FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 17, 2013

Contacts:        Daniel Kessler, dk@350.org, 510-501-1779
                    Eddie Scher, eddie.scher@sierraclub.org, 415-815-7027
                    Jake Thompson, jthompson@nrdc.org, 301-602-3627

“Forward on Climate” Rally: More Than 35,000 Strong March on Washington for Climate Action

Washington, D.C., February 17, 2013 – Today, during President’s Day weekend, more than 35,000 people are marching to the President’s doorstep to support immediate action to contain climate change. People from more than 30 states across the country whose land, homes and health is being threatened by the climate crisis, as well as students, scientists, indigenous community members and many others are participating in this largest climate rally in U.S. history.

“For 25 years our government has basically ignored the climate crisis: now people in large numbers are finally demanding they get to work. We shouldn’t have to be here—science should have decided our course long ago. But it takes a movement to stand up to all that money,” said 350.org founder Bill McKibben.

Rally participants are calling on President Obama to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and put limits on dangerous carbon pollution from the nation’s dirtiest power plants. Much of President Obama’s legacy will rest squarely on his response, resolve, and leadership in fighting the climate crisis. Rally participants are looking for him move forward on his recent State of the Union address declaration when he said, “For the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change.”

“Twenty years from now on President’s Day, people will want to know what the president did in the face of rising sea levels, record droughts and furious storms brought on by climate disruption,” said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.  “President Obama holds in his hand a pen and the power to deliver on his promise of hope for our children.  Today, we are asking him to use that pen to to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, and ensure that this dirty, dangerous, export pipeline will never be built.”

The Keystone XL tar sands project would pipe some of the dirtiest oil on the planet through the breadbasket of America to be shipped overseas through the Gulf of Mexico. It would be a disaster for our climate, producing tar sands crude that kicks out two or three times as much carbon pollution as producing conventional crude oil.

“The Yinka Dene Alliance of British Columbia is seeing the harm from climate change to our peoples and our waters,” said Chief Jacqueline Thomas, immediate past Chief of the Saik’uz First Nation in British Columbia and co-founder Yinka Dene Alliance (“People of the Earth”). “We see the threat of taking tar sands out of the Earth and bringing it through our territories and over our rivers. The harm being done to people in the tar sands region can no longer be Canada’s dirty secret. We don’t have the billions of dollars that industry has. But we do have  our faith that people will do the right thing to protect Mother Earth. The Forward on Climate Rally shows that we are not alone in the fight to stop tar sands expansion and tackle climate change.”

In addition, right now, the president has the authority and responsibility under the Clean Air Act to cut the amount of dangerous carbon pollution emitted from dirty power plants.  These power plants are the biggest contributors to climate disruption, but are currently allowed to pollute without limits.

“This President has the power to achieve the single biggest carbon reduction ever, by holding our biggest carbon polluters – dirty power plants – accountable for what they dump into the air, said Van Jones, NRDC Trustee and President Rebuild the Dream. “Cleaning up this pollution and using more clean energy will provide jobs to thousands of Americans, save families real money when it comes to electricity bills and, most important, will make a real difference in our health and the health of our children.”

Today’s historic rally to call for climate leadership reflects Americans’ recognition of the threats of climate change and their support for meaningful action now. Study after study has shown strong public support for climate solutions, including polling conducted by Public Policy Polling immediately after the President’s State of the Union address. That PPP poll found that 65 percent of Americans think that climate change is a serious problem and a substantial majority of Americans support President Obama using his authority to reduce its main cause, dangerous carbon pollution.

The “Forward on Climate” rally was organized by 350.org; Sierra Club, Hip Hop Caucus; Natural Resources Defense Council and many other organizations.

The following leaders spoke at the rally:

• The Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO
• Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director
• Van Jones, NRDC Trustee and President Rebuild the Dream
• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Democratic Senator from Rhode Island
• Chief Jacqueline Thomas, Immediate past Chief of the Saik’uz First Nation in British Columbia and co-founder Yinka Dene Alliance
• Crystal Lameman, Beaver Lake Cree First Nation
• Maria T. Cardona, Latinovations Founder, Dewey Square Group Principal
• Bill McKibben, 350.org President, Scholar at Middlebury College
• Tom Steyer, Investor and founder of the Center for the Next Generation

///

More information at forwardonclimate.org.

