Portland, Maine - More than 50,000 people are expected to descend on the nation’s capital on Sunday, February 17 for the historic Forward on Climate Rally (#ForwardOnClimate), including 100s of Mainers traveling by trains, buses, and carpools. Among them, 30 Mainers leave Saturday night on a bus sponsored by the Natural Resources Council of Maine to join the rally to urge the Obama Administration to take action to combat climate change and say “no” to tar sands oil.The bus will leave Portland on Saturday night, February 16 at 8:00 p.m., from the Park and Ride lot on Skyway Drive near the Portland Jetport, off Exit 46 from Interstate 95. The rally takes place Sunday, February 17 from noon to 4:00 p.m. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
“Climate change is already having a devastating effect in Maine, the nation, and the planet,” said Emmie Theberge, Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “This demonstration is an opportunity to give our President and Congress the support they need to take bold action on climate change. Mainers spoke out loudly and clearly at the Portland Tar Sands Rally last month, and now we are bringing that message to Washington DC.”
“I am riding the train to Washington this week because every one of us has a responsibility to speak out against tar sands pipelines and for sensible climate policy and protection of the planet,” said Brownie Carson of Harpswell, former executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “Climate change is the most important environmental problem facing the nation and the world and we need our elected officials to invest now in clean and efficient energy solutions.”
“When I heard about this climate rally I knew it was very important for me and my son to attend and NRCM’s bus is making the trip easier, more fun, and less hard on the planet,” said Jeanne Gulnick of Peaks
