Greenpeace

The Global Warming Story Tour took on Green Jobs in Nashville, Tennessee. On the National Green Jobs Day of Action more than fifty people - Congressional candidates, singers and performers, activists, students from Fisk and Vanderbilt, and Greenpeace members – all gathered in a local community garden to call on Congress to support local solutions to Global Warming – Green Jobs!

The entire event was powered by the sun – the sound system and the camera for sending solar powered messages to Congress. By supporting a new green economy we have the opportunity to address the economic crisis and global warming with local solutions. We can provide jobs that will build a clean energy infrastructure here in Tennessee and provide nearly 45,000 jobs for people that need them.

I heard this sentiment from young people who are working with a local organization – Y Build, which gives young, urban men between the ages of 18-24 the training they need to get construction type jobs. It was inspiring to see this kind of program already in action right here in Tennessee – ready and waiting in the wings for the skills to start the clean energy revolution and build its infrastructure. Local solutions to global warming are here – we just need Congress to be as committed as we are.

-Carrie Wisinski
Greenpeace field organizer, TN-05

The Global Warming Story Tour had a great visit to beautiful Siesta Key Florida and drew a lot of attention from beachgoers. The Rolling Sunlight was definitely at home here in the Sunshine State – there was a lot of interest about the solar panels, and what they could do. Some people even came down to check out the truck after seeing it on the news!

Our solar paneled biodiesel truck recorded global warming video messages from volunteers, beachgoers, local religious leaders, and Christine Jennings, candidate for Congress. There were also opportunities for participants to write letters to Congress, learn about renewable energy, and meet the crew. We were sure to let everyone know about our upcoming aerial art event, and participants could even email their friends to tell them about it from our solar powered laptops!

People had a lot of different stories about what concerns them about global warming and what they’re doing about it. But everyone wanted to see Congress get serious about real solutions to global warming. Florida has so much to lose if we don’t stop global warming, and so much to gain in a clean energy economy. With just a month until the November election, the Global Warming Story Tour helped send a message: We will vote for leaders who will fight for clean energy and a safe climate.

-Joe Smyth
Greenpeace field organizer, FL-13

We were lucky enough to have two Global Warming Story Tour stops here in Pennsylvania. The first event was on Friday at Phoenixville’s First Friday.

The crowd came out to enjoy the last street festival (with live music!) of the summer. At the event, there was a Grateful Dead cover band named Splintered Sunlight. The irony makes me laugh.

Passersby were excited to check out the truck. The people of Phoenixville stopped to share their stories with Greenpeace about how global warming is affecting their lives, what they are doing to stop global warming, and what they are asking Congress to do in order to stop global warming. One passerby stopped with his daughter to tell his story about his travels to Glacier National Park and how he saw first hand how climate change is affecting the glaciers. Pennsylvanians came out to tell Congress that they are doing their part as Americans, and now it is time for Congress to do theirs.

Message to congressional candidates: Pennsylvanians are waiting for action.

The Global Warming Story Tour also visited Greenfest Philly on South Street the following day. The event had over 200 exhibitors and an estimated 20,000 people. Passersby were again very excited to see the Rolling Sunlight truck and its impressive display of solar panels. I was inspired myself watching the diverse group of people that volunteered to share their stories about how global warming is affecting their life and the steps they are making in their personal lives to stop it.

Even though people from all backgrounds took the time speak about global warming, they all shared the same belief that Congress needs to take action to stop global warming. Symbols of 1776, like the Liberty Bell, remind Philadelphians everyday about independence and revolution. Now Pennsylvanians are joining together and asking Congress for a 21st century energy revolution. We are asking Congress to use energy more efficiently, reduce the amount of global warming pollution dumped in the atmosphere, and invest in renewables like wind and solar.

Congress, here in Pennsylvania we are doing out part. Now it is time you did yours.

-Jillian Costigan
Greenpeace field organizer, PA-06

This weekend, the Global Warming Story Tour came through Bloomington to ask community members how global warming is affecting them. People were very excited and curious to see our biodiesel-powered, solar-energy-equipped vehicle and asked lots of great questions

Many people expressed interest in putting solar panels up on their houses and wanted to know if there was anyone in town who helped out with that. Luckily, the person who runs SIREN (Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network) kept dropping by the event to answer their questions. People who were not familiar with our global warming campaign seemed excited to know that there was a local group working on the campaign and were eager to get involved.

During the busiest part of the event, four of our Congressman’s staffers (that would be Rep. Baron Hill) stopped by to check out the festivities. I asked them if they wanted to do video testimonials, and they politely declined.

Still, I think we got some great video testimonials from people who really represent southern Indiana, so I’m excited about that. Overall, it was a good event!

- Lisa Ramsden
Greenpeace field organizer, IN-09

“And thank you, also, for showing me a side of Greenpeace that I really didn't know about before.”

-Cathy Puchalski, Superintendent of Recreation, Arlington Heights Park District.

Sometimes the elephant in the room is that people just don't know what the environmental movement is really about — what Greenpeace truly stands for. After all, for almost 40 years we've been up against rich companies whose PR department budgets probably outstrip the GDP of Finland. Greenpeace's global warming campaign is challenging perceptions while simultaneously giving notice that people aren't going to sit by anymore and let their voices be ignored. And we're doing it right where the fat cats are most uncomfortable seeing us, and where we can best show everyone our true hearts for the cause: in the heart of American communities.

People know that global warming is here, and it's affecting us in our own backyards. They've bought their canvass bags and they're trying hard to remember to bring them every time they go to the grocery store. They're teaching their kids about recycling. They're making the small changes in their own lives that show Americans care.

They want their government to step up to the plate. But not everyone can ship out on the Rainbow Warrior or lead a march on Washington. After all, there are the bills, the job, the kids . . . But what's this? Greenpeace? At my local park? With — let me get this straight — activities for my kids, letter-writing tables for me, and a whole lot of smiling volunteers educating people and taking pictures and videos to send to Congress? I never knew Greenpeace did . . . that.

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers from Illinois' 10th District and from the Rolling Sunlight's crew, lots of people in Arlington Heights got a glimpse of how they can help stop global warming, right here, right now. And they're seeing a Greenpeace they never knew before.

- Adam Smit
Greenpeace field organizer, IL-10