Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 – 40,000 environmental activists rallied today on one of the coldest days to hit Washington this year to urge President Obama to make good on his State of the Union address and take action on climate change, according to NBC News.
Protesters are focusing on two main issues: 1) putting a stop to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline which would transport crude oil from Canada through the U.S. to the Gulf Coast, and, 2) limiting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.
Although President Obama didn’t specifically single out the Keystone pipeline during his State of the Union address earlier this week, he did threaten executive actions if needed to combat climate change.
"If Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will."
"I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy."
Today’s rally, known as "Forward on Climate", has been billed as the largest climate rally in U.S. history.
The Huffington Post shared that even actor / environmentalist Robert Redford got into the act when he wrote that today’s rally was going to be the “beginning of a real battle, for America's future.”
"President Barack Obama's legacy will rest squarely on his response, resolve, and leadership in solving the climate crisis.” ~ Robert Redford
Also see:
Actress Daryl Hannah, RFK Jr. and more arrested at White House protest (Photos)
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