“The People’s Climate March” is quickly approaching. The level of organization for Sunday’s event is more impressive than any other rally — climate or otherwise — this writer has ever witnessed in New York City. Organizers have predicted some 100,000 people will march, making it not only the largest climate rally in history, but very likely one of the largest public rallies in support of any issue in the United States in decades.
Posters, flyers and billboards about the rally are everywhere; this writer noticed the following posters all across lower Manhattan while running a few random errands:
Poster at 3rd Avenue near Union Square. Photo by Don Lieber.
Posters on east 6th street in NYC. Photo by Don Lieber.
Ads for the march inside the “6 train” on NYC subway. Photo by Don Lieber.
Local participation is set to be huge.
Over 1,400 organizations have endorsed the march, many of them local-based, and most of them not even environmental in their primary focus: health care workers, teachers, religious groups, labor, artists, scientists and students. It is a snapshot of civil society in the modern world, with each group understanding how runaway climate change effects everybody.
These people are exasperated by the apathy displayed by the world political leadership on this issue so far, including the U.S. government which, despite President Obama’s lofty climate rhetoric, continues to promote fossil fuel enterprises under the president’s “All the Above” energy strategy.
While all the major environmental organizations will be well represented, it is by no means a typical ‘environmental’ march: the National Lawyers Guild, Refugees International and The Teaching Assistant’s Association are among the hundreds of non-environmental group partners, and typical of the wide scope of participants.
Indeed, the local NYC musician’s union has agreed to lead the labor contingent for the march (and providing a live band). Check out the full list of partnering organizations.
The march is divided into 6 themed groups, each of which ‘tells the story of climate change’ including solutions — with everything from music to street medics to rest stations — all in close cooperation with NY police. Buses are coming from across the United States, and there’s even a ‘climate train’ which left from San Francisco last week picking up marchers along the way (a huge thanks to AMTRAK).
Line up of the march.
Global Mobilization
Hundreds of events are planned around the world to coincide with the march.
The number of events organized in support of the march is staggering. Everything from speeches to community workshops to movie screenings are occurring in all parts of the city.
See the full listing of events here. Even the New York Times is covering the extensive planning and organization leading up the march, which is also attracting celebrity support.
Brad Pitt, Chris Rock, Natalie Portman and Ellen Burstyn are just a few of the celebrities who endorse the march. See a complete list here.
Even CAPTAIN KIRK!
(Yes, William Shatner is endorsing the march officially!)
See you there?