For more background:
Letter to President Obama on January 7, 2013 addressing climate change: http://docs.nrdc.org/globalwarming/files/glo_13010401a.pdf
NRDC common sense plan for carbon pollution limits for power plants: http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution-standards/
Pembina Institute report on Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and climate change: http://www.pembina.org/pub/2407
PPP poll after State of the Union:
http://www.nrdc.org/2013stateofunion/

###

The Sierra Club * 350.org * 350 Berks & Lehigh Valley Climate Action * Air Alliance Houston * Alaska Wilderness League * Alliance for Climate Education * Americans for Transit * Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment * The Azul Project * Backbone Campaign * Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream * Berks Gas Truth * Berkshire Environmental Action Team * Better Future Project * BOLD Nebraska * Catskill Mountainkeeper * Center for a New American Dream * Center for Biological Diversity * The Center for Food Safety * Center for Health, Environment & Justice * Center for International Environmental Law * Chesapeake Climate Action Network * Citizens Climate Lobby * Clean Water Action * Climate Action Network Canada * Climate Change Initiative of Howard County * ClimateMama * Climate Parents * Climate Reality Project * Coalition Against Nukes * ColorOfChange.org * Cool Planet Minnesota * The Council of Canadians * CREDO Action * Dakota Rural Action * Democracy for America * Dogwood Alliance * Dorothy Day Catholic Worker * Earth Day Network * Earth in Brackets * Earth Island Institute * Earth Month Network * Earth Quaker Action Team * Earthworks * EcoJive * Energy Action Coalition * Environment America * Environmental Action * Environmental Defence Canada * Environmental Media Association * Environment Maine * Environment Minnesota * Ethical Electric * Fast for the Earth * Fellowship of Reconciliation * Food and Water Watch * Forecast the Facts * ForestEthics *
Friends of the Earth US * Georgia Climate Change Coalition * Global Community Monitor * Global Exchange * Global Kids, Inc. * Green America * GreenFaith * Green for All * Green Party of New York State * Greenpeace Canada * Greenpeace US * Green Schools Alliance * Green Zionist Alliance * Gulf Restoration Network * Hip Hop Caucus * Human Impacts Institute * Indigenous Environmental Network * Institute for Policy Studies, Sustainable Energy and Economy Network * Interdependence Movement * Interfaith Moral Action on Climate * Interfaith Power & Light * Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA) * International Forum on Globalization * International Rivers * International Women’s Earth and Climate Initiative * Just Foreign Policy * Kids vs. Global Warming * League of Conservation Voters * League of Women Voters * League of Young Voters * Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns * MaynardCAN! * Massachusetts Climate Action Network * MN350 * Moms Clean Air Task Force * The Mothers Project: United for Sustainability * MoveOn.org * NAACP Youth and College Division * National Audubon Society * National Latino Coalition on Climate Change * National Nurses United * National Religious Coalition on Creation Care * National Wildlife Federation * Natural Resources Defense Council * Nebraska Farmers Union * New Jersey Environmental Lobby * New York City Audubon Society * New Yorkers Against Fracking * NYC Climate Coalition * North Texas Environmental Voters * Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition * Oil Change International * One Earth Productions: “Greedy Lying Bastards” * Organic Consumers Association * The Other 98% * Patagonia * Physicians for Social Responsibility * PlanIt4Planet * Progressives United * Public Citizen * Rebuild the Dream * Represent.Us * Renew America Roadtrip * Ridebuzz.org * River Network * Riverkeeper * Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition * Safe Climate Campaign * Sane Energy Project * SaveWithSunlight, Inc. * Seventh Generation * Sierra Club BC * Sierra Club Canada - Prairie Chapter * SLAB Watchdog * Sojourners: Faith in Action for Social Justice * Solidarity * Southern Alliance for Clean Energy * Southern Energy Network * Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Tribal Historic Preservation Office * Story of Stuff Project * Sungevity * SunHarvest Solar Company * Sunrun * Sustainable Man * SustainUS * SXSW Eco * Tar Sands Blockade * Toronto Climate Campaign * UK Tar Sands Network * Unitarian Universalist Association * Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth * United for Action * United for Peace and Justice * Unity College * USAction/TrueMajority * US Climate Action Network * Virginia NOW * Vermont Natural Resources Council * Washington Peace Center * Waterkeeper Alliance * WESPAC Foundation * The Wilderness Society * The William C. Velasquez Institute * Will Steger Foundation * Women Donors Network * Women’s Earth and Climate Caucus * World Can’t Wait * World Wildlife Fund * yerdle * Young Evangelicals for Climate Action

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES:
February 14, 2013

**TOMORROW, Feb. 15 at 11:30 AM ET**

*Call: 888-428-9480*

Media call:  Preview Forward on Climate Rally

Contacts: Daniel Kessler / 510-501-1779 / daniel@350.org; Maggie Kao / 202-675-2384 / maggie.kao@sierraclub.org

Washington, D.C. — Please join climate leaders Friday to preview Sunday’s Forward on Climate rally. Speakers will address how the climate movement is gaining in size and strength and what they expect from the Administration over the next four years on climate and energy.

