Even as the state prepares for a Special Session, members from an alliance of environmental, health, and faith-based organization today delivered approximately 4,000 citizen postcards to the Governor

Audubon Naturalist Society – Chesapeake Climate Action Network – Environment Maryland Sierra Club, Maryland – Lutheran Office on Public Policy in Maryland – Maryland League of Conservation Voters – University of Maryland School of Nursing Environmental Health Education Center

For Immediate Release
October 25, 2007

CONTACT: Dawn Stoltzfus, Maryland 410-280-9855, 410-562-5655 (cell), dstoltzfus@mdlcv.org

Activists Kick Off a “Month of Action” By Calling on Governor O’Malley to Set Targeted Limits for Global Warming Pollution in Maryland

Advocates deliver thousands of citizen postcards to Governor O’Malley and prepare for town hall meetings across the state in anticipation of the Commission on Climate Change recommendations due November 14th

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Even as the state prepares for a Special Session, members from an alliance of environmental, health, and faith-based organization today delivered approximately 4,000 citizen postcards to the Governor’s office calling on the O’Malley Administration to set state targets to reduce global warming pollution. The group is also working with hundreds of activists to organize a “month of action” in anticipation of a November 14th vote from the Commission on Climate Change, which is due to make recommendations to the state on policies to reduce global warming.

The Alliance is calling on the O’Malley administration to commit the state to science-based reductions in global warming pollution. Scientists agree that we must reduce emissions at least 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 in order to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

Claire Douglass from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network is working with citizens to organize the town hall meetings. Ms. Douglass said: “I have never seen so much passion and excitement as I have around the Global Warming Solution Month of Action. Groups and individuals are stepping up and taking the lead in their own communities to plan town hall meetings, write letters to the editor, and much more.”

The Town Hall meetings feature speakers, a Q&A session, and information on how citizens can fight global warming in Maryland. The scheduled town hall meetings are:

• Oct 25th – Easton, Avalon Theatre, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Oct 25th – Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Nov 6th – Catonsville, Catonsville Public Library, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Nov 7th – Greenbelt, Greenbelt Elementary School, 7:00 p.m.
• Nov 12th – Towson, Goucher College, 6:30 pm. to 8:30 p.m.
• Nov 12th – St. Mary’s City, St. Mary’s College, 8:00 p.m.
• Nov 15th – Accokeek, Henry G. Ferguson Elementary School, 7:00 p.m.

Cindy Schwartz, of Maryland League of Conservation Voters, said: “Even as our elected officials are focused on the state’s budget deficit, they must take action on global warming — we simply cannot afford to waste any more time. Maryland can and should be a national leader in finding solutions to global warming.”

The Alliance for Global Warming Solutions has collected a total of more than 12,000 signatures from across the state calling on Governor O’Malley to cut global warming pollution. The Alliance delivered more than 3,000 postcards to the governor in June and an additional 5,000 postcards to Tad Aburn from the Maryland Department of the Environment at a rally in August. In addition to citizen signatures, more than 22 businesses and 30 organizations have signed a letter calling for a state commitment to science-based reductions in emissions.

Brad Heavner of Environment Maryland said: “We’re going to keep pounding the pavement until the state takes a firm commitment. Everywhere we go, people are charged up about this.”

In Spring 2007, Governor O’Malley crated the Commission on Climate Change by executive order to develop an action plan addressing the causes of climate change.

For more information visit www.allianceforglobalwarmingsolutions.org

Alliance for Global Warming Steering Committee Contacts

• Audubon Naturalist Society: Mike Harold, mharold@audubonnaturalist.org, 301-652-9188
• Sierra Club: Dave O’Leary, daveol@earthlink.net 301-580-8673
• Chesapeake Climate Action Network: Claire Douglass, claire@chesapeakeclimate.org, 301-891-6833
• Environment Maryland: Brad Heavner, bsh@environmentmaryland.org, 410-467-0439
• Lutheran Office on Public Policy: Lee Hudson, messiahodsq@netzero.net, 410-935-3696
• Maryland League of Conservation Voters: Cindy Schwartz, cschwartz@mdlcv.org, 410-280-9855
• University of Maryland School of Nursing Environmental Health Education Center: Brenda Afzal,bafzal@son.umaryland.edu, 410-706-1778

Alliance for Global Warming Solutions
Alliance for Sustainable Communities – Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Center – Anacostia Watershed Society – Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility – Cecil County Medical Society – Cedar Heights Civic Association – Center for a New American Dream – Chesapeake Climate Action Network – Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance (CSBA) – Clean Water Action – Committee on the Environment of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland – Community Ministries of Prince George’s County – Environment Maryland – Environmental Integrity Project – Faith Community United Methodist Church – Generations for Peace and Democracy (GPD) – Global Warming Action Alliance – Goucher College Environmental Group – Hopkins Energy Action Team (HEAT) – Johns Hopkins University – League of Women Voters of Maryland – Maryland Green Party – Maryland League of Conservation Voters – Maryland United for Peace and Justice – Potomac River Association (PRA) – Progressive Cheverly – Sierra Club – Maryland Chapter – St. Marys College of Maryland Student Environmental Action Coalition – Sun Day Campaign – Towson Energy Activists – Towson University – U MD Students for Clean Energy – University of Maryland College Park