SNN: Somervilleans March for Climate in New York City

SOMERVILLE, Mass. – Somerville residents and activists joined over 300,000 people in New York City on September 21 at the People’s Climate March. The event – being called the largest climate march in history – was aimed at world leaders gathered at the United Nations to discuss climate change. 

“We thought it was a really important time, while they were all here together, to tell the leaders of the world that enough is enough and we need them to lead,” Marla Marcum, project manager for Better Future Project, explained. “We’re going to do our part, we are going to get into the streets at home but we actually need to change policies and we need to set bolder targets so we can preserve a livable future.”

Somerville residents marched in the community section and with various organizations such as 350.Massachusetts, a part of 350.0rg, and Fossil Free Somerville. The band Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Marching Band was one of dozens of bands that accompanied marchers.

Protesters carried signs, rode bikes, played music and chanted slogans and ranged in age from about five to 95. They cam from all walks of life: movie stars, rock stars like Sting, New York politicians, labor unions, teachers, students, nuns and indigenous people and thousands from various communities on the front line of the climate crisis in the U.S. and abroad because they live by the sea. A large inflated cow was carried by a vegan group protesting the climate impact of cattle and the human consumption of beef, while others carried puppets, a “bubble” representing what they called the fossil fuel bubble and a giant nest accompanied by birds.

“Everyone world wide should care, it’s going to affect them,” Somerville resident Karl Thidermann of Biodiversity for a Livable Future told Somerville Neighborhood News.

“The first things we are going to start seeing are higher food prices as more extreme weather events around the world disrupt the natural growing cycles.”

“With every one degree rise in temperatures we are going to see a ten percent loss in fertility, in production from the fields,” he added. “If the temperature truly climbs two or three degrees, or whatever is being discussed right now, it’s going to be catastrophic in a way that’s never been seen before.”

The march stretched for over 40 blocks from Central Park to Times Square and had many sections. Each had a specific focus, all with the theme of climate change. At the front were those immediately affected by climate change and towards the middle, groups focused on renewable energies and social justice. A full map can be seen here.

Fossil Free Somerville – https://www.facebook.com/DivestSomerville

350.massachusetts – http://350ma.org/

350.org – http://350.org/