Moving Planet: Egypt and Tonga Launch 2,000+ Worldwide Events

This morning, events in Egypt and the Kingdom of Tonga helped launch “Moving Planet,” a global day of demonstrations aimed at moving the world beyond fossil-fuels.

Over the next 24 hours, Moving Planet will bring together over 2,000 bicycle rides, marches and rallies in 171 countries. The day of action is being coordinated by 350.org, an international climate change campaign, and came together through emails, social media sites, and blogs.

In Cairo, over 600 young Egyptians wearing blue clothing flowed into the streets to form “Human Nile,” representing the critical threat global warming poses to water security and their future.

Sarah Rifaat of 350.org and the Cairo Cycling Club, who handed out bicycle helmets to revolutionaries in Tahrir Square this spring, said, “In Egypt, we’ve seen the amazing changes that can take place when people work together to move in a new direction. We need the same sort of energy put towards addressing the climate crisis and moving away from fossil fuels.”

Meanwhile, halfway around the world, villagers on the Pacific island of Tonga held a sunrise ceremony at 6:00 AM Saturday morning Tonga time. A local priest blessed the coming day while the village choir sang to welcome the sun over the island.

“This campaign is a symbolic one for us as it shows that the people of Tonga are aware of the harmful effects of climate change and we are willing to do something about it,” said Moving Planet Tonga representative, Polikalepo Kefu.

Photos of events around the world will be displayed on a giant screen outside the United Nations headquarters as part of a massive bike ride and rally in New York City.

“The planet has been stuck for too long with governments doing nothing about the biggest problem we’ve ever faced: the climate crisis,” said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org. “This is the day when people will get the earth moving, rolling towards the solutions we need.”

Filed under: global warming It’s Getting Hot in Here is the voice of a growing movement. A community media project, it features the student and youth leaders from the movement to stop global warming and to build a more just and sustainable future.

Read more at ItsGettingHotInHere.org