Thousands of people, including a crowd estimated at 5,000 in St. Paul, participated in events in all 50 states to call attention to the problem of global warming. In Minnesota, activities at the state Capitol included speeches, music, workshops and information booths.
Participants learned about hybrid cars, light rail and green landscaping, among other topics. Many signed the "world\'s largest footprint petition" on which they signed their names inside outlines of their feet to urge Congress to reduce carbon emissions.
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Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron |
Other speakers included U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congressman Keith Ellison and explorer Ann Bancroft.
"We have never shirked from new challenges . . ." Klobuchar said. "Energy technology is our next challenge."
Minnesota can be a leader in exploring new ways to produce energy, from wind power and ethanol to prairie grass, she said, vowing to push the federal government to support initiatives that are taking place at the state and local level.
"Get off the oil! Get off the coal! Get on the green!" said Ellison. He urged activists to reach out to others, building a diverse constituency around the challenge of global warming.
"No one group of people can solve this problem," he said, but together "we all can."
Bancroft, bringing the perspective of an explorer who has "been to the top and the bottom of the world," said she is heartened by the environmental activism she has seen among young people.
"The momentum is building," she said. "Although I do believe it is a crisis, I am tremendously hopeful."
For more information
Visit the Global Warming Day of Action website, http://www.globalwarmingdayofaction.org/ and the Step It Up 2007 website, http://stepitup2007.org/index.php
More photos
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| Sydney Holcomb helps daughter Holiday as they sign "the world\'s largest footprint petition." |
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| Lynn Hinkle of UAW Local 879 and Macalester College student Kate Ballard discuss efforts to institute green manufacturing at the St. Paul Ford truck plant, scheduled for closure next year. Ballard is part of Mac CARES, a student group working on environmental issues. |
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| Congressman Keith Ellison greets a constituent after speaking at the Global Warming Day of Action. |
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Thousands of people, including a crowd estimated at 5,000 in St. Paul, participated in events in all 50 states to call attention to the problem of global warming. In Minnesota, activities at the state Capitol included speeches, music, workshops and information booths.
Participants learned about hybrid cars, light rail and green landscaping, among other topics. Many signed the "world\’s largest footprint petition" on which they signed their names inside outlines of their feet to urge Congress to reduce carbon emissions.
 |
|
Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron |
"Let me congratulate all the long-time activists for increasing awareness of this issue when no one seemed to care," Waldron told the crowd. "And let me thank the new activists for bringing your energy . . ."
Other speakers included U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congressman Keith Ellison and explorer Ann Bancroft.
"We have never shirked from new challenges . . ." Klobuchar said. "Energy technology is our next challenge."
Minnesota can be a leader in exploring new ways to produce energy, from wind power and ethanol to prairie grass, she said, vowing to push the federal government to support initiatives that are taking place at the state and local level.
"Get off the oil! Get off the coal! Get on the green!" said Ellison. He urged activists to reach out to others, building a diverse constituency around the challenge of global warming.
"No one group of people can solve this problem," he said, but together "we all can."
Bancroft, bringing the perspective of an explorer who has "been to the top and the bottom of the world," said she is heartened by the environmental activism she has seen among young people.
"The momentum is building," she said. "Although I do believe it is a crisis, I am tremendously hopeful."
For more information
Visit the Global Warming Day of Action website, http://www.globalwarmingdayofaction.org/ and the Step It Up 2007 website, http://stepitup2007.org/index.php
More photos
 |
| Sydney Holcomb helps daughter Holiday as they sign "the world\’s largest footprint petition." |
 |
| Lynn Hinkle of UAW Local 879 and Macalester College student Kate Ballard discuss efforts to institute green manufacturing at the St. Paul Ford truck plant, scheduled for closure next year. Ballard is part of Mac CARES, a student group working on environmental issues. |
 |
| Congressman Keith Ellison greets a constituent after speaking at the Global Warming Day of Action. |