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Spreading Awareness, Encouraging Action
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Charles Darwin Events Events Organized (EO) or Supported (ES) by GWEN Upcoming Events: October 10, 2010 - White House Work Party (EO, ES) On Sunday, October 10th, GWEN will be in our nation's capital to orchestrate a noon climate-oriented work party as part of a 350.org-inspired day of action. We are inviting other local, national and international climate organizations to help us symbolically and non-violently help President and Michelle Obama “green up” the White House. We’ll be bringing insulation, CF and LED light bulbs, solar panels (just like President Carter once had), and a wind turbine. We’ll be suggesting bike racks, more bike lanes, geothermal power and MORE to President and First Lady Obama. Other suggestions are welcome. Beyond getting the White House green, to serve as an example for other Americans, our key request of President Obama is to please be a strong, protective, proactive leader, informing misinformed citizens about the very real, serious and urgent need to deal with climate change. In a democracy, citizens must understand why we need to aggressively shift to non-fossil fuels now, in order to forestall very serious consequences for us all in the coming years. Our White House Work Party plans are evolving, so check back often. Again, we urge interested groups to contact us about collaboration. We have found from past experience that cooperation and focus can add synergy and power to human endeavors. So, let’s all cooperate and focus on our officially chosen LEADER! Check www.350.org/node/17165 for more details. Past Events: August 25, 2010 - Shadowing Senator Brown in Boston (EO, ES) Sporting large, brown 'oily hands,' and carrying signs reading "Fight Climate Change Now," a dedicated group of climate activists spent nearly two hours 'shadowing' US Senator Scott Brown at several fundraising events in Boston. Four groups were involved in planning and carrying out the shadow event: 1Sky, 350.org, the Global Warming Education Network, and Paint Brown Green. Activists first gathered outside the Liberty Hotel, a former prison in Boston chanting, "Climate change victims, hear them wail; climate change deniers belong in jail!" Senator Brown was not seen entering or leaving the event. After 45 minutes the protesters marched past the offices of both US senators Kerry and Brown to a second fundraiser, held at the Kinsale restaurant, where they chanted "Six weeks of drought, then four inches of rain; how do you like your climate change?" Then, just as the demonstrators were told that "security had been notified," Senator Brown approached the restaurant. Activist Susan Shamel immediately went to the senator's side to voice her request for strong US climate legislation. Shamel and Brown spoke for nearly a minute before the senator waved to the other activists and disappeared inside. "He was supportive of my request for legislation, but blamed democrats for not bringing appropriate legislation to the senate for a vote," said Shamel. Click here and here for pictures. July 4, 2010 - Energy Independence Day (EO, ES) On Sunday, July 4th, GWEN joined with other groups in asking President Obama, to do everything in his power to develop US-based renewable energy sources, ending our dependence on fossil fuels. This was a "carbon-free event", which focused on individual supporters sending citizen-generated letters, emails and faxes to the president. Please continue to send your letters to President Obama at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20500, Fax no. 202-456-2461. Alternatively go to www.whitehouse.gov and click on the "Contact Us" button on the far upper right to send a comment. If more convenient, you can call the White House comment line on workdays, 9 to 5, at 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414. Thank you! June 26, 2010 - Hands Across the Sand (ES) On Saturday, June 26th, GWEN joined "Hands Across the Sand", 1Sky, 350.org, and others in a global day of peaceful protest with a simple message: Say no to offshore drilling; Say yes to clean energy. We attended Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts, formed a line in the sand, and then joined hands for 15 minutes at 12 PM local time. For more information to go http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/. June 17, 2010 - "Oily Bird Award" (EO, ES) On Thursday June 17th, GWEN worked with 1Sky to present Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) with an "Oily Bird Award" in his Boston office at the JFK building. Senator Brown was given the "Oily Bird Award" because he voted "yes" on the Murkowski resolution, which was going to limit EPA's influence on curbing harmful greenhouse gases. April 22, 2010 - Earth Day Citizens' Climate Congress in Washington DC (EO, ES) On Earth Day 2010, GWEN encouraged environmentally concerned groups and individuals from around the world to assemble at 1:00pm in front of the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW for a Citizens' Climate Congress. Go here to pledge your support in Washington DC to demand immediate action from US leaders to deal with climate change. Our number one demand was for President Obama to take immediate steps to ensure that misinformed Americans become informed about climate change and the importance of acting now in order to preserve a livable climate for us and generations to come. Photo here. (More photos are available here, here and here). Among the speakers at the Citizens' Climate Congress was GWEN's founder and director, Roger Shamel, along with representatives of other constituencies. You can see video coverage of two of our speakers here and here. Those who attended the Congress brought signs and banners encouraging President Obama to "educate and lead" Americans in our response to the challenges and opportunities that the situation presents. You can find some of the media