Eco Action joined the 3rd Way Collective, the Penn State United Students Against Sweatshops, the Coalition of Graduate Employees at Penn State, Penn State Bahai Campus Association, Social Justice Coalition, Planned Parenthood, and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center for the 2nd Annual Penn State International Day of Peace March. We started marching from the PRCC and marched downtown, ending at Old Main Steps. Each group had a chance to speak about what their current efforts. It was truly inspiring to hear all of the justice work going on at Penn State.
April 30, 2017 – The Penn State student groups Eco Action and Fossil Free PSU organized a bus to send 55 participants to the People’s Climate March in Washington D.C on Saturday, April 29. The march is part of the larger People’s Climate Movement to urge the government to address issues relating to climate change.
Group photo in front of the National Geographic Headquarters.
The march began at 12:30 p.m. near the Capitol, traveled up Pennsylvania Avenue, and then surrounded the White House Grounds. The march ended at the Washington Monument where everyone rested in the shade while listening to music and speakers.
Large crowds filled Pennsylvania Ave for the march.
“The 2014 Climate March in New York City inspired me to take action. I wanted to share that inspiration with others,” said Maddy Nyblade, president of Eco Action. Three years later, Nyblade, Lucien Simpfendoerfer, Alison Kelly, Arin Lewis, and Zak Kalp organized for this climate march. A total of 30 small private community and organization donations covered the trip cost. “It truly has been a community effort and I am grateful for the support” said Nyblade.
Bands played next to us and brought energy to the crowd.
“This march is particularly important because it gives the planet a voice. A voice allowing people to unite and to share their story. A voice to fight corruption, resource exploitation, and the degradation of our ecosystems. A voice that has empowered me to fight for the planet,” said Alex Curtze, a Penn State student studying environmental science.
Zachary Kalp, an undergraduate student studying political science marched because “Congress and the President need to make climate change a top priority. We cannot sit back and do nothing.”
“I marched because I care about the future of our planet and environmental justice. I wanted to be part of democracy in action,” said Nicole Brunozzi, a Penn State student studying community environment, and development.
Thomas Leonard holding “Guardians of the Future” banner.
For many students, this was their first march: “It was my first march ever and I loved every second of it! To see so many people who care about the things that I do gave me hope,” said Seo Choi, a Penn State junior studying architecture.
The voices of Penn Staters joined a diverse chorus of protesters united in tackling climate change, and promoting an economy that works for jobs and the planet. The People’s Climate Movement included over 50 organizations, from environmental organizations, to racial and economic justice groups.
“My favorite part about the march was seeing just how integrated the crowd was. This reminded me that we have so much to learn from those who came before us, and that we have so much to teach our peers and those younger than we are,” said Alyssa Gurklis a Penn State student studying community, environment, and development.
Megan Loney, Cher Xu, and Marlana Quaill march in the heat.
“It was an amazing experience I will never forget. Standing and marching side by side people across generations and backgrounds to proclaim loudly that climate action is needed now was exhilarating and inspiring,” said Ash Gillis, a PhD student in social phycology.
While reflecting about the march on the bus ride back, many students decided to take this energy home: “I will bring the energy back to my community and lead others to take action with me” explained Penn State student Laurene Roup.
The march ended at the Washington Monument.
“I am excited to go back to PSU and back home to spread the march’s energy to other people,” said Andy Cook, a Penn State student studying civil engineering.
“I hope everyone turns this energy into action,” said Nyblade. “Young people must to speak up because it is our time to lead. The country and the world needs us.”
April 22nd has historically been recognized as Earth Day upon its founding in 1972, however, as of 2017, this day now holds extra meaning for scientists and earth lovers alike.
On April 22nd, 2017, over 600 cities from Munich Germany to Sydney Australia to the Neumayer Station in Antarctica, conducted marches for science in hopes of bringing awareness to the significance of science in politics and the role we all need to play to secure its global development.
Eco-Action, along with many other PSU undergraduates, as well as graduate students and staff, traveled on three buses to Washington DC to join the 15,000 other participants in the globally recognized March for Science. This roughly two mile walk to the capitol began at the AAAS Headquarters where signs and apparel to promote the march were distributed to participants. The festivities continued to the Washington Monument where critically acclaimed speakers including Bill Nye and distinguished PSU professor Dr. Michael E. Mann, presented information on the importance of continual acknowledgment and innovation in science.
Throughout the march, signs displaying Neil deGrasse Tyson’s famous quote, “the good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it”, as well as allusions to trump with signs stating there are no “alternative” facts, and “in peer review we trust”.
Although a rainy day, the march was highly impactful and extremely eye-opening, especially for Eco-Action members, as it showed the seriousness of this issue and the importance of voicing your concerns. When we stand up and rally together to bring awareness to an issue that affects us all, we cannot lose. As a club, we are hoping to expand our influence and continue to contest the upsetting denouncement of environmental stewardship within our current government. We intend to make our voices heard and our actions felt!
Fossil Free PSU started in 2013 as part of the 350.org’s nation campaign to get universities to divest from the fossil fuel industry. Today this campaign lives on as part of Eco Action.
Founders of Fossil Free PSU
People’s CLimate March 2014
Fossil Free PSU marched in NYC as part of the People’s Climate March in 2014.
You Deserve Coal!
Fossil Free PSU delivered coal to the PSU Board of Trustees in December, 2014 to show their disapproval of PSU’s investment in the fossil fuel industry.
Letter Delivery to President Barron
Fossil Free PSU delivered a letter to President Barron urging him to consider fossil fuel divestment in 2015.
Onward on Climate
Fossil Free PSU held the Onward on Climate rally on Old Main with speakers from across the university addressing climate justice.
TAKE Back THE Tap
In 2015, a Penn State chapter of Take Back the Tap (TBTT) was started to promote the use of reusable water bottles and education on the danger of bottled water consumption. TBTT strives to kick disposable water bottles off campus and support clean and healthy drinking water for all. This campaign continues today as part of Eco Action.
Climate Reality Project
As part of Al Gore’s national campaign, the Climate Reality Project (CRP) at Penn State is working to get Penn State to switch its electricity power source to 100% renewable energy. Today, CRP works in partnership with Eco Action.
