I'm a big greenie, and I've gone to these 350 fall things the last couple years. Now that my kids are a little older, I decided to try the big downtown one--we live in Boston. We made a sign, and my younger daughter (age 10) got very into it. It is a large sign made of 20x30 foam presentation board mounted on a yardstick. We used two boards so we could write on the front and back. We kept it simple--"350 Go Solar".
My girls were surprised by how few people showed up, and frankly, so was I. Faneuil Hall across the street had more people just hanging out. And it was obvious that most of the people at the rally were associated with formal green groups or church groups. There seemed to be very few regular people just showing up.
After a few years of this, it's not working. It should have been way larger in a liberal greenie state like Massachusetts.
I think the movement needs to become more militant. I'm not saying violent or even belligerent, but it needs more of a focus. It needs an enemy of some kind, or something.
I know 350 was way out in front with the pipeline thing and McKibben definitely paid the price, and that's not an option for me with kids and a full-time job and living in Boston, but we need more of that, and less of today. There just wasn't the right anger or energy for change today. I don't regret going. I had a great day with my kids that I will treasure for the rest of my life. But this protest was not gripping, it was not catching the attention of passersby, it was not organic. If this was the first or second year, I'd say give it time to grow. But at this point something needs to be done.
It's hard to explain and I know I sound cynical and pessimistic, but today really discouraged me. This should have been a hundred times bigger than it was. On the other hand I had a great time with my kids--they had a great time taking the train and my daughter led one of the marching groups beating a plastic bucket "drum", it was good. But it needs to be BIG.
Tell me why I'm wrong.
UPDATED...
After sleeping on it, I think we should be doing three things differently.
1.) If we are going to do this thing, the goal should be to be visible and understandable. The emphasis should be on the parading rather than the rallying, and the parading should be in places with both high pedestrian and car volume. Next time, post instructions about legible signs. Most of the signs were "I'm from -----" rather than talking about fighting climate change. The signs were written in magic marker and very wordy, so not legible by a passing car or even a passing pedestrian. It's fine to dress up in a silly costume as long as you are carrying a clear, legible sign that tells WHY you are dressed up in a silly costume.
2.) I agree with the commenter below that protests that focus on actual solutions (shutting down a particular coal plant, stopping the pipeline, etc.) are a better use of everyone's time, and the arrests give more visibility. Nobody was arrested yesterday. We weren't considered dangerous. Because we weren't. There was only one reporter there that I saw, and he was a child reporter for a radio station (i.e.--local color). And deservedly so; there was almost a bigger group watching a street magician across the street at Faneuil Hall.
3.) The logical conclusion to #2 is that in addition to protesting specific new coal plants, etc., our main enemy and focus should be on MSM disinformation companies. We should be out picketing the FOX News buildings every day. The best would be their national corporate headquarters, but there's a FOX News building in every big town. Because once people realize the truth of global warming, of course they will vote for politicians who will enact laws to stop it. This isn't "entitlement" programs or an anti-war protest. Nobody is in favor of the end of civilization except for a few crazed nihilistic anarchists. And news companies are competitive--they will enjoy and possibly cover protests against their rivals.