Rally for Climate Change Action December 12 Boston Common

When it comes to climate change, why do we do so little when we know so much? This and other questions were discussed at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Wakefield on November 18, 2015, where members of the community were invited to a free screening of Disruption, a movie promoted by 350.org that takes an unflinching investigative look at the devastating consequences of inaction regarding the causes of climate change.

While a growing number of Americans support strong energy and climate policies (1), too many with political power support the continued use of fossil fuel that is causing the earth’s environment to become less and less hospitable to the human race and many other species. Just last week, experts at ExxonMobil told Fred Hiatt of the Washington Post that “with no government action, average temperatures are likely to rise by 5 degrees Celsius, with rises of 6, 7 or even more quite possible.” (2)

Along with asking questions, Disruption also makes clear, using examples from the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s and early 1970s, that politicians pay attention when they see large groups of people gathered together for a cause. Note: to view the movie online, go to watchdisruption.com.

The rally in support of strong, worldwide climate change action, scheduled to take place in Paris on November 30 as the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference began, had to be cancelled due to security issues resulting from the terrorist activity that killed 130 people on November 13. However, rallies were held all over the world that day, and there are more to come on December 12.

As noted on the 350.org page dedicated to rallies taking place as the Climate Summit ends, “thousands of people will be back in the streets [in Paris] to have the final word and show that we’re taking our future into our own hands, setting the stage for more action in 2016.” (3)

Closer to home, 350 Massachusetts for a Better Future is organizing a rally on the Boston Common, also taking place on December 12. Called Jobs, Justice, and Climate: Rally to Defend New England’s Future, the rally will take place on Saturday, Dec 12, 1-3 pm at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common.

As stated on their website: No matter what happens in Paris, we know what we need: real climate solutions that create secure union jobs and strengthen community power and resiliency. And to get there, we need to build an unstoppable grassroots movement that can unite organized labor, immigrant rights, racial justice, and climate justice groups.” (4)

Wakefield Climate Action Project (WCAP) encourages all who are able to attend the rally this Saturday December 12 on the Boston Common. Whether you can attend physically or not, you can also show your support virtually: Just visit wakefielcap.org, download the 8.5x11 pdf sign designed for the rally, take a picture of yourself and/or others holding the sign, and send it to climate@wakefieldcap.org and share on social media. And, bring the sign with you if you can join us on December 12!

This is important. We are the first generation to feel the impacts of climate disruption and the last generation that can do something about it. For more information about climate change, see the websites noted below and also climateparis.org. You can also sign up for updates from WCAP via wakefieldcap.org

(1) Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, see http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/article/americans-support- strong-climate-energy-policies
(2) https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/even-exxonmobil-says-climate-change-is-real-so-why-wont-the-gop/2015/12/06/913e4b12-9aa6-11e5-b499-76cbec161973_story.html
(3) http://350.org/d12
(4) http://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/jobs_justice_climate_rally_to_defend_new_england_s_future