A group of environmental activists gathered at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Wednesday evening and marched southbound on the sidewalk along Arlington Heights Road to North School Park.
The People’s Climate Movement rally and march began with a pre-march rally at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, where Pastor Rhonda Pruit spoke about the importance of faith-based organizations in mobilizing to work to improve the environment. The People’s Climate Movement rally participants carried posters urging Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner to curb carbon pollution and grow clean energy jobs in Illinois.
Organizers said the event recognized a national day of action across the country as the United States prepares for December’s Paris climate talks. Organizer also said the event was modeled after a 2014 People’s Climate March in New York City that attracted 400,000 people.
“Usually, the reaction from all levels of governments and the private sector is that we can’t do anything because it costs too much, but the cost of not doing anything will cause even greater harm to our environment, our health and our children’s health.”
— Arlington Heights Trustee Robin LaBedz
At least 100 local residents supported the trustee’s statements during the candlelight vigil at North School Park.
Someone from the crowd shouted out a call for village officials to reduce garbage pickup to once a week. Trustees are already already in discussion about the reduction of two-day per week garbage pickup to one-day per week pickup because of wear and tear on streets caused by garbage truck traffic.
The event was sponsored by the Sierra Club Northwest Cook County Group, the Climate Reality Project and Arlington Heights Cool Cities.
In Illinois, People’s Climate Movement rallies also took place in Champaign, Chicago, Elgin, DeKalb, Glen Ellyn, Normal, Park Forest, Peoria, Waukegan, and Wheaton. About 200 “actions” took place nationwide on October 14, 2015.
See also …
peoplesclimate.org
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