From rejecting the toxic Keystone XL tar sands pipeline to limiting carbon pollution from our nation’s dirty power plants, moving beyond coal and natural gas, and firing up our clean energy economy, Barack Obama’s legacy as president will rest squarely on his response, resolve, and leadership in solving the climate crisis.

More information on the rally is at forwardonclimate.org.

What: Preview the Forward on Climate rally

Who: Bill McKibben, Founder, 350.org
Sarah Hodgdon, Sierra Club National Program Director
Van Jones, NRDC Trustee and President Rebuild the Dream

When: TOMORROW, Friday, February 15 at 11:30 AM ET

Where: 888-428-9480

CEP sends support to Forward On Climate and calls on unions to oppose Keystone XL 

OTTAWA - The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada

(CEP) is standing in support of the Forward On Climate demonstration this Sunday in Washington, DC. Thousands of Americans will be calling on President Barack Obama to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline and to start his second term with strong climate action. 

Crowds are expected to converge on the White House this President’s Day weekend in what organizers are promoting as the largest climate rally in U.S. History. The action is organized by groups on the front line of climate change activism in the US such as 350.org and the Hip Hop Caucus. For the first time in its 120 year history, the Sierra Club, uniting a million members, has endorsed civil disobedience actions on the day of the demonstration. 

As Canada’s largest energy union, we have opposed export pipelines such as Keystone XL from the start because they work against the interest of the Canadian people, said CEP National President Dave Coles. Through collective actions such as Forward On Climate, our governments will have no choice but to listen and begin acting to address climate disturbances. 

CEP has been part of the Canadian fight to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline on the basis that export pipelines do nothing to address Canadian energy security or the need for jobs. The union has also been calling for a national energy strategy to address climate disturbances. 

The current Conservative government in Canada has been lobbying aggressively in favour of the pipeline, making it the top priority for Canadian diplomacy in the U.S., noted Coles. This is a national embarrassment. 

The CEP congratulates National Nurses United, Communication Workers of America, Transport Workers Union and the Amalgamated Transit Union for their support of Sunday’s demonstration and calls on other trade unions to endorse Forward on Climate Change and the battle against Keystone XL. 

Read more on the Forward On Climate action in Washington, DC. 

(www.forwardonclimate.org) 

The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada is the 

largest union in several key sectors of Canadas economy, includin

Support Forward on Climate Rally on February 17

WASHINGTON DC — Today the Sierra Club released a letter from 30 notable entertainment and environmental leaders, calling on President Obama to cement his legacy by addressing climate disruption during his second term. 

In a letter to the President, the group wrote,“Your legacy as 44th president of the United States rests firmly on your leadership on climate disruption. Only the president has the power to lead an effort on the scale and with the urgency we need to phase out fossil fuels and lead America, and the world, in a clean energy revolution.”

Those that signed the letter include:

• Adam Levine
• Alec Baldwin
• Alicia Silverstone
• Bonnie Raitt
• Darren Aronofsky
• Edward Norton
• Edward James Olmos
• Elle Macpherson
• Evangeline Lilly
• Ian Somerhalder
• Jack Johnson
• Jason Mraz
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Incubus
• Linkin Park
• Malin Akerman
• Michael Franti
• Morgan Freeman
• Ozomatli
• Phillipe Cousteau
• Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
• Russell Simmons
• Susan Sarandon
• Woody Harrelson
• Yoko Ono

The letter is the latest effort leading up to the Forward on Climate rally on February 17 in Washington DC, set to be the largest climate rally in the history of the United States.

The letter to President Obama was published as a full page ad in Monday’s issue of The Hill newspaper. 

To view the letter, click here.

Contact: 
Eitan Bencuya: Eitan.Bencuya@sierraclub.org, 202-495-3047
Melissa Sun: Melissa.Sun@sierraclub.org, 310-838-3269

For immediate release

Feb. 11, 2013

Prominent Canadians Support Forward on Climate Rally 

Support from Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow, David Suzuki, and others

OAKLAND, Calif — Prominent Canadians from a variety of backgrounds have signed on to a letter in support of the “Forward on Climate” rally on February 17, when tens of thousands of committed activists will converge on Washington DC to tell President Obama to act on the climate crisis. (1)

The letter reads, “The recent extreme weather events and record breaking temperatures in North America and all over the world leave no doubt, if any doubt persisted: we must act, and act fast, on climate.  The world’s scientists have made it clear that unless bold action is taken it will no longer be possible to avoid climate chaos.”

