Around the globe, people have taken to the streets today to march for climate awareness and, even more importantly, Climate Action.
Last count, 0957 EST, 2808 events in 166 countries with some 100,000+ in New York at this time.
A simple and fundamental question:
Will the 100,000 plus in New York spark a shift in American politics?
As we need it to, will Climate Change risks, mitigation, and adaptation become a true centerpiece of American political discourse, social dynamics, and investment -- from individuals to communities to business to the general society?
In New York, for me, one of the most appealing elements is not the mass mobilization numbers but the serious effort to provide space and structure for highlighting a range of reasons for concern and pathways forward. Not only is there organizing by groups (from States to LGBT to faith to clean energy to ...) but the march itself is structured to enable highlighting the diversity of issues/approaches with six major organizing elements:
1. Frontlines; The communities being hard hit, NOW, are in the forefront of the march just as they are on the leading edge of climate chaos damage.
2. We can build the future: Labor, families, children ... we have the resources to create the future we need.
3. Solutions: From clean energy to better food production to better land management, we have real and viable solutions -- in place -- ready for deployment for real change.
4. We know who is responsible: there are villains and nasty actors -- we know who is holding back progress.
5. The debate is over: while there are always details to work out, the science is clear -- climate change is occurring, humanity's thumb is tipping the scales to drive it, and this is creating ever-greater risks.
6. To change everything, we need everyone -- religious organizations, student groups, politicians, businesses, everyone ...
Note that this is not 'climate science' nor 'environmental' but an attempt to represent the range of society, the range of perspectives, to highlight that this is an all-emcompassing issue that impacts everything and has implications for everyone ...
And, when it comes to "everyone", that includes the media -- traditional to new media.
The Washington Post editorial page recently published six days straight of editorials laying out why climate change matters and requires attention/action. While certainly problem filled, this was a strong series. In today's dead-tree edition of the Washington Post, as there are 2808 events around the world and 100,000+ strong in New York, there is crickets as to the People's Climate March and the UN Climate Summit.
As the crickets sing in my garden (and, sigh, inside my home all night long .... got into walls ...), the dead-tree edition that I opened up this morning had deafening crickets on today's mass mobilization.
But, the dead tree world isn't alone.
Here at Daily Kos, there is (yet again) an impassioned climate Blogathon(see after the fold) calling attention to the UN Climate Summit and today's march. Yet again, the Daily Kos community has brought in eloquent, powerful (in multiple ways -- both in voice and in life position), and prominent people. And, yet again with the notably strong exception of Meteor Blades and today's Devilstower/Mark Sumner pundit review, the front page is notable for its crickets on climate change as the march goes on and with the UN Climate Summit this coming week (see front page diary list ...)
2808 events in 166 countries ...
100,000+ on the streets in New York ...
Engagement from political elite ...
Yet, crickets ...
What will it take?
For far too long, Climate Change has been pigeon-holed as "environmental" and commented on as "your issue" to those who comment that this requires across the board attention and action.
Yet again, a major climate action ...
Yet again, a major silence from the Daily Kos 'elite' and 'management'.
It has been asserted -- make it politically relevant and we will come.
Hmmm ... where has the site been on KXL?
Hmmm ... how engaged has the front page been about the strength/weakness of Steyer's engagement on politics?
Hmmm ... the crickets at DKos are overwhelming.
With that in mind, with such deafening crickets from Progressive elite voices, how can we find it atrocious that (increasingly conservative) mainstream media like the Washington Post don't highlight the march?
We face a time where we must all crawl, hobble, march demanding attention to and action on climate change.
If you care about progressive society, you must call for climate action because climate chaos' costs and havoc will undermine any ability to move forward on issue after issue.
Climate change is not a pet issue ...
Climate change is not a stove-piped issue, to be put aside for 'later reflection' ...
Climate change is not something to the side ...
It is a reality ...
And, it is a reality that is central to our prospects for the future ... as individuals, families, communities, and nations.
The time for crickets is done ...
It is time to hear and amplify the drumbeats 100,000s of shoes marching in New York.
Tt is time to hear and amplify the voices of those marching in New York and around the world.
It is time ...
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UN Climate Summit/March Blogathon
September 19-23, 2014
World leaders representing nations, industry and civil society are convening in New York City for the historic September 23 UN Climate Summit. The summit, announced by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon last September, is designed to bring all parties to the table to facilitate the 2015 UNFCCC passage of a global treaty to dramatically reduce global warming.
In what is being called a “movement of movements” moment, hundreds of thousands of marchers are expected at the NYC People's Climate March on Sunday, September 21. Other huge marches are occurring around the world, demanding what we all know is within reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world recognizing the need for climate justice; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities.
Please join us for a blogathon September 19-23 in a campaign to inspire people to take to the streets and to tell the story of why climate change is the defining issue of our time that can no longer wait to be addressed in earnest.
From ClimateBrad: I'm excited to announce that I will providing livestreamed, on-the-ground coverage of the People's Climate March this Sunday and at follow-up actions in the days ahead at PeoplesClimate.tv.
To see the September 21 Climate March routes and sign up, click here. To find an event in your region, click here. To learn more about the UN Climate Summit 2014, click here. The complete guest list of diarists is in this diary by rb137. All blogathon diaries here.
Our Daily Kos community organizers are Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, boatsie, rb137, JekyllnHyde, citisven, peregrine kate, John Crapper, Aji, Kitsap River, Dont Just Sit There DO SOMETHING, and jarbelaez. Photograph/Graphic credit: Facebook - People's Climate March.
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Our Daily Kos community organizers are Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, boatsie, rb137, JekyllnHyde, citisven, peregrine kate, John Crapper, Aji, Kitsap River, Dont Just Sit There DO SOMETHING, and jarbelaez. Photograph/Graphic credit: Facebook - People's Climate March.
Notes:
1. I regret not being able to attend the march -- had place to stay, etc ... but overstressed/ripped up an Achilles tendon a few weeks ago and I am far more in the hobble than march mode. (Executing RIICE: rest, ice, ibuprofen, compression, and elevation.)
2. Climate Brad Johnson is doing lots of interviews. He has already interviewed Schumer, Whitehouse, Steyer, McKibben, Maura Cowley. .. Go to: peoplesclimate.tv
9:23 AM PT: Amid the 1000s, the tweet to favorite / retweet? Let politicians know that you are paying attention and support their attention to climate change.
If only the White House were as good as Whitehouse ...
1:01 PM PT: Here (http://www.latimes.com/...) is a story by the LA Times' truly excellent Neela Banerjee.
1:05 PM PT: Update: From the comments, organizers put count at 310,000 ... a bit >100,000 and well within "100,000+".