Activists to march on Trenton
Prium Deshmukh / Contributing Writer
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: Page One
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Last Friday marked the beginning of a four-day march meant to raise awareness about global warming. The event kicked off on the steps of Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus around noon with colorful posters and a dancing polar bear.
The march traveled from Rutgers to Princeton University, The College of New Jersey and finally the State House in Trenton today.
A multitude of groups attended with only one goal in mind: solutions for global warming. In addition to the speakers present, there was a group called the Solidarity Singers, raising morale and awareness by singing songs with lyrics geared to global warming issues. "We will pump out all the planet's oil just to fuel our SUV's."
Throughout the one-hour rally, speakers emphasized the need for clean energy and the urgent need for New Jersey to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by the year 2050. The group was collecting signatures for the Global Warming Response Act and a petition to legislators to support their cause.
Carlos Rhymer, organizer of the march and part of the NJ Climate March, gave a speech outlining the goals of the march.
"If we don't do anything, millions of people will be without water and shelter," he said. "We can fight global warming by adding millions of jobs and trillions [of dollars] to the economy." He also stated the march was the "largest event in New Jersey to address global warming."
In fact, on Saturday there were 1300 other events nationwide addressing the issue of global warming. Ted Glick, coordinator of Climate Crisis Control, said. "All over the country tomorrow, there will be actions in all 50 states … calling on the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"This is not isolated - [it's] a growing phenomenon across the country," said Glick.
Julia Shaw, the NJ Field representative for the Alaska Wilderness League, focused her speech on the severe effects of global warming on the environment. "Alaska is the place most affected by global warming," she said. "A temperature shift of one degree in the lower 48 [states] makes for a temperature change of a couple of degrees in Alaska."
The march traveled from Rutgers to Princeton University, The College of New Jersey and finally the State House in Trenton today.
A multitude of groups attended with only one goal in mind: solutions for global warming. In addition to the speakers present, there was a group called the Solidarity Singers, raising morale and awareness by singing songs with lyrics geared to global warming issues. "We will pump out all the planet's oil just to fuel our SUV's."
Throughout the one-hour rally, speakers emphasized the need for clean energy and the urgent need for New Jersey to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by the year 2050. The group was collecting signatures for the Global Warming Response Act and a petition to legislators to support their cause.
Carlos Rhymer, organizer of the march and part of the NJ Climate March, gave a speech outlining the goals of the march.
"If we don't do anything, millions of people will be without water and shelter," he said. "We can fight global warming by adding millions of jobs and trillions [of dollars] to the economy." He also stated the march was the "largest event in New Jersey to address global warming."
In fact, on Saturday there were 1300 other events nationwide addressing the issue of global warming. Ted Glick, coordinator of Climate Crisis Control, said. "All over the country tomorrow, there will be actions in all 50 states … calling on the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"This is not isolated - [it's] a growing phenomenon across the country," said Glick.
Julia Shaw, the NJ Field representative for the Alaska Wilderness League, focused her speech on the severe effects of global warming on the environment. "Alaska is the place most affected by global warming," she said. "A temperature shift of one degree in the lower 48 [states] makes for a temperature change of a couple of degrees in Alaska."