2007-03-20 14:12:55 -
WASHINGTON, March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Activists from 47 states will gather on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol today for the largest U.S. global warming event, urging Congress to act promptly to slow global warming. The event, sponsored by more than 45 organizations, is also the first ever "carbon-neutral" event of its kind. All emissions from the event will be offset through the purchase of renewable energy credits.
"These citizens will take off from work to put the heat on lawmakers over the growing threats of global warming,"
said Alaska Wilderness League's Executive Director Cindy Shogan. "Warmer weather already threatens polar bears in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Congress must adopt steep global warming pollution reductions and protect the Arctic before America's polar bears disappear forever."
More than a thousand activists from dozens of cities within a six-hour radius of Washington, DC will get up at 4 a.m. to attend "Climate Crisis Action Day." Organizers anticipate that they will be joined by scores of activists and concerned citizens from the DC metro area. Following a speaker program on the West Front Lawn, event sponsors will direct concerned citizens to congressional offices. They will ask their representatives to support measures currently before Congress to reduce global warming pollution and permanently protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Activists will urge members of Congress to support House and Senate bills that would accomplish a gradual 80% reduction of domestic global warming pollutants by mid-century, and fulfill the United States' portion of the 50% worldwide cuts in emissions that scientists say are needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming. The Safe Climate Act is expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives by Henry Waxman (D-CA). In the Senate, the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act was introduced by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT.) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).
Activists will also urge representatives and senators to support the Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act, introduced by Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN), which would permanently protect the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the center of the decades-old drilling debate. The effects of global warming on the Arctic ecosystem have sparked global concern about the Arctic Refuge and its key species, particularly the polar bear. Concerns about the melting of critical sea ice in polar bear habitat recently led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose listing the bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Expected speakers at the event include Senators Sanders, Boxer, and John Kerry, Representatives Markey, Ramstad, and Waxman.
Supporters of Climate Crisis Action Day include more than 45 environmental and other organizations:
94.7FM The Globe * Alaska Coalition * Alaska Wilderness League * American Rivers * Animal Welfare Institute * Appalachian Voices * American University's Center for Environmental Filmmaking * Clear the Air * Center for International Environmental Law * Chesapeake Climate Action Network * Chesapeake Wind and Solar LLP * Clean Water Action * Climate Action Network * Defenders of Wildlife * Earthjustice * Endangered Species Coalition * The Episcopal Church(R) * Exxpose Exxon * Friends of the Earth * Greenpeace USA * Gwich'in Steering Committee * Harris Lithographics Incorporated * International Fund for Animal Welfare * Joe Public Films, LLP * League of Conservation Voters * National Audubon Society * National Environmental Trust * National Wildlife Federation * Northern Alaska Environmental Center * NRDC Action Fund * Patagonia Inc. * Public Citizen * Republicans for Environmental Protection * SaveOurEnvironment.org * Sierra Club * StepItUp.org * TrueMajority.org * U.S. Climate Emergency Council * U.S. PIRG * Union of Concerned Scientists * United Church of Christ * Washington City Paper * The Wilderness Society * World Wildlife Fund
Source: Alaska Wilderness League
