Ecominds-a Mailing List: Youth in action: 350 mile climate trek acros MN! See video, plan to welcome riders home

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

Expedition Copenhagen, the youth delegation from the Midwest that will be
attending the world climate talks in Copenhagen in December, has started
their 350 mile bike trek around the state of Minnesota.

There is a great video of the kick-off of the ride now posted by the Steger
Foundation.  I encourage you all to share this video, the accompanying blog,
and the planned October 24th welcoming rally (Oct 24th is International
Climate Day) with YOUTH, their RE leaders, and everyone in your
congregations.

This inspiring video shows how our future leaders are already leaders right
now -- taking action and getting engaged in the critical issue of our time.

- Ralph


The video (2 min 22 sec):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8n0oTM9XVY 

The BLOG of the ride:
http://www.willstegerfoundation.org/index.php/programs/expeditions/expeditio
n-copenhagen/expedition-blog



Press release:

DELEGATE TO UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE TO BIKE 350 MILES
ACROSS MINNESOTA TO SPOTLIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS
Delegate to Cycle Across Minnesota in Outreach for Clean Energy and Swift
Action

Reed Aronow, a Minnesota youth delegate to the Copenhagen climate
negotiations in December with the Will Steger Foundation, will launch a
15-day bike tour on October 10th in honor of the 350 International Day of
Climate Action (www.350.org). As the ride progresses, Aronow and other
riders will visit organizations, farms, and businesses around Minnesota to
discuss clean energy and the importance of upcoming federal legislation and
the U.N. conference on climate change in Copenhagen this December.

The ride will culminate with a bike rally calling for action on climate
change at the State Capitol at noon on October 24. This rally will feature
federal and state legislators as well as youth leaders and representatives
from the sponsoring organizations: Will Steger Foundation, Oxfam America,
and 1Sky.

WHO: Cyclist Reed Aronow will complete the entire 350-mile bike ride.
Speakers at the   rally on October 24th include invited federal and state
legislators as well as representatives from the sponsoring organizations and
youth climate leaders from across the metro area.

WHERE & WHEN: The bike ride will begin with a ?base camp? party at the
Harriet Alexander Nature Center (2520 North Dale Street, Roseville, MN
55113) from 10:10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, October 10.

The bike route will follow a schedule outlined at the following
link:http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=130900704410#/topic.php?uid=13090
0704410&topic=11773 Minnesota schools, farms, churches, and energy
facilities will be visited along the way.

The ride will culminate in a large rally with banners, speakers, and tabling
organizations at the Upper Mall of the Minnesota State Capitol from 12-1
p.m. on Saturday, October 24.

WHY: 350.org has already registered more than 1714 actions in 141 countries
to demand an ambitious, fair, and binding global climate agreement.
Participants are calling on world leaders to pass climate policies grounded
in the latest science and strong enough to get us back to 350 parts per
million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?the safe upper limit to avoid
environmental disaster.

For more information on Bike MN 350, or to schedule an interview with Reed
Aronow or one of the organizers, contact Maia Dedrick at 651.303.0490 or
maiad [at] willstegerfoundation.org.