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The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

Forward on Climate Rally empowers activists

Having never visited Washington D.C. or attended a political rally, I didn’t quite know what to expect at the Forward on Climate Rally on Feb. 10. I traveled on a bus for 14 hours with other Saint Louis University students and Missouri citizens in order to urge President Obama to move “Forward on Climate.” Our bus was just one of 120 that traveled from all over the country.

Over 35,000 people met at the Washington monument that Sunday in order to call upon President Obama to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Several speakers addressed the crowd before the march began, including U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rosario Dawson and Bill McKibben, president of 350.org. It was especially moving to hear Native Americans speak firsthand of the devastation that these pipelines have caused to their lands.

I attended the rally in February in order to ensure that the president I voted for this past election takes a serious stance against climate change. It’s easy to feel helpless against special interests and the daunting task of preventing climate change that lies ahead. Events like the Forward on Climate Rally are important because they bring together people from all walks of life for a common cause. I saw toddlers, grandparents and students, with little in common expect for a love for our environment, marching together on Capitol Hill. Each person participating learns more about the cause, brings this information back to friends and adds to the grassroots movement. My first rally left me with a new sense of empowerment, and I look forward to engaging myself and others in the fight against climate change.

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