The Great Ohio Climate March is designed to educate the public on the impacts of fracking under Ohio’s public lands, the climate crisis, and the benefits of renewable energy.
While the deadline to hike the entire route has passed, the public can still connect in community at rallies planned for Athens, Salt Fork State Park and Columbus.
Three rallies planned during the May 16-28 hike throughout Ohio have slightly different flavors, but a dominant theme is building community and education about the urgent need for cheaper, reliable and low- to no-emissions energy production for Ohio, said Ditte Wolin, co-facilitator of Third Act Ohio, event sponsor.
Schedule for the three Great Ohio Climate March rallies includes:
- Saturday, May 16 - Kickoff at Athens City Pool, 15 E Park Dr. 11 a.m. Proclamation by Athens mayor; speakers and entertainment.
- Saturday, May 23: Salt Fork State Park Beach. 2 p.m. Follow signage from Eco Discovery center 69007, R-15, Cambridge. Rally with music, games, speakers, and a kayak flotilla on the lake. Teach-in sessions on fracking our public lands, plastics and current, related legislation. Earth-related crafts and games.
- Thursday, May 28: Meet the march on its final day at 9:45 a.m. at Wolfe Park, 105 Park Dr., Columbus. Bring walking shoes, loud voices for chants, climate protest signs and banners for the 2.8 mile walk down Broad Street to the Ohio statehouse. A noon rally follows, with activists, elected officials, scientists and singer/musicians. From 2 to 4 p.m., Third Act Ohio will host Lobby Day.
“Do you have something to say to lawmakers and wish you had an opportunity to talk directly with them?” asked Wolin. “We’ll meet with state senators, representatives or staff to talk about the urgency and wisdom of ramping up renewable energy to power Ohio. Anyone can learn to lobby effectively, and all ages and knowledge levels are welcome.”
Volunteers can register online to join the lobby team. Lobbyists will urge legislators to quickly ramp up renewable energy; phase out fossil fuels; and pass legislation calling for a moratorium on fracking under Ohio public lands.
Volunteers will also receive a briefing on May 28.
“Climate change is the biggest, most urgent story on the planet,” said Wolin. “Our window to limit planet warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius globally is closing rapidly.
“Increasing numbers of young American voters—no matter the political party—realize human activities have caused climate warming and are concerned. We’re beginning to experience the devastating whipsaw effects of droughts, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, melting glaciers, rising seas and debilitating heat that climate change brings.
“If we act quickly and now, we can mitigate the worst effects of climate warming for us, our children and grandchildren. Join us.”
Joining Third Act Ohio as partners for the Great Ohio Climate March are 24 Ohio environmental organizations, including Save Ohio Parks; Ohio Sierra Club; Buckeye Environmental Network; Faith Communities Together for a Sustainable Future (FaCT); People Over Petro; FracTracker Alliance; Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action; and Sunrise Athens.
For more information about Third Act, visit ThirdActOhio.org. For updates along the Great Ohio Climate March trail, visit Third Act social media on Instagram, Facebook and Blue Sky.