“Forward on Climate” will be the largest climate rally in American history. One of the rally partner organizations, 350.org, says the first step to putting our country on the path to addressing the climate crisis is for President Obama to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. His legacy as president will rest squarely on his response, resolve, and leadership in solving the climate crisis.

This letter shows, though, that Americans are not the only citizens concerned about the drastic impacts the unnecessary exploitation of Canadian tar sands will have on the climate: “A large majority of Canadians are concerned about climate change and want our government to consider the long-term implications and the need for immediate action to reduce our emissions. We also need the leadership of the United States and President Obama,” the signers say.

“We know that this struggle won’t end overnight; we have much work ahead of us. But history is made at events like these. I join with our American friends in saying to President Obama: We need your leadership on climate, starting right now. Reject this pipeline, and we will support your decision in every way we can,” they conclude.

CONTACT: Daniel Kessler, 350.org, daniel@350.org, 510-501-1779

1. The full text of the letter is below:

I am supporting the tens of thousands of people converging in Washington, DC on Feb. 17 as part of the “Forward on Climate” rally. The recent extreme weather events and record breaking temperatures in North America and all over the world leave no doubt, if any doubt persisted: we must act, and act fast, on climate.  The world’s scientists have made it clear that unless bold action is taken it will no longer be possible to avoid climate chaos.

President Obama was encouraging in his inaugural address, when he said, “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations…Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms.”  One of the first steps he can take is to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would drive reckless expansion of Canada’s tar sands. The tar sands hold an enormous pool of carbon, which must be left in the ground if we are to have a fighting chance to meet the climate challenge. Denying the permit would be just the sort of bold action scientists say we need. 

This is in our interest because Canada is extremely vulnerable to the consequences of escalating climate change.  As a northern nation, we already see warming in the Arctic; with the longest marine coastline, we will be hammered by rising sea level; and climate sensitive areas such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism are already being impacted. 

That’s why, as a Canadian I am working with other individuals and organizations to inform Canadians about the social, economic and ecological costs of the expansion of tar sands production and pipelines, such as Enbridge Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan Transmountain. A large majority of Canadians are concerned about climate change and want our government to consider the long-term implications and the need for immediate action to reduce our emissions. We also need the leadership of the United States and President Obama.

We know that this struggle won’t end overnight; we have much work ahead of us. But history is made at events like these. I join with our American friends in saying to President Obama: We need your leadership on climate, starting right now. Reject this pipeline, and we will support your decision in every way we can.

Sincerely,

David Suzuki, Professor emeritus, UBC, Vancouver

Tzeporah Berman, Author, BA, MES

Naomi Klein, author

Mark Jaccard, Professor of Sustainable Energy, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver

Clayton Ruby, C.M. B.A., LL.B., LL.M., LL.D. (honoris causa)

Elizabeth May, O.C., Member of Parliament, Saanich-Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party 

Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians, Ottawa of Canada

Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

Sarah Harmer, a Canadian singer-songwriter and activist

PRESS RELEASE

Presidents of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Take a Public Position Opposing the Keystone XL Pipeline

From:   Michael G. Hadfield, Past President (1995-1996); John Pearse,  Past President, 2007-2008; The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

Date: February 7, 2013

Attached is an open letter sent to President Barack Obama on February 6 signed by the current president, the president-elect and 16 past presidents of The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB).  This letter has also been endorsed by the current Executive Committee of SICB.

The letter itself speaks to the crisis members of SICB, as biologists, recognize we are facing: an emergency which threatens the very existence of humankind on Planet Earth.   The Society passed a Resolution on Climate Change and Ocean Acidification on 1 March 2012. The current letter flows from our grave concerns about the possibility that the Keystone pipeline may be approved, the continued federal support for increased mining of fossil fuels, and the lack of U.S. support for international climate-change treaties.

It is with this sense of urgency that we will personally be traveling to Washington D.C. to join the demonstration against the Keystone XL Pipeline in Washington D.C. on February 17, where we will be joined by other members of SICB. 

We urge you to read the letter and publicize the position taken by some of the U.S.’s most prestigious biologists.

For interviews, please contact either of us or any of the signatories to the letter.   

John Pearse, Ph.D.

Emeritus Professor, Univ. of California

Tel:  (831) 648-9245

e-mail:  pearseter@gmail.com

Michael G. Hadfield, Ph.D.

