This Saturday, October 24th, is 350: An International Day of Climate Action. People from all over the world will be taking a stand to “get global action on the worst crisis humans have ever faced,” and you can join them and the crowd at Pioneer Square in Portland, from 1:00-3:00 pm. There will be music and dancing, and faith and community leaders addressing the rally.
(350 is the number of parts per million of carbon dioxide that our atmosphere can likely sustain before our climate and health are catastrophically altered. Today, the atmosphere is at 390 parts per million.)
This global rally will send a signal to the United Nations delegates in Copenhagen in December when they meet to develop a worldwide climate action plan. Early murmurs suggest that the plan those leaders are imagining they will develop in December is far too weak.
Climate change comes home to the Portland region when we get to make choices about our future communities and transportation systems. Locally, the Columbia River Crossing is the most glaring recent example of transportation planning that ignores both the dire state of our atmosphere, and common-sense approaches to solving (not just moving) traffic problems. (The BTA opposes the planned jumbo CRC, which would increase traffic and degrade neighborhoods, and which has a problematic, low-quality bike and pedestrian path.)
This is why the Stop the CRC Coalition will lead a bike ride and a march to the rally on Saturday and a march to Pioneer Square to ask for “real transportation strategies that actually address global warming.”
Wear green and join together at:
The 12:00 pm Bike Ride
Colonel Sumners Park
SE 20th and Belmont, Portland
Bring witty signs and banners
The 12:30 pm March
PSU Park Blocks
Just south of the farmers’ market
Bring witty signs and banners
Participants will then fan out at the rally to pass out flyers and talk to rally attendees about smart transportation solutions for the Portland region.
Want more info? Willing to volunteer? Contact the Coalition at volunteer@stopthecrc.org.
