“It’s probably the biggest challenge we will face in our lifetimes,” said Sierra Club National Campaign Director Debbie Sease in her keynote introductory speech at last Saturday’s Step It Up march to push Congress to cut greenhouse emissions 80 percent by 2050. Seattle’s demonstration was one of 1,400 nationwide.

Nearly 2,000 people marched in the rain from Pioneer Square north to Myrtle Edwards Park, where they were welcomed by sunshine and a “Solutions Festival” bright with carbon-cutting ideas, raffles for discount solar-panelling, and speeches from proponents of clean-green policy, including Seattle U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, Mayor Greg Nickels, and MLK Jr. County Executive Ron Sims.

Inslee, whose New Apollo Energy Act (House Bill 2828) equates stopping global warming with the moon landing, said it is “the destiny of Washington and America” to pioneer and supply green technology to the world. H.B. 2828 would meet the marchers’ greenhouse-gas reduction goals.

Four hundred adults and children proceeded through downtown Seattle Thursday, April 12, to highlight the effects of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids and deportations on the families of undocumented workers. Speakers called for immigration reform that protects workers, ensures due process, and offers workers a chance for citizenship. Photo by Elliot Stoller

Nickels reported that 452 mayors around the country have joined his Kyoto meet-or-beat Climate Protection Agreement. Those mayors’ cities account for over 20 percent of the U.S. population.

Sims has commissioned the county’s Global Warming Action Plan to cut the emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Sims applauded the marchers, saying that “good things happen when people wear out their shoes.”

—Chris Miller