coverage relating to GWEN's visit to Washington, DC here: article/photo in the Washington Post, article in USA Today (see the fifth paragraph, about a cuddly message), Joe Romm's Climate Progress blog(see Comments Nos. 16, 22 and 26). This was a collaborative, bottom-up and top-down initiative, with participation encouraged by everyone sharing the concern that our leaders are not responding quickly enough to human-caused climate change. You can find more information on a variety of Earth Day activities here. Petition to Obama: If you couldn't come to Washington DC on Earth Day, please do the next best thing and sign our petition to President Obama, asking him to spread awareness and act on climate change. We also encourage you to contact the President directly at www.whitehouse.gov using the "Contact Us" button in the upper-right corner of the webpage. Alternatively you may leave a comment for the President by calling 202-456-1111. Please help to spread the word. We would like this concept of all climate activists asking President Obama to "educate and lead" to go viral and become a concerted action. April 1, 2010 - March for Clean Air and a Safe Climate (EO, ES) On April 1, 2010 GWEN joined a united march of climate action groups to support the Clean Air Act so that the EPA can continue to fight climate change. The noon march began at Boston's Government Center MBTA Station and ended at Senator Kerry's and Senator Brown's offices. We met with representatives of both Senators' offices and delivered letters of concern from constituents. Please click here and here for photos from the event. March 27, 2010 at 8:30pm - Lights Off For WWF Earth Hour (ES) On March 27, 2010, GWEN participated in the Earth Hour event with the hopes of reaching one billion people in more than 1000 cities and towns worldwide. With your participation and encouragement GWEN brought Earth Hour to Boston. For more information, please visit www.myearthhour.org. December 12, 2009 - Global Day of Action (ES) This day was set aside for demonstrations on climate change, to coincide with the annual United Nations Climate Talks which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 7th to 18th 2009. In the past, GWEN has organized a polar plunge into Walden Pond in Concord, MA on this day. This year we supported and participated in events in U.S., Denmark and Germany. (See December 11th below.) More details at www.globalclimatecampaign.org or at www.350.org December 11, 2009 - Candlelight Climate Vigil in Bremen (EO) and Boston (ES) In cooperation with 350.org and other groups, we are organized a candlelight climate vigil in front of the famed "Town Musicians" in Bremen, Germany. For more information go to www.350.org/node/13513, or find other actions that took place on this day at the www.350.org home page. For photos go to www.donci.de. We also supported the 6pm December 11th vigil in Cardinal Cushing Park in Boston, outside Senator Kerry's local office. More details at www.350.org/node/13013. November 15, 2009 - MCAN's 2009 Climate Action Conference (ES) This was a good chance to learn more about climate change, and more importantly, what to do about it. The keynote speakers were Gina McCarthy, Assist. Administrator of the EPA in charge of Climate Change Programs, and Bill McKibben, aclaimed environmental author and activist. There were also 15 workshops. Topics included: Deep Energy Retrofits, The Green Communities Act, Local Carbon Reduction Efforts and getting the most out of your local climate group. Check out videos from the conference at http://massclimateaction.net/news/362/39.html October 24, 2009 - Regional Energy Revolution Rally, International Day of Climate Action (EO) Spearheaded by Bill McKibben's www.350.org (where you can find more information), this was a day for citizens around the world to show their support for a strong climate treaty to be agreed to at the United Nations talks in Copenhagen in December 2009. More than 5,000 rallies, demonstrations and other events were held in 181 countries at some of the Earth's most iconic places. GWEN worked with a number of other organizations to orchestrate a Boston area rally involving more than 40 towns at the historic Old North Bridge in Concord, MA. Numerous politicians, and other prominent citizens spoke at the event, including Bill McKibben's mom, Peggy. A color flyer describing this event is available here. (Our thanks to Kalman Gacs for the flyer artwork.) Click here for additional event details, including photos and etc. April 26, 2009 - Spring Kick Off Event (ES) This event, sponsored by ConcordCAN, was to promote 350.org by forming the biggest "350" ever! Over 150 citizens gathered to form the number 350 at Heywood Meadow, on Heywood Street in Concord, MA at 12:30PM. The formation was photographed from a 50' high bucket truck. Click here for more information. April 11, 2009 - Go Green Dance Party (ES) Lexington GWAC hosted a Dance Party Benefit in Lexington, MA. This successful fundraiser was partially to help offset the costs associated with the October 24, 2009 International Day of Climate Action event detailed above. The band "Trial Run" performed, playing mostly oldies and popular music -- perfect for dancing! March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm - Lights Off For WWF Earth Hour (ES) On March 28, 2009, Earth Hour reached one billion people in more than 1000 cities and towns worldwide. Thank you for helping GWEN bring Earth Hour to Boston on March 28, 2009 by your participation and encouragement of others to do so too! For more information, please visit www.earthour.org. February 27 - March 2, 2009 - Power Shift '09, Power Past Coal, and Capitol Coal Action (ES) In the middle of Obama's first 100 days, Power Shift 2009 brought thousands of students and elders to Washington to hold our elected officials accountable for rebuilding our economy and reclaiming our future through bold climate and clean energy policy. For more information please visit www.powershift09.org.
