In other words, join me, A Siegel, and a few other Kossacks in the Climate Emergency Fast on September 4.
The U.S. Climate Emergency Council is organizing this fast to send a message to Congress as it returns from summer recess on Tuesday, Sept. 4. If we continue to delay real action on mitigating the effects of climate change, we face increased risk of drought, fires, flooding, and other conditions that will severely impact food production across the spectrum. The goal is at least 1,000 fasters by Sept. 4 - we're up to 935 now. Will you join us?
EDIT: I've updated this diary at the end to include info regarding a USCEC press conference to be held on Capitol Hill regarding the Climate Fast.
If you decide to participate, please let your Congresscritters now. I've alerted Sens. Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez and Rep. Tom Feeney with the following emailed statement (yah, I know they all suck to a greater or lesser degree, but you write letters to the Congresscritters you have, not the ones you might want or wish to have at a later time):
I wanted you to know that I will be participating in "So Others Might Eat: The Climate Emergency Fast" taking place nationwide on Tuesday, Sept. 4. This date was chosen to coincide with Congress' return to Washington after the summer recess. The fast is to raise awareness of the dire consequences that await the United States and other countries if we don't immediately begin action to halt and reverse the negative effects of anthropogenic climate change, which are likely to include adverse effects on the world's food and water supplies. Perhaps you and your staff will consider taking part in the fast also! You can learn more about the Climate Emergency Fast here: U.S. Climate Emergency Council
Thank you for your time and attention.
I've also sent the following LTE to my local paper, the Daytona Beach News-Journal:
On September 4th, the day our elected representatives return to Congress, close to 1,000 people from every state in the nation will be fasting. I will be one of them. The name of this organized effort is "So Others Might Eat: The Climate Emergency Fast." (www.climateemergency.org)
Almost 1,000 people are sacrificing food for at least one day because, as global warming rapidly intensifies, the prospect of much more extensive hunger in the U.S. and the rest of the world becomes increasingly likely, especially in poor countries and communities. Drought, fires, glacial melting and sea level rise, all brought on by global warming, will lead to crop failures and economic and social disruption on a massive scale. Climate change also represents a security threat as vast numbers of refugees are forced to relocate to escape extreme flood, drought, and famine conditions.
Our refusal to eat is an urgent plea for Congress to get serious and take action to solve the climate threat. The "Climate Emergency Fast" is calling for a moratorium on any new polluting coal-fired plants; a freeze and then major reductions in carbon emissions nationally; and a $25 billion down payment in fiscal year 2008 for energy conservation and efficiency programs and clean, safe, jobs-creating renewable energy.
The climate crisis is very real and immediate. It is also an opportunity, a chance for us to make changes in our economic and energy policy that create jobs, clean up our air and water, and preserve Earth for future generations.
Feel free to crib my letters verbatim or tailor them as you see fit. I got them from the USCEC's site to begin with, and just tweaked them a little.
A Siegel and I would like to let the USCEC know which fasters represent Daily Kos, so when we filled out the online form we used phony addresses incorporating Daily Kos in various ways. I entered mine as 46027 Daily Kos Way, Netroots Nation, FL (46,027 being my UID number). Since addresses are optional we don't think this will pose any problem, especially since we used our real names and email addresses.
If you decide to participate or have already signed up, please comment and let us know! We'd love to hear the addresses you came up with.
Happy Starving! :-)
Update: Climate Fast Press Conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 4:
1,000 People in all 50 States to Fast on Sept. 4th to End Global Warming
Religious, Student, Climate Leaders to Convene on Capitol Hill,
Call on Congress to Pass Meaningful Climate Legislation
On the first day of Congress's fall session, national religious, student, and climate leaders will join together on Capitol Hill to explain why they and a thousand other people from every state in the nation are fasting on this day, and why some will not be eating for weeks.
The Climate Emergency Fast is the first-ever national action of this kind. It was initiated and is being coordinated by the U.S. Climate Emergency Council (http://www.climateemergency.org).
Fasters are calling upon the U.S. Congress to pass strong climate legislation this fall which would include a moratorium on any new coal plants, a freeze and major reductions of carbon emissions, and a $25 billion down payment in fiscal year 2008 for conservation, efficiency and renewables.
Those fasting around the country include author and activist Bill McKibben, Rev. Bob Edgar, former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus, Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, Episcopal Bishop of Maine, Rabbi Warren Stone, Environmental Chair of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Brent Blackwelder, President of Friends of the Earth, Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, Van Jones of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Ilyse Hogue of MoveOn.
WHAT: Participants will explain why they and a thousand others around the USA and in at least fourteen other countries around the world are not eating on the first day the U.S. Congress returns from its summer recess, and why some intend to fast for weeks.
WHERE: Lower Senate Park, U.S. Capitol grounds, corner of Louisiana Ave. and D St. NW
WHEN: Tuesday, September 4th, 1:00 p.m.
SPEAKERS:
Rev. Bob Edgar, Former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches
Ibrahim Ramey, Director, Human and Civil Rights Division, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
Rabbi Warren Stone, Environmental Chair, Central Conference of American Rabbis
Jim Lyons, Vice President for Policy & Communications, Oxfam America
Jessy Tolkan, Co-coordinator of Energy Action
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Founder of the Hip Hop Caucus
Jean Stokan, Policy Director of Pax Christi, USA
Ted Glick, Coordinator, U.S. Climate Emergency Council
VISUALS: Attendees will be holding up pictures of impacts of climate change with the U.S. Capitol in the background.