On August 5, 2007, over a thousand miles away from each other, marchers in Iowa and New Hampshire converged on the capitols of each state calling for real global warming solutions and the creation of a clean energy economy: 80% cuts in carbon by 2050, and 2 million new clean energy jobs across the country. Click here for press coverage.
Both marches had a great turnout. But more important than the numbers was our spirit: hopeful yet determined, loud and joyful, united in our vision and our call - we are the leaders we've been waiting for to create a clean energy economy here in this country and around the world. There'll be more reflections to come, but for now, check out our photos, videos, and next steps - and thank you to all who made this journey possible!
When past generations faced immense challenges, our society found ways to pull together and rise above – the Civilian Conservation Corps and other New Deal programs pulled our country out of the Great Depression, they didn't create another one. In World War II, we defeated global fascism by reorienting our entire economy, not by continuing the economy of the past. And when the promise and ideals of our country did not extend to black Americans, a principled social movement wrote new laws for our country, sharing a dream that inspired a generation even if it has yet to be fully fulfilled today.
But for the past twenty years we have heard nothing but denial, delay, and hollow rhetoric on the issue of our time, global warming. And what more consequential issue has ever faced humanity? As our problems have become larger and more complex, our politics have become more and more trivial, more tragically beneath the tasks before us. The politics of today are not worthy of our American heritage.
So it is time to restore our American spirit of resolve and hope – yes, learning from past achievements, but also writing our own, unique generational story.
We can build our own Clean Energy Corps, providing millions of young and retired Americans with service opportunities retrofitting tens of millions of low-income homes helping those who most need to save money on their energy bills and reducing pollution.
TOMORROW is the rally to ReEnergize New Hampshire, from noon to 3:30 on the State House lawn in Concord. We hope to see you there (or at the final rally in Des Moines, Iowa, if you're in the Midwest). We've all been marching for four hot but gloriously sunny days, and we're ready to walk the final stretch down Main Street to call on our leaders to take action for a clean energy future.
Tomorrow is also the culmination of a summer's and in fact a whole year's hard work, but it's still only the beginning of a great movement. When we say we're marching for a clean energy future - for renewable power, new jobs at home, cleaner air, water, and skies, and healthier communities, all to confront the challenege of climate change - we're talking about renewing our hope for a better world.
"I would say," said Bishop Gene Robinson to a crowd of tired but hopeful walkers last night, "that you are holy... I think, what holy means is, to God - however you understand God, whatever that label means for you. But whatever it is that kinda makes sense out of what we're doing, anything that strives to be like that life force, in my book, is holy."
And as a friendly Manchester resident along our route said, "we're so pleased, we think it's wonderful - just to see them walk by our house is so exciting!"
We're excited, too - excited and inspired by the people who have joined this movement, the encouragement and support we've received from the towns that have so graciously hosted us and our tired feet, and we're inspired by all of you out there looking to make a difference. We'll see you tomorrow, and we'll hope to see you again soon as we work for the future.
"Welcome to Litchfield, walkers. Folks are talking amongst themselves. Come back next year and see the fruits of your labor - you got all the local farmers to participate. Hoorah!"
- Liana Eastman, farmer, Nesenkeag Coop Farm
Liana Eastman and her husband, Eero Ruutila, welcomed us last evening to their organic farm, tucked between Nesenkeag Brook and the Merrimack. This morning we awoke to sweetbreads and strawberries from the farm stand down the road, and Liana spoke of how the March had started the farmers talking – she said the participation of the farms in this event had helped forge at tighter community. "Think of the amount of work we could get done if we had this many community members coming by like this all the time," she said.
When the heat neared 90, we set off, already sweaty but powered on by a good morning swim and early press coverage on NPR, international radio, and the front page of The Nashua Telegraph. As the temperature broke 100 degrees and our voices cracked from singing "Ooo, it's hot out here" perhaps too many times, Stonyfield came to the rescue with a donation of ice cream for lunch.
A few blocks and blisters later, we arrived in a very different place than where we had started – Manchester, or fondly referred to by many as Manchvegas, a business capitol for the state. There we were greeted by Representative Lilly Mesa and others who highlighted for us the importance of business in building a green economy.