Professor, Univ. of Hawai`i

Tel:  (808) 271-7688

e-mail:   hadfield@hawaii.edu

Letter is at: http://www.sicb.org/resources/SICB%20Letter%20to%20Obama2013.pdf

 

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES:
February 8, 2013

**Sunday, February 17 at 11 AM ET**

GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS TO HOLD LARGEST CLIMATE RALLY IN U.S. HISTORY

Contacts: Eddie Scher / 415-977-5758 / Eddie.scher@sierraclub.org
Daniel Kessler/ 510-501-1779 / daniel@350.org


What: Forward On Climate Rally, the largest climate rally in American history

Who: Thousands of Americans calling for Climate Action, 100 buses from 28 states, Celebrity Climate Activists, Michael Brune (Sierra Club), Van Jones (Rebuild the Dream), Bill McKibben (350.org), Reverend Yearwood (Hip Hop Caucus), and representatives from more than 100 other orgs from the greater progressive movement including NAACP, Greenpeace and NRDC.

Where: Washington Monument on the National Mall with a march to the White House

When: Sunday, February 17, 2013
Press availability at 11 AM ET at corner of Constitution Ave NW and 15th St NW by Washington Monument.
11:30 AM ET set up for camera (camera riser 30 feet in front of stage)
Rally and March from 12 PM ET-4 PM ET

Why: Tens of thousands of Americans will show President Obama the broad public support for climate solutions, while also challenging him to keep his commitment of making climate action a top priority during his second term. The president has several actions that he alone can take, including rejecting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and adopting a strong carbon rule to limit pollution from coal plants.

Visuals: A human pipeline will be made down 15th street; over 15,000 placards; and colorful banners.

For more information, go to: www.ForwardonClimate.org

Join ASBC in Washington, D.C for the Forward on Climate rally against the Keystone XL Pipeline on February 17, at 12:00 pm on the National Mall. Join this historic event to make your voice heard and call upon President Obama to start his second term with strong climate action.

TAKE ACTION TODAY:

ATTEND THE RALLY: Join ASBC at the Rally              
When: February 17th,  12 Noon
Where: The National Mall, Washington D.C.
Why: To tell President Obama it’s time to lead in the fight against climate change, beginning with the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and to advance a new clean energy economy.

SIGN THE PETITION: Business Letter to Reject the Keystone Pipeline.


For more information on the ASBC Clean Energy agenda visit the Energy & Environment Campaign page
For more information about rides, housing and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://forwardonclimate.org

Emerging Cowboy and Indian Alliance (CIA) Sees Adoption of International Treaty to block the Keystone XL TransCanada Pipeline

Unprecedented gathering marks the 150th anniversary of 1863 Peace Treaty 

South Dakota —Indigenous Nations from across the United States and Canada and their allies converged this week at the Yankton Sioux Reservation, South Dakota for a historical event, “Gathering to Protect the Sacred From the Tar Sands and Keystone XL,” designed to build bridges between communities stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

In an unprecedented unified action among Indigenous Nations, farmers and ranchers, and business and environmental leaders, attendees signed an International Treaty to block the Keystone XL pipeline. 

“I’m very thankful to our many indigenous nations and tribes who have joined us here in commemoration of the Jan 23, 1963 peace try between the Pawnee Nation and  for the purpose of unprecedented action to stop all tar sands projects,” said event organizer Phil Lane, Jr. “We have achieved this not only with our indigenous relatives who have joined us here, but also with our relatives, the ranchers and farmers who treasure Mother Earth as we do.” 

This International Treaty to Protect the Sacred from Tar Sands and Keystone XL built upon the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other tribal treaties. The date of this gathering coincided with the anniversary of the 1863 Pawnee Nation and Ihanktonwan Dakota / Nakota Peace Treaty. which was the first written Peace Treaty between Indian Nations in history.

The Gathering was opened by a Sacred Ceremony to honor and reaffirm the Treaty of 1863 as well as to formalize a united stand by the Pawnee Nation and the Yankton Sioux Tribe to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline. 

President Barack Obama was invited to send a representative to the gathering to hear all concerned and to witness the unprecedented unified action. Through this action the United States Government will be notified that any future approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline will be considered a further grave abrogation of the 1863 Treaty, and possibly other related treaties, and would have very regrettable consequences.

Already, the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council stated on December 21st 2012 they were “vehemently opposed to the construction of the TransCanada/Keystone XL Pipeline Project on any Aboriginal or Treaty lands”.

More information can be found at www.protectthesacred.org. The Ihanktonwan Treaty Council, the Pawnee Nation, the Brave Heart Society, and the Four Worlds International Institute are hosted the event.

To learn more about this event, please contact: Faith Spotted Eagle, the Brave Heart Society, eagletrax@hotmail.com