Time To Act 2015 Occupy Democracy Protest London Police in Westminster Creative Commons Climate Protest

Time To Act 2015 Occupy Democracy Protest London Police in Westminster Creative Commons Climate Protest

Image by D B Young

Dear friends,

Things happen in the world, and a big terrible one happened last week in Paris. Along with the rest of you, we've spent the past week or so grappling with the aftermath of November 13th’s horrible attacks. It's been a week of terrible sadness -- and of renewed resolve.

After the attacks, French authorities banned big public gatherings for a time in the city. Although activists in Paris are working hard to figure out alternatives, there won’t be a French repeat of last year’s mammoth New York procession.

But that makes it all the more important that our voices get heard outside of Paris. The problem is global warming, we have a global movement, and now we need to show it.

Next weekend, when we would have been marching in Paris, we need everyone who is not there marching everywhere else. It’s going to be a test of our nimbleness. Already there are more than 2,000 rallies scheduled around the world. Check here to see if there’s one near you to get to -- and if there isn’t, it’s not too late to make one happen yourself.

It doesn’t need to be huge -- it just needs to be inspired by the hope that our leaders might actually do something in Paris, and by the certain knowledge that they won’t if we don’t push them.

If you have wondered what you could do for the people of Paris -- well, there are 400,000 or so of them who wanted to march for climate action next weekend. You can march on their behalf, and in the process help build some kind of hope. The world needs that now more than ever.

This October was the hottest month the world has ever measured, and 2015 is now certain to be the hottest year in earth’s recorded history. It’s time for us to turn up the heat too -- from every corner of our shared planet.

Thank you,

Bill  McKibben & the team at 350.org

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