Crippling drought. Devastating wildfires. Superstorm Sandy. Climate has come home — and the American people get it.

Who: 160 organizations and tens of thousands of activists like YOU

What: The largest climate rally in U.S. history.

When: February 17, 2013, Noon – 5:00 p.m. (please arrive by 11:30 a.m.)

Where: The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Gather at the northeast corner of the Washington Monument
(Closest Metro subway stations: Federal Triangle and Smithsonian)

Check the Forward on Climate bus page to see if there’s a bus near you. You can also look for (or offer!) a car pool on Ridebuzz or housing on CouchSurfing.* Once you’re in D.C., you should know that the rally will start in the northeast quadrant of the Washington Monument at 11:30 a.m. before marching around the White House, and the closest Metro stops are Federal Triangle and Smithsonian.

Jazzed,
Kate Colarulli
Sierra Club
Forward on Climate Rally Director

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LATEST ON THE EVENT:
Sunday is set to be the biggest U.S. climate rally ever.

Sierra Club, Washington DC, announces a new addition to the speaker lineup: “We’ll hear from U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.”

Sen. Whitehouse is a true champion who speaks about the climate crisis on the floor of the Senate almost every week.

On Sunday, he’ll bring that message to the National Mall with us. His home state is sending several busloads of activists to the rally!

Some other quick news that may help you make your final preparations — yes, there will be a handicapped seating area in front of the stage. We will also have sign-language interpreters on hand. The weather forecast continues to call for a clear but very cold day — this rally is full steam ahead, so come dressed warmly and drive safely, but come!

We recommend bringing a charged cell phone, some snacks, water, and warm clothing including layers, a coat, two pairs of warm socks, hats, gloves, and scarves. If you are riding a bus, make sure your bus captain has your cell phone number. Please note that there will be no civil disobedience at this event.

The rally now has over 160 partner organizations — this is huge! We’re updating the Forward on Climate blog all throughout the day with their content. Take a look at these great videos with Robert Redford from NRDC, and with parents and kids talking about the climate from the Sierra Club, Climate Parents, and Mom’s Clean Air Force!

I also wanted to let you know that we just announced Eve will be performing at the rally! Eve is a Grammy winning, multi-platinum recording artist and a talented actress & fashion designer. She joins inspiring speakers Michael Brune, Bill McKibben, Saik’uz First Nation Chief Jacqueline Thomas, Van Jones, and more.

From concerts and prayer services to planning meetings and trainings, see the list of other climate events in D.C. here!

And remember that you can check the Forward on Climate FAQ for any other questions you have. This will be a remarkable day to make history

For other details and updates, check out the Forward on Climate website.

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Further: from the LA Chapter of Sierra Club we got:

We encourage everyone to attend the D.C. rally (act.350.org/signup/presidentsday), but for those unable to make the journey you can still stand in solidarity and make history right here in Los Angeles.
* When: Sunday, February 17th, 2013, at 1pm

* Starting Place: South-West Side of Paseo De La Plaza in Olvera Street. (Between North Los Angeles St. & Main St.)

* Destination: City Hall Los Angeles – 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA (South Side Steps)

* City Hall Events: Prayer for the Earth, music, dance, speakers, and closing ceremony (details to come)

WHY MARCH ~ Tell President Obama and the rest of Washington that it’s time to lead in the fight against climate change, beginning with the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. It is time for a Renewable Energy Future – one that doesn’t include dirty and dangerous fuels like Coal, Fracking, Tar Sands and Nuclear.

This demonstration is in solidarity with the Washington D.C. march happening the same day organized by 350.org, Sierra Club and Hip Hop Caucus.

