Working on the Peace Walk

• The more I learn about climate change the more I can't help but look at the dramatic impact the Pentagon's endless war machine makes on our Mother Earth.  The connection is inescapable.

• The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty, which extends the 1992 UN Convention on Climate Change that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, based on the premise that (a) global warming exists and (b) man-made CO2 emissions have caused it. 

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on December 11, 1997 and entered into force on February 16, 2005. There are currently 192 Parties (Canada withdrew effective December 2012) to the Protocol.

The US refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol unless the massive carbon boot print caused by the Pentagon was exempted.  Washington got its way and thus there is no requirement for the Pentagon to 'officially' monitor their impact on the climate.  But the collective evidence is substantial enough to show that in fact the US military (and all the rest of the war machines around the planet) are the top contributors to our rapidly decaying satellite Earth.

• I've spent all day working on our up-coming Maine Peace Walk that will be learning about and sharing these important war-environmental links, particularly as they relate to the oceans.  We want to share this important story with Mainers as we walk south on US coastal Hwy 1 from Ellsworth in the north to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

• Now that we are just beyond Labor Day people are starting to contact us about joining the walk.  I've heard from five new walkers just since yesterday so that is very exciting.  Our sweatshirt with the walk logo created by artist Russell Wray is being printed now.  Russell is with the group Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats (COAST) and brings to us the deep concern about Navy sonar affects on sea mammals.  He is working on a banner to be hung on our walk bus and a life-sized dolphin that will apparently ride on top of the bus as well.  So we are making a big effort to increase our visual outreach on this walk.

• Another exciting development this year is the very active participation of the Boston-area Veterans for Peace Smedley Butler chapter.  They've been involved in the planning committee, have donated funds, and have taken responsibility to house and feed the walkers when we hit York Beach in southern Maine near the end of the walk.  The chapter is also organizing their members to come walk during the latter part of the peace walk as well.

• Our biggest need right now is to find a covered pick-up truck, a cargo van, or a station wagon to help us haul the gear of those walking during this event.  We've yet to find something for that important task.