Largest Climate Rally in History: Can We Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline?

This weekend an estimated 40,000 people marched in Washington DC to support action for climate change. They gathered outside President Obama’s doorstep to urge immediate rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline and energy extraction practices that threaten the environment.

The Keystone XL Pipeline project would pipe some of the planet’s dirtiest oil from Canada through America to be shipped overseas through the Gulf of Mexico. This tar sands oil proposal could be disastrous for our planet – producing tar sands crude that kicks out two or three times as much carbon pollution as producing conventional crude oil.

“For 25 years our government has basically ignored the climate crisis: now people in large numbers are finally demanding they get to work. We shouldn’t have to be here—science should have decided our course long ago. But it takes a movement to stand up to all that money,” said Bill McKibben 350.org founder, author of Eaarth, Middlebury College professor, and climate change champion.

The fact that this was indeed the largest climate rally in US history reflects the sense of urgency and fear Americans feel regarding the planet’s future. In fact, several journalists covering the rally noted that this seems to be an issue the “average American” is deeply concerned about. (It’s not just us fanatical environmentalists!)

“All I ever wanted was to see a movement of people to stop climate change and now I see it,”said  McKibben.

Will our voices be heard by Obama and legislators? In a nation where there are so many pressing issues –  climate change is one that should not be ignored  just because the consequences seem less immediate. At its core these things we want – clean water and clean energy seem so simplistic and accessible but the reality is they are being threatened – now.