Remarkable experience being among hundreds of thousands marching to make our world a better place. The camaraderie, joy, determination, vocal power that emanated from participants, who traveled across our country and the world's oceans, inspired hope.
Noise without pain; music that sprang from make-shift to people-friendly performers as they raised the occasion to another level, and then that moment of silence. One minute when the marchers' clamoring stopped.Complete stillness--up and down the march route. Not even the sound of breathing. Awesome.
Then, the aftermath, our hearts filed with pride. We dispersed, with the ever-present but respectful police shooing us toward buses, subways to leave in peace.
The team from People's Climate March, NYC, should be commended for their preparedness. The volunteers, mainly younger people, smiling with ceaseless energy. How could marchers not be impressed? Peaceful demonstration marked with rousing exclamation points: chants, songs, discourse. However on our return home to Cape Cod, word spread that the media had barely covered the historic event.
The People's Climate March organizers noted the world had heard the "loudest voices" demanding climate awareness and action. Where was the publicity? If we are to make any changes, our voices need to be seen, not just a brief mention on morning news shows & a subdued article on front page of NY Times. How can any action follow when many see today as tomorrow?
Twitter has boiled with my same issue. Yes, corporate media has its ugly hand in this, but there are not-for-profit public relations firms that can push through stories via news services. That said, playing hard-ball is the only way to get these corporate conglomerates to loosen their hold on television & Internet news reporting (had to scroll down two pages to find mention on Yahoo! & other sites. Bravo to Huffington Post and NBC's report on last night's and tonight's national news).
My respectful suggestion? Look how the NFL has been turned upside down by sponsors withdrawing advertising for teams that overlook violence toward women, admittedly ignored for too long by all concerned.The outrage from the public forced sponsors to step back and see all faiths, races, levels of education and economic strata, stopped.
Planet Earth doesn't have the time for those in power to come to their senses. We, those of us who truly believe in changing the environment for the better, need to spur similar sanctions against offending companies and corporate media control.
I've already Tweeted that I will boycott CBS This Morning for their ten second mention of PC Climate March today.They only reported on, get this, New York's event and shared a phrase, not even a sentence, about two cities in Europe that had staged a march.Nor did CBS This Morning note, Jane Goddall, and other prominent environmental/wildlife activists who participated. If 60 Minutes chooses to report on the global phenomenon, the marches, I may change my mind.
Details not revealed by much of the press stagger. The number of other cities, college campuses that had their version of the March in the U.S. How many people are aware that over 150 countries, from New Guinea to Scotland; Nepal to D.R. Congo; China, Bangladesh, India, etc. Did you know that Vandana Shiva (I recently posted a blog referring to her work), whose activism has been covered in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and several other respected print media, attended People's Climate March, New York?
Despite the issues above, I feel strongly the message needed to be sent. The People's Climate March symbolized a "hands across the world," protest. We've taken a step. Now, real change must begin.
A note: The photo below displays this author moving forward.I won't be defined by this picture only to mention that I had to use the walker,for this event, to make it through the March, well at least until the last ten blocks.Then, four self-less comrades wheeled, pushed me along rough terrain to the bus. My special thanks to those Cape Cod activists and/or Cape Downwinders.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PHOTO/VIDEO Copyright 2014 Wendy Shreve
Planet Earth doesn't have the time for those in power to come to their senses. We, those of us who truly believe in changing the environment for the better, need to spur similar sanctions against offending companies and corporate media control.
I've already Tweeted that I will boycott CBS This Morning for their ten second mention of PC Climate March today.They only reported on, get this, New York's event and shared a phrase, not even a sentence, about two cities in Europe that had staged a march.Nor did CBS This Morning note, Jane Goddall, and other prominent environmental/wildlife activists who participated. If 60 Minutes chooses to report on the global phenomenon, the marches, I may change my mind.
Details not revealed by much of the press stagger. The number of other cities, college campuses that had their version of the March in the U.S. How many people are aware that over 150 countries, from New Guinea to Scotland; Nepal to D.R. Congo; China, Bangladesh, India, etc. Did you know that Vandana Shiva (I recently posted a blog referring to her work), whose activism has been covered in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and several other respected print media, attended People's Climate March, New York?
Despite the issues above, I feel strongly the message needed to be sent. The People's Climate March symbolized a "hands across the world," protest. We've taken a step. Now, real change must begin.
A note: The photo below displays this author moving forward.I won't be defined by this picture only to mention that I had to use the walker,for this event, to make it through the March, well at least until the last ten blocks.Then, four self-less comrades wheeled, pushed me along rough terrain to the bus. My special thanks to those Cape Cod activists and/or Cape Downwinders.
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