Local Action for Global Change: IA & NH Call for Real Global Solutions and a Clean Energy Economy

Written by: Ilya Sheyman on Aug 7, 2007 8:09 AM EDT

(The following is a guest post from The ReEnergize NH and IA Organizing Team)

Concord, New Hampshire and Des Moines, Iowa boomed Sunday afternoon with the sound of masses of citizens rallying for a clean energy economy and real global warming solutions.

The rallies were the highlight event of a summer-long effort to engage citizens in NH and IA about the economic opportunities that bold, visionary action to fight global warming can bring to America.

The students from the Sierra Student Coalition that organized the campaign, along with the Sierra Club and United Steelworkers, collected thousands of petition signatures asking our leaders to act now to reduce emissions 80 percent by 2050, or two percent a year starting right now, and create two million new, good-paying jobs for Americans.

The New Hampshire rally featured noted author and activist Bill McKibben; Jared Duval, national director of the Sierra Student Coalition and a Lebanon, NH native; and Lisa Beaudoin, a farmer from Temple, NH who marched with her two sons Rowan, 8 and Forrest, 11. The Iowa rally featured Dr. James Hansen, an Iowa native and one of the world's preeminent climate scientists; Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines; David Foster, Executive Director of the Blue-Green Alliance; and other notable climate advocates

"I've come on this march because I want to share my values with my children by showing them how to be good stewards of the earth and humanity," said Lisa Beaudoin a farmer from Temple, New Hampshire who addressed the crowd at the NH rally after marching with her sons Rowan, 8, and Forrest, 11.

"We were out here marching because we see this not only as the challenge of our generation, but also as an opportunity," said Zo Tobi, 22, an organizer of the New Hampshire march and rally, "by curbing global warming, we can transform our economy and our country to promote renewable and efficient technologies that will create new, safe jobs for Americans and secure our country and our future."

"We're in a unique position because public officials at every level are listening to what have to say," said Holly Jones, a Drake University student and native of Mount Pleasant, IA. "We need to make the most of this attention by letting our leaders know that we want action on global warming now."

The organizers collaborated with individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations from all parts of the state, walks of life, and political persuasions. In New Hampshire, they collected endorsements including Mayors Bernie Streeter and Frank Guinta from Nashua and Manchester respectively; the Nashua Pride Baseball Team; the NH Timberland Owners Association; NH Faithful Democracy; and Democracy for NH. In Iowa, endorsements included the Iowa Environmental Council; the Iowa Citizen Action Network; the Iowa Farmers Union; and the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church.

"Growing up here in New Hampshire, our tradition of leading the nation has always shaped my sense of what is possible," said Jared Duval, National Director of the Sierra Student Coalition and a speaker at Sunday's NH rally. "We must continue building what is on showcase this week – a citizen's movement so powerful and focused that our leaders at all levels have no choice but to heed our call."

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