Another 100 Days of Action campaign began on Wednesday, January 21st with a national call-in day organized by CLEAN (http://theclean.org/clean_act.html). Similar actions are continuing through April 30th. We urge you to go to www.powerpastcoal.org to get actively involved throughout the 100 days.
March 2nd was one of the most significant of the 100 Days of Action. On that day 2,500 people encircled the coal plant that provides steam heat to the U.S. Capitol buildings. Participating, among many others, were authors and activists Bill McKibben, Wendell Berry and famed NASA scientist Dr. Jim Hansen. (You can read a letter about this peaceful action at www.chesapeakeclimate.org/blog/?p=562). You can get more information by going to www.capitolclimateaction.org.
Click here for a video of Roger at the Capitol Climate Action event in Washington, D.C.!
February 12, 2009 - National Teach-In on Global Warming (ES) As part of this national event (see www.nationalteachin.org), several local groups put together some excellent programs. One event took place in the Concord Carlisle Massachusetts High School Cafeteria from 7 to 9pm. Mass. Representative Cory Atkins was one of the featured speakers.
January 16, 2009 at 7:30pm - Bedford GWAC Film Event (ES) With support from GWEN, Bedford GWAC co-hosted a film trilogy about mountain top removal for coal production to produce electricity. Start time was 7:30pm; donations of $2 ($5 per family) went to the co-host, The First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, where the films were shown, at 75 The Great Road, Bedford Center, MA, on Friday, January 16th. These films told the stories of how the lives of Americans living in Appalachia are being impacted by the mountains being blown up and leveled to extract coal for electricity. Burning coal to make electricity is the leading cause of climate change, and a leading cause of premature death from respiratory problems, affecting the lives of everyone. December 6th, 2008 at 2pm - Walden Pond Polar Bear Plunge (EO) Walden Street, Routes 126 and 2A, Concord, MA -- www.gwenet.org The Polar Bear Plunge was a huge success this year. Scores of citizens braved the cold waters of Walden Pond to show their support for global climate change awareness and action! (See, for example, the articles in the Boston Globe from Saturday's event, with thanks to Marin Strategies for getting the word out: Visit www.marinstrategies.com for more information.) After some inspiring words from Massachusetts Representative Will Brownsberger, we took a dip in the winter waters of Walden Pond to help spread awareness and encourage action about climate change. (At least three television new stories covered the event, in addition to the items in the Globe and other papers.) This event was part of an international effort to spread awareness of the need for cooperative intergovernmental action to stem climate change. It was scheduled midway through the United Nations Climate talks that were taking place in Poland from December 1 to 12, 2008. For more general information on the Global Day of Climate Action, please visit www.globalclimatecampaign.org. A Public News Service radio and print article about the Polar Plunge can be accessed here: Click here to view the article -- from which you can access the radio story audio. Some photos of participants and their messages to Congress from this year's Polar Plunge, courtesy of Rick Shamel: Click here to open Picasa, then click on "View GWEN's Gallery" An invigorating video from this year's Polar Plunge:
November 21, 2008 at 7:30pm - ConcordCAN! Invites you to a Free Evening with Bill McKibben (ES) Trinitarian Congregational Church, Walden Street, Concord, MA Bill McKibben is one of America's most distinguished environmental writers and speakers. In books such as The End of Nature and Deep Economy he communicates powerfully about how communities can address climate change and the energy crisis, highlighting a compelling need for economic localization and the reduction of our community's carbon footprints. His current project, described at www.350.org, focuses on the climate crisis and aims to 'redefine the possible and rally the world behind the solutions that science and justice demand'. For more information on ConcordCAN! contact concordclimate@yahoo.com, or call 781-863-1400. November 16th, 2008 9am - 5pm - MCAN 2008 Global Warming Action Conference (ES) MIT's Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA - www.massclimateaction.net The Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) held their annual conference, themed "The Power of One, the Power of All". It reflected their work to unite individual and local efforts into collective action. This event offered almost two dozen practical workshops, plenary sessions with fascinating and influential leaders, and opportunities to meet and talk with colleagues and potential new partners in doing something significant about climate change. You can visit MCAN's website for more information. GWEN is collaborated with Bill McKibben's 350.org (www.350.org) to present a workshop on the scientific and political significance of 350ppm of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere. September 24, 2008 - Dinner and Duck Boat Tour: CRWA Hosted Unique Behind-the-Scenes Adventure on the Charlesl (ES)
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA)
hosted "Make Way for Duck Boats," a dinner and private guided river
