Green America Steps Up
No longer prepared to tolerate being responsible for a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions, 14 April saw an extraordinary day of action across the US. Over 1,400 demonstrations, large and small, took place in all 50 states, each with the same message painted on homemade banners: ‘Step It Up, Congress – Cut Carbon 80% by 2050’.
From a rally at a retreating glacier in Alaska to a human chain on threatened Baldwin Beach in Hawaii, concerned Americans were coming together demanding action. Says organizer Bill McKibben: ‘The old ideas about environmentalists are in need of updating. If you’re worried that it’s nothing but old white people with lots of money, think again. The New York City gathering was black, brown, white and young – in fact, young was one of the day’s motifs. Evangelicals, Jews (a “Jew-tingent” organized its own walk to join the day’s big gathering on Capitol Hill, Washington DC), senior citizens, athletes, you name it. Two years ago we were worried about the “death of environmentalism”. Perhaps in part because of that scare, tons of new energy seems to be flooding in.’ Browse the many wonderful photos on http://stepitup2007.org
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