Thousands of Americans will head to Washington, D.C. to make “Forward on Climate” the largest climate rally in history.
~~ We Stand With ~~
Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign
Tar Sands Action Southern California
Food and Water Watch
Idle No More – Los Angeles
Surfrider West La Malibu Chapter
Pasadena Foothills Citizens Climate Lobby
Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club
Amazon Watch
Burbank Green Alliance
Wilder Utopia
5 Gyres
Center for Biological Diversity
Jimmy Dore, Comedian
Planet Rehab
LA Green Festival
dubroWORKS PR
Transition San Fernando Valley
NELA Transition
Arroyo SECO Network of Time Banks
Sierra Club Beyond Oil Campaign
Long Beach Coalition for a Safe Environment
California Interfaith Power and Light
Allesandro’s Chapter of Coalition for Educational Justice
USGBC-LA
Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains
MLK Coalition of Los Angeles
NextAid
LA Bioneers
Westchester Democratic Club
California League of Conservation Voters
Move to Amend
Climate Reality
Coalition Against Nukes – LA
Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE)
Re-Power LA Coalition
LA Progressive
CodePink
LA League of Women Voters
LAANE
99 Rise
Wild Heritage Planners
LA Green Drinks
Resident Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE)
Sustainable Works
Alliance for Climate Education
Environment California
Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks (FHBP)
Earth Resource Foundation
Occupy Venice
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
Arts: Earth Partnership
Hippo Works
Sierra Club Orange County Global Warming Committee
Synergy TV
Leslie Iwerks Productions
Los Angeles Eco-Village
CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages
Dance 4 Oceans
West LA Democratic Club
Biodiesel Coop of Los Angeles
Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society
ACE

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WE SAY:

YES, IT WILL BE A HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND OBVIOUSLY NOT A WORK DAY.
WHAT WILL IMPRESS THE MEDIA WILL BE THE NUMBERS -
THE MORE PEOPLE SHOW UP – THE STRONGER WILL BE THE PRESIDENT
WHEN HE COMES TO CONGRESS WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION IDEAS.

DON’T FORGET AND THINK WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE!

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The December posting:

From: Michael Brune, Sierra Club  sierra at sierraclub.org via bounce.convio.net

Greetings — below is a letter we wrote with our friends at 350 and the Hip-Hop Caucus: Dear Pincas, This Presidents Day, show President Obama the climate movement isn’t going away. From families like Michael’s, hit by monster storms and fires, to drought-stricken farmers in the Midwest, millions of Americans are already feeling the disastrous effects of the climate crisis in their own lives. It’s never been clearer that we need bold and immediate climate leadership — that’s why this Presidents Day weekend, Sunday, February 17, thousands of activists will head to the White House and tell President Obama to shut down the climate-killing Keystone XL pipeline once and for all. Something this big has to start early, and it has to start with the people who care the most. Commit to join us in Washington, D.C., in February and make Presidents Day the biggest climate demonstration yet. The last time we stood up against Keystone XL, thousands of us surrounded the White House — and it worked. Right when every political and energy “expert” said the tar sands pipeline was a done deal, we beat the odds and convinced President Obama to take a year to study it. Now that year is over, and Mother Nature has filed her public comments: the hottest year in American history, a horrible ongoing drought, and superstorm Sandy. And still Big Oil is pushing as hard as ever for their pet project, looking for even more private profit at public expense. There is also good news: Together, we’ve proven time and time again that grassroots voices can speak louder than Big Oil’s dollars. So this Presidents Day, the Sierra Club, 350.org, and other environmental groups are working with our partners across the progressive community to organize the biggest climate demonstration yet. Our goal for Presidents Day is to form a massive human pipeline through Washington and then transform it into a giant symbol of the renewable energy future we need and are ready to build, starting right away. You can make this a Presidents Day that the president can’t ignore and won’t forget — sign up to join the rally, bring your friends, and stop the climate-killing Keystone XL pipeline. We’ll have more details soon about the rally and how you can make your voice heard, but for now, start making travel plans and circle February 17 on your calendar. Together, we can show the president that the year’s delay didn’t lull us to sleep. Instead, we’re more fired up than ever, and determined to help him do the right thing. See you in February, Allison, Michael, Bill, May, Rev. Yearwood, and Liz Allison Chin, Sierra Club President Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director Bill McKibben, 350.org Co-Founder May Boeve, 350.org Executive Director The Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Hip-Hop Caucus President Liz Havstad, Director of Civic Engagement and Strategic Growth for the Hip Hop Caucus

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