Northeast Ohio: Step it Up!
by Abigail Monday, Apr. 16, 2007 at 9:13 PM

Step it up 2007 coalition sucessfully inspired people all over the nation to hold rallies and events to bring awareness to the daily worsening problem of global warming and to offer alternatives and solutions for what we can do about it.

On Saturday, April 14th, in approximately 1,500 cities all across America, people came out in support of the earth In Lake Oswego, Oregon, Focus the Nation hosted the first annual Polar Bear Plunge at George Roberts Park. In Broomfield, Colorado, approximately 20,000 lbs of electronics, 18 cubic yards of #6 white block foam, 350 lbs of #2 & #4 plastic bags and many more hard-to-recycle items were collected from residents and kept out of the landfill. In Mount Kisko, New York, a group of 20 hikers met at Mianus Gorge Preserve, our nation's first Natural Heritage Landmark and The Nature Conservancy's first nature sanctuary to learn about what they could do as individuals to fight global warming. In Plano, Texas, the Environmental Services Department, in conjunction with the Creative Arts Department, hosted a historic walking tour, barbeque dinner, a screening of the movie "Kilowatt Ours" followed by a concert with local bands. In Salina, Kansas, speakers presented inspiring and educational talks at a rally, they had a march through downtown and concluded at a local restaurant for a workshop on reducing carbon footprints, letter writing, music and discussion. In Fairbanks, Arakansas, over 50 people rallied at Golden Heart Park along the Chena River in downtown and sent post-cards to Congress.

In Ohio, a number of different cities participated in the day of action. Folks came out in Akron, Bexley, Youngstown, Cincinatti, Colombus, Toledo, Delaware, Oberlin, and Wooster. In the Greater Cleveland area there was a rally at Edgewater park in the upper pavillion where a large amount of people gathered to hear speakers, play and listen to music, share their ideas at an open mic, and network with each other. In Shaker Heights, another large group gathered for a workshop, a presentation from the Clean Air Conservancy about carbon offsets, and then had a letter writing session to members of Congress.

The purpose of the day's events was to raise awareness amongst the general population of the dire situation our earth is in and how we need to live more responsibly. It was also a physical presence to send a message to congress to pass a bill this year that would cut carbon emmissions 80% by the year 2050 with the biggest emphasis on switching from using fossil fuels to renewable environmentally safe sources of energy.

To read more of the day's events all around the country, to see pictures, and to learn more about Step It Up 2007, you can go to http://www.stepitup2007.org

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