Global Climate March

Several hundred marchers in Bellingham this morning, including Phil and me, were among the estimated more than 600,000 people "in 175 countries around the world to call for a strong deal in Paris that will see a swift transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy" (The Guardian).

Our friend LoJardinier posted a photo of the climate march in Montpellier, France, earlier today, with a thoughtful journal entry, and I expect that if I looked through the "recent" stream on Blipfoto, I'd find more. I've posted another view of the marchers in the extras.

This march was especially meaningful for us and others here, as a delegation of Lummi youth and adults--the Lummi Youth Canoe Family--will be among the Indigenous Environmental Network's delegation to Paris (read more here). They will take with them to Paris a film that today's marchers saw at a gathering after the event, held at the Salish Sea Marine Sanctuary Space downtown. The film was made at the Wexliem Community Building on the Lummi Reservation earlier this month and features "a group of respected leaders sharing their wisdom about living a good life on this earth." In addition to that deeply moving film, we enjoyed brief speeches and music by several Lummi elders (see extra photos). 

It was heart-warming to be in this large group, ranging in age from toddlers to grandparents, where everyone had a stake in the cause they were marching for, income level didn't matter, and thoughtfulness and courtesy were the norm, not the exception.

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