Environment/Food/Health

Huge DC Bike Party takes over streets on 3ed anniversary of first Bike Party

The 10th of July marked the 3ed anniversary of the first DC Bike Party. For this occasion the Bike Party was moved to Friday instead of the normal 2nd Wednesday of every month, and a huge crowd showed up. This was much larger than any previous DC Bike Party I participated in, indeed larger than any other group ride I have ever seen in DC. In some places the ride was slow simply due to the huge traffic volume this many riders amount to.

video of the ride (3 min 3 sec)

Huge DC Bike Party takes over the streets

CCAN protests oil carrying "bomb trains" in Baltimore

On the 8th of July, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) protested in front of Baltimore City Hall to support local residents and activists demanding a ban on the growing number of "bomb trains" entering the city. In the past two years there have been a growing number of trains carrying Bakken crude oil to or through Baltimore. These trains are called "bomb trains" due to the severe damage caused by them in recent railroad accidents, including the incineration of half of one small town.

Video from the rally (1 min 52 sec)

CCAN demands NO bomb trains in Baltimore

DC Food Justice Bike Tour enters Gtown Ben and Jerry's with labor demands

On June 21, the DC Food Justice Bike Tour visited a number of locations with economic and food justice significance. The first was a Ben and Jerry's outlet in Georgetown, where the Milk with Dignity campaign is seeking higher wages for dairy workers in Vermont. This campaign is following in the footsteps of the sucessful Coalition of Immokalee Workers campaign for higher wages in tomato fields. Ben and Jerry's is a major customer of the dairy factory farms in Vermont, just as Burger King is a major customer of tomato producers.

Video of activists entering Ben and Jerry's

Entering the Ben and Jerry's in Georgetown with a letter concerning worker conditions in Vermont's dairy factory farms

Climate activists demand Smithsonian remove David Koch from Board of Regents

On the 15th of June, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents met at the museum's "castle." Outside were climate activists demanding the removal of David H Koch from the boards of both of the Smithsonian's Museums of Natural History (DC and NYC). In addition, they demanded the Smithsonian reject financial contributions from the Koch Brothers, who have spent billions on climate change denial. The activists delivered four boxes filled with petitions asking the Smithsonian to cut ties with the Koch's to the board meeting, they were accepted by Smithsonian staff.

Video-protest demanding the Smithsonian dump the Koch Brothers

National Climate Mobilization march demands WWII level mobilization against climate chaos

On the 14th of June, Climate First! hosted one of a national series of Climate Mobilization marches demanding that the same level of effort put into the Second World War be applied to climate change. Activists marched from the WWII memorial to the White House, some with WWII style "Rosie the Riveter" posters concerning climate change.

Video of the march-version 2

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