Rally in Seattle for Climate, Clean Energy Jobs, Healthy Communities

SEATTLE, WA – Thousands of people concerned about climate, public health and building the clean energy economy will rally in Seattle at noon on Thursday, May 21 on the Seattle waterfront at Pier 66, next to Bell Harbor Conference Center. Here’s more:

• At least 1,500 people have said they’ll be there, with dozens of organizations around the region still working relentlessly to encourage their members to attend
•  Busloads of people are coming in from Oregon
  Busloads more children and students will be there from throughout the region
• EPA reports response to the hearing has been “overwhelming”
• Commenters are now scheduled “after hours” beyond the hearing’s 8:00 pm scheduled end-time
•  Governor Gregoire, Mayor Nickels, prominent business leaders, and interested citizens from across the country will comment at the hearing. 
   

What: Rally supporting action on climate, green jobs and a coal free northwest. 
 

When: Thursday, May 21; 12:00 Noon

The rally will be held adjacent to the EPA’s Public Hearing on global warming, which begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues all day.

The rally will coincide with an Environmental Protection Agency public hearing on the EPA’s recent proposed finding that global warming pollution is a threat to public health and welfare. The Seattle hearing and another in Arlington, Virginia on May 18 are the only two public hearings on EPA’s proposed finding.  This “endangerment” finding is the first step toward regulating global warming pollution from coal plants, cars and other major polluters.

Where: Seattle's Bell Harbor International Conference Center

2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle, WA  (Google map: http://tinyurl.com/ps2slo).

Who (Rally speakers):

• Washington kids with a message to the world (introduced by Kathleen Ridihalgh, Sierra Club, Beyond Coal Campaign)
• Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
• Rabbi Zari Weiss of Rodef Tzedek and the Jewish Climate Challenge
• David Nokovic, youth leader,  Portland State University
• Martha Kongsgaard, environmental and community leader
• Evan Kanter, President, Board of Directors, Physicians for Social Responsibility
• Ash Awad, McKinstry Company
• KC Golden, Climate Solutions, (emcee)
   

Many rally spokespeople, as well as experts commenting at the EPA hearing, will be available at a hospitality suite in the Bell Harbor Conference Center. Please contact Kathleen or Andy (info below) for more details.

Visuals:

Thousands of citizens participating in rally to support action on climate change. Banners and signage “Clean Energy Now,” “Move Beyond Coal,” “Green Jobs Now,” etc; a stage full of kids; VIP Speakers; participants visually depicting climate change & climate change solutions; the effects of climate change video montage; activists in endangered species costumes; etc.
 

More on the web:

On the EPA hearing (background on the EPA proposed finding is also available at the EPA’s website):

http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment/hearing_seattle-may21.html 
 

About the Rally in Seattle:

http://www.FuseWashington.org/site/climate

www.Sierraclub.org/bigpicture

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=181074565544 
 

For more information, please contact:

Kathleen Ridihalgh, Sierra Club, Beyond Coal Campaign: 206-378-0114 x 305;

kathleen.ridihalgh@sierraclub.org
 

Andy Grow, Climate Solutions: 206-706-7370 cell: 206-713-1792;

andy@climatesolutions.org

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