Local initiative to mark Saturday's ‘Day of Climate Action'

Emphasis on what each person can do to help the environment Warwick — Warwick NY Steps It Up, a grass roots movement that’s one part of over 1,100 actions being held from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, as part of a National Day of Climate Action, is fast becoming one of the most conspicuous local responses to the global warming crisis that is affecting habitats throughout the Hudson Valley and around the world. Originally organized through word of mouth, e-mail outreach and the online community, the event will feature a combination of education and entertainment designed to inform attendees about the need for quick and dramatic change on the issue of global warming. “Despite the varied backgrounds of the participants and the uniqueness of each presentation, we are united in delivering a critical message to Congress: to put America on a course to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 less than a 2 percent reduction per year,” said event chair Donna Kaminski. U.S. Rep John Hall, recently named to the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, will be a featured speaker at the Railroad Avenue. “For thirty years, I have been a vocal proponent and strong supporter of the development of alternative energy sources that are safe and renewable, understanding fully the problems we have been creating in our environment,” Hall said as part of the event’s promotional material. “It’s time for Congress to move straight ahead with the issue of global warming, and I’m confident that significant progress can be achieved.” Many Americans are choosing to make the switch to new conservation technologies in order to cut emissions, but only leadership at the national level can drive the large scale changes needed to stave off the catastrophic effects of global warming. “This is a wake-up call to legislators,” added event planner Andrew McLaughlin. “We need to show Congress that their constituents view global warming as the greatest threat facing our civilization today and are pleading for them to step up and take action.” Although international coalitions of scientists have been issuing warnings about shifting weather patterns, governments have been slow to respond. Meanwhile, droughts and stronger, more frequent storms, are likely to dramatically affect the already scarce resources hundreds of millions rely on for the basics of life. An increase in local flooding, coupled with rising sea levels, are all part of the climate picture. Stopping global warming could catalyze a new clean energy revolution which can benefit residents across the globe. The Warwick NY Steps It Up event, free to attendees, begins a 1 p.m. on Railroad Avenue in the Village of Warwick. Attendees are urged to bring a blanket and chairs. Refreshments will be available from the nearby cafes on Railroad Avenue, Main Street and Oakland Avenue. At the conclusion of the Railroad Avenue program, there will be a banner parade to Village Hall, where the second part of the program begins at 5 p.m., with presentations by Shawn Dell Joyce, An Inconvenient Truth with Conveniently Local Solutions, and Patrick Gallagher, Solar Thermal Solutions - Solar Hot Water=Carbon Reduction. Attendees will be able to visit the letter writing tables and address members of the Senate and House with letters. Organizers will have a sample to help attendees compose the letter and will drop the completed letters at the post office and pay the postage. In addition, visitors will be able to view a poster art exhibit by local children participating in “Warwick Day Care Centers Care: Things You Can Do To Reduce CO2.” Warwick NY Steps It Up is sponsored by Community 2000 and supported by the Village of Warwick. For more information, visit www.warwickinfo.net/stepitup/ to view the days’ program or send in a message to program organizers.