Around 50 community members and environmental activists gathered outside the Capitol Tuesday to champion climate action and celebrate Earth Day.
The “WAKE UP! and create the world we want to live in!” event, organized by the 50501 Movement — 50 states, 50 protests, one day — provided attendees with sign-making supplies, noise makers made out of recycled materials and infographics about sustainable lifestyle changes. The rally began with a parade around Capitol Square, where attendees chanted and carried bed sheets displaying monthly carbon dioxide emissions in parts per million courtesy of local artist TetraPAKMAN.
Several organizations promoted environmental movements at the rally, including Beyond Plastics Madison and the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club hosted origami fish making as a part of their “Fish for the Future” movement to protect the Great Lakes from pollution by decommissioning the Line 5 oil pipeline.
Emily Park, a co-executive director of 350 Wisconsin, voiced the need to have a day dedicated to environmental unity and appreciation for the Earth. She said it is important to commemorate what her community has accomplished and what they will do in the future.
“Showing up to things like this [the rally] is critically important to remind people that even though the federal government and other people are trying to stop us from taking climate action, we're all still here,” Park told The Daily Cardinal. “We're still fighting the fight. We're not gonna stop.”
Speakers also emphasized meeting environmental demands through sustainability and community care and passing legislation to help Wisconsin communities. Environmental protections
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway expressed pride in the environmental work done by the Madison community but also stressed the need for more work to be done in the future. For instance, the city has had success with buying electric vehicles, supporting energy efficient alternatives in households and taking care of local wildlife.
“It's all of our jobs to make sure that we are taking care of this planet, and we're taking care of each other, and that everybody is able to thrive here in Madison,” Rhodes-Conway said.
Brenda Baker, the vice president of Exhibits, Facilities and Strategic Initiatives at the Madison Children’s Museum, spoke about the climate initiative she directs, Caretakers of Wonder, which plans to nurture climate knowledge and compassion for children eight and under.
“We believe that the wellbeing of children and the health of the planet are the two most pressing and inextricably linked challenges of our time,” Baker said, adding the importance of building a world for and alongside future generations.
At the rally, Rep. Darrin Madison, D-Milwaukee, shared similar concerns for future generations and spoke about his recently introduced bill, the Wisconsin Green Amendment, which aims to protect the rights of the people to have “clean air, clean water and a safe and sustainable environment.”
Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, said legislation should be passed to support Wisconsin communities, but Republican lawmakers are “refusing to do anything regarding PFAS and our waters.”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in industrial and consumer products. Several threats to human health have been identified because of PFAS in the water supply, such as cancer, liver and heart effects in adults and developmental and immune issues in children, all due to bioaccumulation of PFAS in the body.
Hong spoke to the importance of welcoming the growing energy from passionate community members who have a desire to organize and fight for environmental movements.
“We have to use that energy to continue to fight for one another and fight back against the people who are directly working to take away our rights, our freedoms and our abilities to take care of our planet in climate justice,” Hong said.
The Trump administration said it would repeal dozens of environmental regulations through the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump’s proposed funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are also expected to negatively impact climate and specifically water-related research in Wisconsin.
Gail Evans, a rally attendee, noted the importance of preserving hope in the face of the current administration, highlighting her love for the earth.
“The earth is what gives life to all of us,” Evans told the Cardinal. “And I think that it’s important that we protect it and live alongside nature in a productive way instead of hurting it.”
Zoey Elwood is copy chief for The Daily Cardinal. She also covers state news.
