By Liz Fuhr

“All About that Change” sang the Climate Justice Now rally. The spirited music on the Denver Capitol steps was lead by rhythms and voices of Nimbus and spilt over into the Rocky Mountains panorama. The message of Colorado 350 and other earth advocates was also pronounced by banners: 100% Renewable Energy, End Fossil Fuels Now, Stand Up to Big Oil, Respect Indigenous People’s Rights. As dusk descended the message Climate Justice Now in lights shone from the Capitol steps.

A 350 member and Community Organizer, Zabrina Arnovitz spear-headed the evening. (Go, Zabrina!) This event coincided with 150 or more groups around the country. The united goal is to have a strong showing leading up to the climate meetings in December in Paris.

I walked to the Capitol with Rick Evans who was wearing his 2014 New York Climate March T-shirt. He said he marched last year about this time with 400,000. Rick described that event as “fantastic.’ and “It really motivated me.” As a result, he has participated numerous activities in 350 and Colorado Climate Lobby in the last year.

I continued to talk to other climate justice people. Susan Permut participates in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. They have writing a video open letter to all leaders. Their goal is to have one million people’s signature to the Paris. (Please see “You Tube Open Letter to World Leaders “ and help them reach their goal.) Susan participated in one of Climate Reality Projects world- wide volunteers training in Iowa. The trainees receive information and 500 slides to use to develop their own presentations in their communities.

A man newly arrived from Nashville on his i-pad was collecting names and emails and commitments that people would only vote for candidates who were active in climate change. I signed.

I asked a young woman Helena who was holding her one-year-old Maya why she was concerned about climate change. Helena bounced her dark-eyed Maya and said “We need to leave a good earth for Maya and her children.”

Periodically the music stopped and the microphone was given to local speakers: Peter who is involved with eco ministry said, “We need to take care of our neighbors and all creation is our neighbor.” A Student said “Enough is enough”. A Native American youth spoke of her ancestors struggle to maintain their Black Mesa tribal lands against the onslaught of the fossil industry. Another speaker spoke of the poor suffering from climate change. An immigrant Jorge spoke about fossil fuels poisoning his “dream world” and commented that you did not see fracking in gated communities but mainly where there are the poor.

A message for Paris: Greenpeace was collecting personal messages written on a green ribbon as part of flood of “green leaves” on “trees” during the Paris meeting. The Greenpeace member hoped his name would be drawn to accompany the ribbons to Paris. Go Greenpeace!

Another organization Community Climate Courage was sharing the screening of Naomi Klein’s documentary film This Changes Everything Nov 8 at 1536 Wynkoop, 2-5PM. Registration required http://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-climate-courage No charge but donations accepted. Learning to dialogue with climate deniers is a central part of the event.

The two-hour Climate Justice Now rally 350 helped organize closed with a rousing song of “Going to kick out fossil fuels!!!”