Power Toward a Just Future: Parade and Rally

by Tracy Carluccio/Green Justice Philly

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Date and Time

Thu, August 2, 2018

10:45 AM – 1:15 PM EDT

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Location

2301 Market St

2301 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

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Event description

Description

In collaboration with Green Justice Philly (a coalition of local eco-justice groups), the Carnival de Resistance is planning a parade that will be a colorful spectacle to raise public awareness about the solarization of Philadelphia and to press the city to integrate social justice goals into its transition to renewable energy.

10:45am- Join us at PECO headquarters (2301 Market St.)
11:30am- Parade procession to SEPTA Headquarters (1243 Market St.) then proceed to City Hall
12:30pm- Rally at City Hall in Courtyard (1401 John F Kennedy Blvd.)

Our parade will be marching for the use of renewable and clean energy sources; an end to power generation using fossil fuels, including fracked gas; and support for locally generated solar energy.

Philadelphia’s transition to a renewable economy would improve regional air quality and public health, while curbing climate change and spurring long-term economic development and jobs for the City’s residents. There are 3 places that the parade will target:

The parade will start at PECO's headquarters where EQAT will lead us to say:
PECO profits more than $1 million per day off its customers in the Philadelphia area, the poorest big city in the country, and yet is pushing a rate hike which will harm the most vulnerable of us while sticking to the same polluting energy. More frequent climate change-fueled storms and poverty are multiplying the hardships of poor communities and communities of color. Yet vulnerable communities are also paving the way across the region, showing that cheaper solar can lower customer bills and create family-sustaining jobs. PECO should follow their lead instead of doubling down on its current short-sighted energy policies.

Our parade stop at SEPTA headquarters will say:
No to environmental racism -- no SEPTA gas plant in Nicetown! Power our transit system with renewable energy! Residents of Nicetown, Germantown, and nearby neighborhoods, together with organizations across the region, are demanding that SEPTA stop construction of a polluting gas-fired power plant in Philadelphia’s Nicetown section. Nicetown is a community of color that is already overburdened with air pollution and related illnesses. At the same time, we’re telling SEPTA to use clean, renewable energy to power our trains, subways, trolleys, and buses. Public transit is essential for a just and sustainable society, and it is essential for public transit to go fossil free.

Our rally at City Hall will say:
Mayor Kenney has set a goal of purchasing 100% of the electricity the city government uses from renewable sources by 2030. Our parade will carry our message to Mayor Kenney and City Council to generate solar energy locally on city infrastructure, to enlist other large city institutions to go solar, and to ensure that the new jobs will go to Philadelphia residents, with a commitment to ensuring the workforce reflects the racial demographics of the city as closely as possible and are under union conditions.

Bring signs that call for: Philadelphia to go local solar, for renewables, clean energy, no more fossil fuels, clean transit, Fossil Free SEPTA, Stop SEPTA Nicetown plant, PECO - support local solar, no fracked gas, clean water and air, healthy communities, no sacrifice zones

Also bring: decorated umbrellas, funny hats, flair, and noisemakers!
Also bring: your own water container, cool clothes, family and friends!

Learn more at www.carnivalderesistance.com and find out how to volunteer and get involved! And the volunteer form is here: http://carnivalderesistance.com/support/volunteer/