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2 Audubon societies hold rally against global warming
Photos by James Glover II / Star staff Chrystal Klabunde, programs chair for the Conejo Valley Audubon Society, holds signs and yells "What do we want? Action!" at a global warming rally at Harbor Cove Beach on Saturday. The rally was part of the national Step it Up campaign.
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More from Conejo ValleyThe Ventura and Conejo Valley Audubon societies held a global warming rally at Ventura Harbor's Cove Beach on Saturday as part of a national grass-roots campaign called Step It Up.
Event organizer Chrystal Klabunde estimated that at least 150 people attended the rally.
"We didn't know what to expect," she said. "I'm just glad so many people were able to make it out."
The most startling feature of the rally was the 17-foot-tall pole painted by Klabunde. Staked into the ground, the pole was meant to demonstrate the "worst-case prediction" of rising sea levels in Ventura County due to global warming, she said.
The rally was one of hundreds nationwide organized through Manchester, N.H.-based Step It Up.
Upon arrival at the event, participants were handed signs that read, "Make a difference. Fight global warming. We want action now," and given cloth grocery bags donated by Ralphs and Albertsons.
Ventura resident Linda Windsor rode her bike to the rally in keeping with the environmental spirit.
"It wasn't far — maybe seven miles," she said. "I figured it would be better than driving."
Steve Jacobsen brought his 11-year-old son, Casey, a sixth-grader at Las Colinas Elementary School in Camarillo who wrote a report on global warming last year.
Jacobsen said global warming has been an important issue to him for more than 15 years.
"I was active with Earth Day in 1990," he said, "and I've noticed that very little has been done about global warming since then. It's sad."
Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett spoke at the rally, as did representatives from Ventura Climate Care Options Organized Locally, or VC COOL.
One VC COOL speaker, Elzbet Diaz de Leon, told the group how she'd stopped using her hair dryer in order to reduce her carbon footprint, a term used to describe the amount of carbon produced by an individual that gets released into the atmosphere.
VC COOL had an information table at the rally, distributing literature on reducing carbon output — a key component of Step It Up's campaign to end global warming.
"I'm very aware of Step it Up," said Rachel Morris, VC COOL member, adding that members were involved with Step it Up events last year.
This year, the group has been focused on compiling an environmental questionnaire for city council candidates, she added.
Step it Up seeks to reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere in order to reverse the effects of global warming.
Posted by BillyBob on November 4, 2007 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can answer DJKnows!!
People will see it once those pesky ice caps have melted.
People will see it when most of the flora and fauna have perished.
Perhaps some people won't see it because they have their heads stuck on the sand...
Posted by BillyBob on November 4, 2007 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I mean in the sand...
Posted by THX1138 on November 4, 2007 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm I wonder why mainstream media has suppressed most if not all opposing views[?].
A very similar weather pattern was recorded back in the late 30's, [before the industrial revolution]. Some experts have said warming and cooling patterns are cyclical over the timespan of a century.
I just hope that those that take a stand also take the time to do some research...
Posted by shaver_one on November 5, 2007 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know whether global warming is real or not, man-caused or not. I have seen reports about the "mini-ice age". I have read reports about cyclical weather changes. I remember, back in the 70s, when scientsts were talking about a new ice age coming. I just don't know.
But...
What I don't understand is the visciousness of the attacks against global warming.
Taking the Kyoto Resolution out of the argument, and taking China's and India's unregulated heavy pollution out of the argument, Why are there so many people opposed to even talking about global warming.
What is there to be afraid of by simply talking about global warming and climate change...the possible causes and repercussions. Why won't these people even consider that global warming MIGHT be occuring?
Take Al Gore out of the argument. Are these anti-climate change people so afraid that their arguments cannot be defended that they refuse to participate in the discussion? Or, do they have personal or economic reasons to object to the discussion?
By boldly stating that global warming is a myth, you are placing yourselves in that same "fanatic-wacko" world that you, yourselves, place those who are concerned about global warming in. Believe, or not...that is your choice. But, to cut off discussion is absolute, narrow-minded, and doesn't solve anything.
Keep the dialogue open. Discuss the issues. Come to conclusions that are supported by logic and fact, not fear or repression, on either side of the argument. To cast a blind-eye at climate change is to cook a nasty dish based upon ingredients thrown into the pot without looking. It could be a recipe for disaster.
Just a thought.
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