Every day we're finding the critical but scattered parts of a green economy here in New Hampshire – at the farms we stay at, from the words of the people we meet. Now we just need to piece it together.
Join us on Sunday for the Rally to ReEnergize New Hampshire, and help us piece together the workings of a clean energy economy in the Granite State - here, we can lead the nation in the right direction.
And join us tomorrow as well, as we walk from Manchester to Hooksett!
Yesterday, over a hundred people crowded before Nashua's City Hall to kick off the March to ReEnergize New Hampshire, a walk from Nashua to Concord calling for national leadership on real global warming solutions and a clean energy economy. After today, only 3 days to go until masses of Granite Staters converge on the State House lawn to send this message.
After walking from Nashua to Litchfield yesterday, the marchers will finish today's (Thursday's) journey at Bronstein Park in Manchester at 7pm, to music by the Powerkegs and speeches by business and community leaders. Join us at the park tonight! Directions may be found here.
On the steps of City Hall yesterday, addressing the marchers were Bernie Streeter, the Republican Mayor of Nashua; Martha Fuller-Clark, a Democratic State Senator; and both Rev. Fred Small and Rev. Margaret Bullit-Jonas, two co-organizers of the Massachusetts Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue this past spring.
Among the marchers, both a wheelchair and a baby stroller were spotted; a toddler, teenagers, college students, and baby boomers, all both alarmed by the danger of global warming and inspired by the opportunity to build a prosperous, clean energy economy. All sang, drummed, and cheered as excitement grew.
Read The Nashua Telegraph's two stories on the March to ReEnergize New Hampshire here and here:
The march traveled by foot to Litchfield's Nesenkeag Farm, where we prepared ourselves for a talk by Bill McKibben and Nesenkeag owner and farmer, Eero Ruutila. We sat in a circle one hundred people wide to listen and talk about why we had come together. Bill talked about the hope that we all share - the possibility of a new future, built on clean and just jobs in a green energy economy. Eero talked about his experiences farming Nesenkeag Organic and about how he has had to struggle with a changing climate that brings floods and new insects.
We, as Bill pointed out, can make a world that is more just, more community minded, more humane than any generation past has seen. The truth that Eero presented is real and shows why we must take action, but we are walking motivated not just by the moments of fear of what could be, but of many, many more moments of hope for what will be.
Yesterday, much of our focus was on what we each can do to address global warming in our own lives. Tonight in Manchester, we'll focus on what we can and are doing in the business community. As the march gathers momentum, we're gearing up to make the largest call yet for national action on what will be seen in the history books as one of the defining challenges of the 21st century.
For info on the the march or the culminating rally on Sunday, August 5th at noon at the State House in Concord, click here:
We wanted to bring everyone together tonight, because tomorrow at 9 in the morning, dozens of us are going to leave Nashua's City Hall on foot, bound for Concord. After that, hundreds from all walks of life - young, old, conservative, progressive – will join us, clearing the way for a rally on the State House lawn on Sunday, August 5 at noon. By the time we get there, we’ll meet up with thousands of Granite Staters, and make one of the largest, loudest calls in US history for real global warming solutions.
These folks leaving Nashua tomorrow are leading the charge, so we wanted to wish them well the only way we know how: free food, live music, and good people.
I’m writing from the First Congregational Church in Nashua. Over fifty marchers are camped out in sleeping bags, spread among two floors of this beautiful building.
We’re ready to march. We sat in a circle last night, sharing all of our names and where we were from. Those of us who have been working from an office all summer saw, all at once, our circle suddenly widen. This is what our campaign is about. We will all be inspired and changed by each other, as we walk closer and closer to the State House lawn.
By the time you read this, there will be just 4 full days to go ‘til thousands converge on the State House lawn in Concord to call for real global warming solutions.
Tonight, we gathered in Greeley Park, and with music, food, and speakers, set the tone for the journey to come. I spoke about the world we are working to create; Angie Vincent from the Nashua Green Team spoke about all the work that is already happening to turn Nashua green; and Granny D shared the story of her walk across the country for clean elections, deepening our understanding of the power of walking.
Today we kick off our march, with blessings from Nashua’s Mayor Bernie Streeter, State Senator Martha Fuller Clark, and two of the organizers of the Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue down in Massachusetts this past spring.
