September 24th Moving Planet Rally in San Francisco

Have you ever wanted to go back to the 1960’s to join a war protest, civil rights rally, or be there for the first Earth day? Well, you don’t have to go back in time to make a difference. You can be part of an exciting movement, right here, right now. On Saturday, September 24th, people in cities all over the world will join Moving Planet rallies and march, bike, skate, or do anything else that demands our leaders do something to combat the climate crisis we are facing.There are events in 151 countries and 34 events in the Bay Area that Woodside students can attend. This is the first Moving Planet day, but people who get involved will become part of something much greater than just one day: they will join the movement of our generation.

The author of The End of Nature and founder of the grassroots climate movement  350.org, Bill McKibben, started Moving Planet and is not surprised by the magnitude of events people have planned for this day. “We’ve done similar things on a global scale before–with rallies in every country on earth, but North Korea over the years. I’ve come to understand that the planet’s people really, really care about climate change,” he says.

Moving Planet rallies include a 5 kilometer, 100 man march in Gambia, an open garden and free concert in Florida, a bike ride in Brazil, an arts festival in Vietnam, tree-planting in Spain, and much, much more!

“The people of the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, whose country may disappear beneath the waves before the century is out, but who are trying everything they can to help–including becoming the planet’s first carbon-neutral nation by 2020. They’re great!” says McKibben of the people who have inspired him to take action against climate change. Here in Redwood City, we do not see many of the effects of climate change. However, just because we don’t see any immediate threat or change to our environment that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take action.

Marianna Tubman understand this. She organized the Redwood City event and decided to focus her event on bike safety education. She believes that “making it easier for people to drive less is one of the most FUN ways to fight climate change!”

Come to the Redwood City Caltrain station at 9:00am on Saturday, September 24th to get a tour of the bike-friendly improvements in Redwood City and make signs and decorate your bike or scooter for the march through San Francisco later that day. Is 9:00am is too early for you on a Saturday? That is fine! If you can make it to the Caltrain station by 11:04am, you can ride up to San Francisco with the group for a march from Justin Herman Plaza to Civic Center Plaza.

In San Francisco, thousands of people will gather at noon and parade down Market Street. Once everyone arrives in Civic Center Plaza, they will have the opportunity to listen to Bill McKibben and other guest speakers. There will also be art projects, music, dancing, food, drinks, and an aerial photo opportunity.

You can be part of something huge! For more information, visit http://www.moving-planet.org/.