Tens of thousands demand action on climate change

WASHINGTON — In what was billed as the largest climate rally in U.S. history, thousands of people marched past the White House on Sunday to urge President Obama to reject a controversial pipeline and take other steps to fight climate change.

Organizers, including the Sierra Club, estimated that more than 35,000 people from 30-plus states -- some dressed as polar bears -- endured frigid temperatures to join the "Forward on Climate" rally, although the crowd size could not be confirmed. Their immediate target is Obama's final decision, expected soon, on the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would carry tar sands from Canada through several U.S. states.

"This movement's been building a long time. One of the things that's built it is everybody's desire to give the president the support he needs to block this Keystone pipeline," Bill McKibben, founder of the environmental activist group, 350.org, said as protesters gathered on the National Mall.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/17/climate-change-rally-human-pipeline/1925719/

I'm almost surprised they even mentioned it.

I wish I could have gotten above the crowd to get a picture of how big it was!

Even if I had to go alone.. even if my fingers were still frostbit this morning..

I was wearing a green "environmentalists don't eat meat" button on my backpack and a young girl walking behind me said she liked it, so then I started digging through my bag looking for another one that I had, I had brought it just in case someone said something about the one I was wearing. So a few minutes later I found it. then I turned around and finally found her again and gave it to her. I bet it surprised her, I mean I know it was random, that I'd brought that ONE button. Her friend asked me for another one but I only had one, her friend said "You don't eat MEAT?" very incredulous, and I said no, bye, then we all went on.
Living in the beltway it's not strange to talk with people who don't eat any meat, so I guess they'd come from a small town, or from the South.
Anyway this was a very random funny moment. I hope the kid wears the button somewhere, starting discussions and stuff, maybe just about some crazy old lady

I still remember people I met protesting the Iraq war. I'll never see them again, but there's something about sharing a cause that's important to you that creates an instant bond.

She'll probably always remember that.

The first march against the Bush II Iraq war in SF produced near 150,000. This was 40,000 in our nation's capitol, albeit under a media blackout concerning climate change. Ah well, 'public ignorance' lives, if it was a stock, I would buy it!