More than 2,000 "Moving Planet" rallies were held around the world Saturday to urge the development of clean energy, organizers said.
"The planet has been stuck for too long with governments doing nothing about the biggest problem we've ever faced," said Bill McKibben, founder of the non-profit 350.org, which coordinated the environmental demonstrations that took place in all 50 U.S. states and 175 nations.
"This is the day when people will get the Earth moving, rolling towards the solutions we need."
Environment News Service reported there were more than 700 events in the United States, including 2,000 people who rode bikes from Boulder, Colo., to Denver, and 5,000 people who rallied in Seattle,
There also was a 5,000-strong bicycle parade in San Francisco and a rally outside the United Nations in New York where the speakers included Maldives Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, the news service said.
The rallies also included about 3,000 people in Boston, and 2,000 in Minnesota who rode their bikes from Minneapolis to the state Capitol in St. Paul.
In Chicago, 500 people protested at a coal plant where Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo said the worldwide rallies were a start "to move in the right direction."
"Moving Planet, is a global expression of unity, urgency and purpose to show political and business leaders they need to move from rhetoric to action," Naidoo said.
Source: UPI