Sunday

People’s Climate Mobilization

Shambhalians take action, responding to the call for Buddhist participation in the People’s Climate Mobilization 

by Mark Rasmuson

Members of the DC Shambhala sangha have joined a coalition of Mindfulness/Buddhist groups to help organize the April 29 People’s Climate Mobilization in Washington DC. The coalition, working with several hundred other partners who have joined the People’s Climate Movement (PCM), is aiming to mobilize a large contingent from the Mindfulness/Buddhist community in Washington and beyond to join the march and support the goals of the PCM.

The People’s Climate Movement (People’s Climate Movement ) was launched in 2014 when it organized the historic first People’s Climate March on September 21 on the eve of the United Nations Climate Summit. As heads of state from around the world gathered, 400,000 people from every walk of life marched through the streets of New York City demanding bold and urgent action to confront the global climate crisis.  PCM’s platform includes goals to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas pollution to combat climate change and improve public health. Other goals are to ensure that investments are targeted to help low-income people and people of color to access good jobs, and to improve the lives of communities of color, indigenous peoples, low-income people, small farmers, women, and workers.

The Buddhist gathering at the People’s Climate Mobilization is being spearheaded by One Earth Sangha (One Earth Sangha), a PCM partner organization, and is joined by members from the Buddhist Climate Action Network (BCAN), Earth Holders Sangha (from the Thich Nhan Hanh tradition), Shambhala, Insight, Zen, Soka-Gakkai, and other traditions, as well as Buddhist Global Relief, who have engaged in climate and environmental action previously or are now stepping up to do so.  All PCM partners are listed here: PCM Partner Organizations.

In Washington, the Buddhist and Mindfulness communities will gather together on the morning of Saturday, April 29^th, at a specific time and place to be announced.  There will be “sister marches” organized in many cities that day for those unable to travel to Washington.  You can learn more about plans for April 29 on the One Earth Sangha website:

http://OneEarthSangha.org/programs/peoples-climate-mobilization

Details will also be posted on the special Facebook page for this event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1436460849731945/

Additional information about getting to the march in Washington and about Sister Marches may be found on the PCM website:  PCM Sister Marches.

Any Shambhala members who would like to help should contact DC Shambhala members Gabe Dayley or Mark Rasmuson.