The International Day of Climate Action appears to have gone off as planned, with many journalists calling it the most widespread day of political action in history. The 350.org website is being flooded with photos from around the world and blog updates from the always inspiring Bill McKibben.
Here in New York City, Eric, Nathan and I attended a march across the Brooklyn Bridge with a few hundred others. Many carried homemade signs and burst into spontaneous chants (like “Ain’t no power like renewable power ’cause renewable power don’t stop).
We made our presence known to the traffic on both sides of the pedestrian path, but some of us—including one noted scholar of nonviolence—wondered why we weren’t marching up the street blocking the very traffic that’s contributing to climate change.
Even so, the march was so high-spirited that by the time we gathered for a photo in Brooklyn Bridge Park there was no denying the empowerment we all felt. Knowing we were one of thousands of sizeable actions around the world gave me a tremendous sense of hope that we have the numbers to force the change that’s necessary.
Now, onward to November 30th!