Wednesday, April 20  

11 am - 1 pm
Ohio Statehouse 
You/We CAN make a difference! 

 Simply Living is one of many sponsors of the Climate Action Coalition that  

is organizing a Rally and Lobby Day at the Statehouse. 

We are very concerned that our legislature has put a "freeze" on Ohio's transition to a renewable energy future. The Rally will include speakers who will call on legislators to reinstate the Renewable Energy Protocol standards that were passed almost unanimously in 2008. This event is being led by Ohio Interfaith Power and Light, and will include many faith based organizations as well as secular organizations like Simply Living, Sierra Club, and local chapters of the Citizens Climate Lobby. If you are concerned about climate change and able to attend, here is a link to more information and  registration: http://www.ohipl.org/statehouse-lobby-day/ You do not need to register to attend the rally. See press release for more information. Or see Facebook event.

Rally(April 20, 11 am – 1 pm)

Leading up to Earth Day 2016, people of conscience, members of religious faiths and secular organizations are coming together to express the moral imperative to act on the grave threats posed by global warming. The rally on the steps of the Ohio statehouse will feature faith leaders coordinated by Ohio Interfaith Power & Light.  Buses from five cities will come to Columbus to swell the chorus of local voices calling for swift legislative action to address climate change. Many local organizations participating in the Climate Action Coalition will carry signs that express their concern for the environment alongside the faith based institutions.

Lobbying(After the rally)

There will be lobbying visits after the rally coordinated by Interfaith Power & Light and the Ohio Sierra Club. We are calling for civil dialogue and conversation with our state legislators. We share a common concern for the Earth and for the health and well-being of all Ohioans. As a basic first step action we are asking that our representatives remove the freeze on the clean energy standards for Ohio and reinstate the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards that were passed in 2008 by a near unanimous vote of the legislature.

Invitationsto participate in the rally and/or sign up to lobby legislators are open to the public. Register here: www.ohipl.org/statehouse-lobby-day

Speakers at the rally and brief bios are available here: http://www.ohipl.org/speakers-for-faith-climate-action-day/

Faith-based organizationssponsoring the event include: Ohio Interfaith Power and Light, Ohio Council of Churches, Faith in Public Life, Catholic Climate Covenant, Mom’s Clean Air Force, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, Nuns on the Bus, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio, NextGen Ohio.

Secular organizationsparticipating in the event include: Ohio Sierra Club, Central Ohio Sierra Club group, Simply Living, central Ohio community and neighborhood sustainability groups, Citizens Climate Lobby – Columbus and Delaware Chapters, Clintonville Clean Energy Collaborative, Columbus Community Bill of Rights, the Columbus Free Press,

Background. The majority of Ohioans understand that global warming is real and that much of it is caused by greenhouse gases that threaten to disrupt our climate. Scientists warn that we must reduce our use of fossil fuels and natural gas if we are to avoid a future of rising sea levels, droughts that turn fertile land into deserts, and devastating storms like hurricane Katrina and super storm Sandy.

People from all walks of life are standing up to speak these truths to state legislators and call for legislators to remove the freeze on the clean energy standards for Ohio. Polls consistently show that regardless of political party, the great majority of Ohioans favor expanding the use of renewable energy sources. Clearly the Ohio legislature is out of step with voters.

Logistics. Buses available from: Cleveland/Mansfield; Toledo/Bowling Green; and Cincinnati - but you must register to get a seat. $20/ticket includes $10 lunch card. Please no signs with sticks are allowed on the Statehouse Lawn. Updates can be found on Facebook by searching “Climate Action and Lobby Day.”

Simply Livingis an independent, nonprofit organization that educates the public about living locally and sustainably. Simply Living is affiliated with 350.org and helped organize a Climate Action Coalition in the fall of 2015 to demonstrate locally in support of the Paris COP21 conference that addressed global climate change. More information at SimplyLiving.org.