Calendar Announcement:
Local Climate Change Activists Join Sept. 21 Nationwide Protest Against Keystone Pipeline
Saturday, September 21, 10:15 a.m., UGA South Campus
On Sept. 21, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition and a newly created, 350.org Local Group—Athens will host “Draw the Line—Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline.” Protestors will gather at the D.W. Brooks Mall on UGA’s south campus at 10 a.m. The march will pass UGA’s coal-fired power plant through campus to convene at Athens’ City Hall where GC3 will announce an ACC Fossil Free/Divestment campaign. For more information, visit georgiaclimatecoalition.org.
Through education, advocacy and action, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition aims to increase awareness about climate change and its projected impacts; work in partnership with all Georgians and stakeholders to promote solutions and adaptations to the climate crisis; actively support local, state, national and international energy/climate change initiatives and legislation; serve as a clearing house for climate information.
PRESS RELEASE
Local Climate Change Activists Join Sept. 21 Nationwide Keystone Pipeline Protest
Athens, GA – On September 21, a coalition of University of Georgia and Athens climate activists are co-hosting “Draw the Line – Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline.” Protestors from Georgia Climate Change Coalition, 350.Org Local Group—Athens, UGA Beyond Coal, and others will gather on UGA’s South campus at 10 a.m. at the D.W. Brooks mall on Carlton St. near Agriculture Drive. This event takes place on a UGA home football game day, see below for parking/transportation guidance. The march will proceed to UGA’s coal-fired power plant, pass Sanford Stadium, and continue through campus to convene at Athens’ City Hall where GC3 will announce a Fossil Free Divestment campaign for Athens-Clarke County.
This march is affiliated with a nationwide climate rally planned for the same day by 350.org. The non-profit group, founded by author-activist Bill McKibben, announced 113 such rallies across the nation. More are expected. “On September 21st, we will draw the line to protect our communities from climate change and show President Obama that there is no turning back,” said McKibben. “To keep his climate promises, he has to stop Keystone XL and the tar sands.”
Georgia Climate Change Coalition calls for the local government of Athens-Clarke County to divest itself from fossil fuel companies. Worldwide over 400 university campuses, including the University of Georgia, and dozens of cities and states have powerful citizen-led divestment campaigns underway. “Our fellow citizens, UGA and Athens-Clarke County have ‘gone green’ in many important ways, but we need to change laws as well as light bulbs,” said GC3 secretary Rich Rusk. “With 97 percent of climatologists telling us that unchecked carbon emissions threaten to destroy the ecology of the planet, we must respond.”
For more info call 706-202-7802 or visit www.georgiaclimatecoalition.org.
How to get to the Sept. 21 Anti-Pipeline Rally:
GC3 wants to encourage alternative transportation at all times. If you don’t live close enough to conveniently walk or ride a bike to the rally, we suggest you take a bus. This rally takes place on a UGA home game day and traffic & parking will be extremely difficult–if you must drive, please carpool.
—Athens Transit routes 5 stops on campus in front of Park Hall. From here it is about a 20 min walk along Sanford Drive through East Campus to Green St. where one can access the rally site. For info, visit: http://athenstransit.com/routes-and-fares/routes-by-number/route-5/&slot=sat&schtp=3
—Free parking is available at several locations on South and East Campuses within a short walk of the rally site. To view a map of parking areas on UGA campus, visit: http://www.ugaparkingmap.com/?rel=1
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