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Multi-Day Marches to ReEnergizeUS Kick Off This Week In Iowa and New Hampshire Sierra Student Coalition, Sierra Club and United Steelworkers Join Residents Marching for Global Warming Solutions (Nashua, N.H.; Ames, Iowa)--People from across the Midwest and Northeast are gathering this week to kick off the Marches to ReEnergizeUS in Iowa, August 2-5, and New Hampshire, August 1-5. The marches calling for a clean energy economy and real global warming solutions will draw thousands of people between the two states over the next five days, especially for the culminating rallies in the state capitals of Des Moines and Concord on Sunday August 5 (full schedule below). In Iowa, marchers will be joined by Iowa-native Dr. James Hansen, preeminent climate scientist and Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute, while Bill McKibben, noted author and activist, will speak during the New Hampshire march and rally. "Solving global warming is the challenge of our generation. But this is also an opportunity to transform our society and economy towards a more just future for workers and the environment. A strong clean energy economy will create millions of new, good-paying jobs for Americans in clean energy industries," said University of New Hampshire graduate Lauren Thorpe, one of the thirty organizers of the New Hampshire effort. The ReEnergizeUS campaign calls for immediate action from our leaders at all levels to reduce global warming emissions 80 percent by 2050--or an achievable 2 percent a year--kickstarting the new clean energy economy that has the potential to create 2 million new jobs for Americans. Highlights of the marches will include a stop in the small town of Alleman, Iowa on Friday evening where marchers will visit every home to exchange residents’ old light bulbs for new, efficient compact fluorescents. In New Hampsire, marchers will walk along the Merrimack River in New Hampshire on Saturday stopping at the Bow Coal-Fired Power Plant to talk about our fossil fuel addiction. "Everyone is looking to us to see what we think, and we believe this 4-day march is one way to demonstrate the urgency and magnitude of action needed to curb global warming. The solutions are real and are available right now such as using biofuels and wind power that will not only reduce emissions but spark economic growth right here," said Jess Otto, 22, from Atlantic, Iowa, another organizer of the project. The students have collaborated with organizations and businesses throughout the two states including the United Steelworkers, local faith communities, government officials and community-based groups to illustrate the widespread support for clean energy solutions. (See schedules for each march below) Schedule for the March to ReEnergize Iowa Thursday, August 2 March Kickoff Event 9:30am at Reiman Gardens, ISU campus, Ames Featuring: Ed Fallon, I'm For Iowa and Mark Kresowik, Sierra Club/Iowa Interfaith Power and Light
5:00pm Railroad Park, Huxley Featuring: David Osterberg, Executive Director, Iowa Policy Project and Brian Joens, performer
Friday, August 3 9:30 am Railroad Park, Huxley
4:00pm North Polk High School, Alleman Featuring: Alleman Mayor Bill Bodensteiner Community Energy Service Project: Energy efficient light bulb exchange at every home in Alleman
Saturday, August 4 9:30am North Polk High School, Alleman
5:00pm Saydel High School, Saylorville Featuring: Global Warming Issues workshops: Coal, Industry, Biofuels
Sunday, August 5 9:30am -- Morning Kick Off at Saydel High School Featuring: Lisa Renstrom, former President of the Sierra Club
*Rally to ReEnergize Iowa* 3pm at Nollen Plaza, Des Moines Featuring: Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Master of Ceremonies Dr. James Hansen, Director NASA Goddard Institute Rev. David Wood, First Presybterian Church of Waterloo Carrie LaSeur, President, Plains Justice Cathy Duvall, Sierra Club National Political Director BeJae Fleming, musician Tubabu, musicians VISUALS: Marchers will have t-shirts, banners and signs throughout the march. The kick-off event on Thursday will be set in a beautiful garden landscape with a mid-day stop at a family farm with hayrides and the light bulb exchange on Friday ending with a huge pile of incandescent bulbs. The march into Des Moines on Sunday will have a police escort and African drummers with Mayor Cownie and Dr. James Hansen walking in with the group. Schedule for the March to ReEnergize New Hampshire Tuesday, July 31 6:30-8:30 Kickoff Event in Nashua at Greeley Park Featuring: Granny D, Angela Vincent from the Nashua Green Team, Zo Tobi (organizer and Nashua resident) Music by the Ron Noyes Band
Wednesday, August 1--Individual Actions 9:00-9:30 Morning sendoff from City Hall Featuring Mayor Streeter, Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas from the Interfaith Faith Walk 6:00pm Community Potluck at Nesenkeag Farms Featuring Bill McKibben, Eroo Ruutila (owner and farmer of Nesenkeag Farms)
Thursday, August 2--Businesses Taking Action 6:30- 8:30 Evening event at Bronstein Park in Manchester Featuring music by The Powder Kegs Local business leaders speaking
Friday, August 3--Community Action 6:30-8:30 Evening event at Robie's Country Store in Hooksett Featuring Gene Robinson, Episcopal Preacher and Bob Schroeder Music by The RIDE Saturday, August 4--State Action 12:00pm Lunch event at The Pembroke Village School Featuring local bluegrass music, speakers on the threat of coal versus real global warming solutions Followed by walk along the water, pausing at the Bow coal-fired power plant 7:00pm Contra for the Climate at Pembroke Academy
Sunday, August 5 Meet to March into Concord at Terrill Park at 9:30 *Rally to ReEnergize New Hampshire* 12-3:30pm at the State House Lawn, Concord (music noon-2pm, marchers arrive at 12:30pm, speakers begin at 2pm) Speakers include: Fred Small, Religious Witness for the Earth and Jared Duval, National Director of the Sierra Student Coalition Local bluegrass music and Club D'elf VISUALS: The march will have a broad theme of "Visions of the World in 2050" that will be represented in various forms throughout the program including in t-shirts, banners, and posters and other visual art projects including photo collages created by marchers and community members, people in themed costumes and an art project by local children showing their visions of the future. The final rally will also have an earth themed art installation created by everyone who participated throughout the five days. # # #
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