The March for Science in Trafalgar Square in London. (Photo: Richard Wilson/Twitter)
Apr 22, 2017
Scientists in cities around the globe are celebrating Earth Day by taking to the streets to defend their work from the heightened political attacks of the anti-science Trump administration.
Saturday's marches in over 600 cities around the world--including a massive march in Washington, D.C.--mark an unprecedented mobilization of researchers and experts who are fighting back against President Donald Trump's war on science.
Indeed, for many scientists involved, taking part in a March for Science is their first collective political action. Organizers hope that it will be the first of many. As one scientist wrote about his own political awakening several years ago:
Attending the People's Climate March was a life-changing experience. I marched alongside more than 310,000 individuals in the heart of NYC to call our world leaders to start taking serious action against climate change. That day I understood the difference I could make by becoming part of something greater than myself.
Furthermore, I recognized that staying on the sidelines to claim "objectivity" as a scientist was not an option. Sitting this fight out would mean staying silent while I watched disenfranchised and vulnerable communities suffer. By staying silent, I would be denying my own relationship to these communities, my own humanity, and I would be ignoring my responsibility as a citizen to fully participate in the democratic process.
"Marching is only the beginning," wrote the climate scientist Peter Kalmus in YES! Magazine. "To stop the massive, wealthy, and violent system of power destroying the planet, we're going to need to stand up to power with our entire beings."
The D.C. rally begins at 10am EDT, with the march planned for 2pm EDT, while demonstrations have already been taking place elsewhere in the world.
Watch a livestream of the D.C. action here, and follow along with the global movement under the hashtags #MarchforScience and #ScienceMarch.
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
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Scientists in cities around the globe are celebrating Earth Day by taking to the streets to defend their work from the heightened political attacks of the anti-science Trump administration.
Saturday's marches in over 600 cities around the world--including a massive march in Washington, D.C.--mark an unprecedented mobilization of researchers and experts who are fighting back against President Donald Trump's war on science.
Indeed, for many scientists involved, taking part in a March for Science is their first collective political action. Organizers hope that it will be the first of many. As one scientist wrote about his own political awakening several years ago:
Attending the People's Climate March was a life-changing experience. I marched alongside more than 310,000 individuals in the heart of NYC to call our world leaders to start taking serious action against climate change. That day I understood the difference I could make by becoming part of something greater than myself.
Furthermore, I recognized that staying on the sidelines to claim "objectivity" as a scientist was not an option. Sitting this fight out would mean staying silent while I watched disenfranchised and vulnerable communities suffer. By staying silent, I would be denying my own relationship to these communities, my own humanity, and I would be ignoring my responsibility as a citizen to fully participate in the democratic process.
"Marching is only the beginning," wrote the climate scientist Peter Kalmus in YES! Magazine. "To stop the massive, wealthy, and violent system of power destroying the planet, we're going to need to stand up to power with our entire beings."
The D.C. rally begins at 10am EDT, with the march planned for 2pm EDT, while demonstrations have already been taking place elsewhere in the world.
Watch a livestream of the D.C. action here, and follow along with the global movement under the hashtags #MarchforScience and #ScienceMarch.
Scientists in cities around the globe are celebrating Earth Day by taking to the streets to defend their work from the heightened political attacks of the anti-science Trump administration.
Saturday's marches in over 600 cities around the world--including a massive march in Washington, D.C.--mark an unprecedented mobilization of researchers and experts who are fighting back against President Donald Trump's war on science.
Indeed, for many scientists involved, taking part in a March for Science is their first collective political action. Organizers hope that it will be the first of many. As one scientist wrote about his own political awakening several years ago:
Attending the People's Climate March was a life-changing experience. I marched alongside more than 310,000 individuals in the heart of NYC to call our world leaders to start taking serious action against climate change. That day I understood the difference I could make by becoming part of something greater than myself.
Furthermore, I recognized that staying on the sidelines to claim "objectivity" as a scientist was not an option. Sitting this fight out would mean staying silent while I watched disenfranchised and vulnerable communities suffer. By staying silent, I would be denying my own relationship to these communities, my own humanity, and I would be ignoring my responsibility as a citizen to fully participate in the democratic process.
"Marching is only the beginning," wrote the climate scientist Peter Kalmus in YES! Magazine. "To stop the massive, wealthy, and violent system of power destroying the planet, we're going to need to stand up to power with our entire beings."
The D.C. rally begins at 10am EDT, with the march planned for 2pm EDT, while demonstrations have already been taking place elsewhere in the world.
Watch a livestream of the D.C. action here, and follow along with the global movement under the hashtags #MarchforScience and #ScienceMarch.
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