tour of normally inaccessible sites. From the dual perspective
that only amphibious craft can provide, guests learned more about our
waterway and CRWA’s prominent role in ensuring that redevelopment
creates a healthier environment. A buffet dinner (in the
Skyline Room of the Royal Sonesta Hotel in
To
learn more about CRWA and their other events, contact
June 1st, 2008 - Dr. Jim Hansen Talk (ES) Cary Memorial Hall, Lexington Center, MA - http://lexgwac.org/JamesHansen.html Lexington's Global Warming Action Coalition (GWAC) arranged for one of the world's foremost climate scientists to speak about "Censoring Science." Dr. Hansen is director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Adjunct Professor at the Columbia University Earth Institute, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. As part of the event, GWEN arranged for a 360-degree photo to be taken by Carlton SooHoo of panospin.com, to help support 350.org. (350.org is an organization spearheaded by Bill McKibben to help publicize Dr. Hansen's research showing that 350 parts per million is a desirable target level for the concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere.) The panoramic picture below shows Dr. Hansen (right) standing with the author of the new book "Censoring Science," Mark Bowen (click on the image to open the full 360-degree view). For information on Dr. Hansen's talk click here or check these other websites for more details: http://lexgwac.org/JamesHansen.html or 350.org. April 21st, 2008 - Patriots Day March and Parade (ES) Lexington Center, MA - www.lexgwac.org GWEN joined the Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition and others in the annual Lexington Patriots Day parade in Lexington Center. The parade group formed east of Lexington Center beginning at about 2 PM, then walked to the Center with colorful signs and banners. GWEN representatives also retraced the march of the Acton Minutemen to Concord's Old North Bridge, scene of the famous 1775 battle for American Independence. April 11-14th, 2008 - Massachusetts Power Shift (MAPS) (ES) Boston University, the Boston Commons, the Massachusetts State House - www.masspowershift.org Hundreds of Massachusetts citizens gathered in Boston for one of the largest meetings of climate activists in the state's history. The conference was organized to spread awareness, encourage action, and develop leadership in the fight to slow climate change. March 29th, 2008 - Earth Hour (ES) Millions around the world joined in turning off their lights between 8 and 9 PM as a symbol of support for climate change solutions. Media coverage of the event was huge, showing that, taken together, many small actions can make a difference. December 29th, 2007 - Screening of "Everything's Cool" (EO) Cary Library, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA -- www.everythingscool.org Local activists joined us for a special screening of "Everything's Cool"--the hot new documentary about global warming. This is the heartwarming story of five unique heroes of the global warming movement, including author Bill McKibben--the guiding light of the StepItUp organization, and author and former Globe editor Ross Gelbspan--one of the first to shed light on oil company funding of global warming critics. SPECIAL NOTE: We were honored to have documentary star Ross Gelbspan attend this screening to introduce the film and answer questions afterward. December 8th, 2007 - Walden Pond Polar Bear Plunge (EO) Routes 126 and 2A, Concord, MA -- www.keepwintercold.org The Polar Bear Plunge was a huge success, we took a dip in the winter waters of Walden Pond to help spread awareness and encourage action about climate change. The media picked up the event and it was reported worldwide, in dozens of publications. See, for example, the articles in the Boston Globe and in the International Herald Tribune. Videos covering the Polar Plunge:
November 3rd, 2007 - Step It Up 2 (EO) Old North Bridge, Concord, MA -- http://events.stepitup2007.org/november/events/show/2072 The second Step It Up event GWEN hosted honored the brave minutemen (and women) of the 1775 American Revolution. Citizens gathered at the Old North Bridge at Minuteman National Park to spark the American Energy Revolution. Senator John Kerry, and the newly-elected Congresswoman Niki Tsongas spoke at the event. Senator Kerry said, "America needs at least 80% carbon dioxide reductions by 2050." Many state-level politicians spoke as well, including: Cory Atkins, Will Brownsberger, Jamie Eldridge, Jim Marzilli, and Pam Resor. The importance of climate change was vividly documented as nearly a hundred concerned citizens gathered around a tent (in driving rain) with the North Bridge in the background.
April 14th, 2007 - Step It Up 1 (EO) Bedford, MA -- http://events.stepitup2007.org/april/events/show/1186 In the first Step It Up event, GWEN hosted a crowd of concerned Bedford, MA residents who gathered at Bedford's Memorial park to start an energy revolution -- much like that of our patriots hundreds of years ago. This group of climate-aware citizens, led by the Global Warming Education Network, walked four miles from Bedford to Lexington center, where we joined the Lexington Rally on climate change. We heard congressman Ed Markey speak on the subject and then followed hundreds of others onto the Lexington Green for a photo.
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