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Hundreds Gather in Olympia For 17th Annual Citizens' Lobby Day

Over 300 environmental activists from across the state gathered today in Olympia at the 17th annual Citizens' Lobby Day.

 

Over 300 environmental activists from across the state gathered today in Olympia at the 17th annual Citizens' Lobby Day.

The annual event brought together voters to get briefed on environmental issues and to meet with their elected representatives in a day-long celebration of participatory democracy.

Governor Gregoire spoke to the activists, encouraging their involvement in Puget Sound recovery and in climate change legislation. Keynote speaker Helen Engle of Tahoma Audubon Society was joined by her granddaughter, activist Robin Engle, demonstrating the multigenerational commitment to saving the environment.

A biodiesel bus operated by Washington Bus Project, a nonprofit organization engaging youth in politics, brought 45 folks to Olympia from Seattle. Another bus delivered north Puget Sound attendees to Olympia.

The event was sponsored by Priorities for a Healthy Washington, a coalition of 22 statewide environmental groups, and organized by People For Puget Sound. In addition, there are 26 cosponsors, including several food coops, Skagit Beat The Heat (a grassroots climate action group bringing 10 Anacortes activists), Washington Bus Project, the Eco-Spirituality Group of Seattle First Baptist Church and Rainier Valley Unitarian Church.

This year's Priorities agenda focuses on legislation dealing with Washington climate action, local solutions to global warming, evergreen cities, and local farms/healthy kids. Details on legislation can be found at the Priorities for a Healthy Washington site.

Last year's Lobby Day was instrumental in passage of all four priorities put forth by the statewide coalition and lobbied on by citizen activists.

Can success be repeated? "Yes," said Meagan Dixon, field organizer for Climate Solutions. "The environmental community has never been in a better position to accomplish these goals as we have the most supportive legislature and governor in recent history. We also have tremendous public awareness and support on climate change and to recover the health of Puget Sound."

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Contact: Mike Sato, (206) 229-2844.

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