WEEKEND: Peninsula galvanized for climate change rallies this weekend

Published 12:01 am Saturday, September 20, 2014

GLOBAL WARMING AND the effects on the land, sea and people of the North Olympic Peninsula will be explored during climate change rallies and marches in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend this weekend.

It is part of an international effort. More than 2,000 such events are planned in 130 countries.

The events in Port Angeles and Sequim are this Saturday.

Port Townsend’s rally and march will be Sunday.

“On the weekend of Sept. 20-21, people around the world will gather for what promises to be the biggest climate demonstration in history,” said Ed Chadd of Olympic Climate Action.

The events are centered upon the People’s Climate March in New York City on Sunday, “two days prior to a special climate summit being called by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, where world leaders (not just climate negotiators) will be called upon to get serious about a world climate action plan.”

Chadd said this is an attempt by the U.N. secretary-general to jump-start movement toward an international agreement in Paris in 2015 “that will have the scope to prevent climate disruption on a disastrous scale.”

Port Angeles

Olympic Climate Action is sponsoring the “People’s Climate March: Connecting the Dots” from 10 a.m. to

1 p.m. Saturday at City Pier in Port Angeles.

All are welcome.

From 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., a prayer and meditation vigil will be led by St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Port Angeles Dzogchen Sangha.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own prayers or meditations to share with the group.

From 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., a rally will feature a variety of speakers discussing how climate change impacts their lives and work.

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., participants will march around downtown, ending at the observation deck at the end of City Pier for photographs.

A semi-silent vigil will close out the activity.

Marchers are encouraged to pin a picture of something or someone they love to their clothing as a sign of why they are marching. To sign up to march, visit www.tinyurl.com/PDN-PAmarch.

Sequim

The Dungeness River Audubon Center is sponsoring a talk and a question-and-answer session on “Climate Change Action on the Olympic Peninsula” with Bob Lynette from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The presentation will be at the center in Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim.

Lynette will discuss what is being done to better understand and adapt to climate change.

The talk is free, though donations are requested to help support the center’s educational programs and the park’s maintenance.

Following the talk, Olympic Climate Action members will lead a brief march and photo shoot in support of the worldwide mobilization.

Port Townsend

The Fossil Fuel NW Action group will host a rally and march focusing on global warming and protecting the Puget Sound region.

Activities will be centered at Pope Marine Park in downtown Port Townsend from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

All are invited.

Email Julia Cochrane at willowtree@olypen.com or contact Jean Giedt at 360-344-2780 or jeangiedt@gmail.com.

For updates and more information about this weekend’s activities, go to the Olympic Climate Action website, www.olyclimate.org.