended events, the main speaker at one was eleven years old. These are young people addressing their future.

In the photos that follow, you might notice that some people look kind of cold. Despite storms along the East Coast generated by Hurricane Noel, they turned out earlier today. These photos were sent in by participants to the Step It Up site, and more of them can be viewed there.

Also today, the Youth Climate Movement Power Shift convention began in DC. Here's their latest dispatch. Their activities continue through the weekend, climaxing in a "lobby day" on Monday, when they will attend hearings on pending climate bills and lobby members of Congress. (Here's the schedule.)

The Power Shift and Step It Up movements are coalescing around an agenda called 1Sky: 1. Mobilize America: 5 million green jobs conserving 20% of our energy by 2015. 2. Secure Our Future: freeze climate pollution levels now and cut at least 80% by 2050 and 30% by 2020. 3. Transform Our Energy Priorities: No new coal plants until they can safely dispose of climate pollution.

This common agenda has won some impressive endorsements, including well-known Climate Crisis voices like Bill McKibben and James Hansen but also Van Jones of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the Rev. Sally Bingham of the Regeneration Project and Inuit representative Sheila Watts-Cloutier. Organizations on board include the League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Climate Crisis Coalition and National Resources Defense Council, as well as Physicians for Social Responsibility and several religious groups.