A Sea Of People rallied, marched and formed a beautiful blue line! The youth presence was amazing -- both onstage demanding Congress to STEP IT UP and offstage, as part of the Sea Of People/line. The turn out was amazing -- people got incredibly creative with signage and costumage. We all feel like we made an important visual statement.

So the weather was perfect...ironies aside, we hade two lines of ocean blue people marking the potential new shoreline of Manhattan should the seas rise 10 feet.

It was AWESOME!

We had a great volunteer turn-out. We had over 2,000 people participating. We had lot's of media and photogs. We had tons of banners, streemers, etc to use during the great wave. There was so much blue on people that it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Even a few pets wore blue. There were people from every NYC borough, Long Island, and Westchester. There were tourist that joined in. There were children for whom we make our effort. There were many elderly and middle aged people who trully want to help make a difference for the future. The cold wind did not deter anyone and the speakers, musicians and the marching band were the best. We had so many cards for Congress filled out that many pens ran out of ink! People took cards with them to hand out at home, give to neighbors and co-workers. It's had a big effect and we have been heard. We must keep the preasure on Congress!

I'm so ready for the next step!

Pictures and other info will be provided by other participants and media. So keep checking the site for more info.

I was toward the front for the speeches, with many, many people behind me. Then organizers explained the plan was for people to walk single file, at an arms reach from each other along several miles, in lines headed east and west from the Battery, marking the future water line if global waters rise 10 feet. I was on the eastern line that ended on Fulton Street, and halfway there organizers were telling us to spread out and back up - they must have thought there would not be enough people to cover the entire stretch. But so many people were walking that, as in the picture, we were 3-deep as far as I could see up and down Pearl Street in the heart of Manhattan's financial and historic seaport districts!

Mary Nell

The Sea of People event started with a rally in Battery Park at noon, where speakers, reverends and a lot of young people (12 - 17 yr olds) spoke about global warming and the projects they're doing all over new york city to step it up. Every speaker asked a representative of their burough or area to step it up. Then the group was split into east and west, and the two groups walked through lower Manhattan cheering and singing ("What is Earth? Baby don't hurt it no more" was a crowd favorite). When we stopped, a sea of change began as people...all dresed in blue, and some mermaids boats and fish, did the wave. Later the crowd either walked back to battery park with just as much energy dancing to the marching band and cheering and some mermaids "swam" in an empty fountain. some highlights are playing keep it up with a beachball and signs that read "hold you breath...we're going under" and "papa smurf says save the earth"
this was an amazing experience and it was awesome to see so many people come out and unite to step it up for lower manhattan. i know our sea of people will bring a wave of change.

A public rally in Battery Park. For more info go to seaofpeople.org
Please note that these 2 pics were already posted in Flickr (seaofpeople group).

What a great day! An event to warn about flooding just a day before we're supposed to have a record rainfall in New York City!

We came all the way from Queens to attend a fantastic rally. We were proud to see our own Congressman, Anthony Weiner, had not only Stepped It Up, but came down to Battery Park to address the crowd.

Everyone who spoke to the crowd was inspiring, not only for what they said, but for who they were. So many young people were speaking, were volunteering, were dressing in blue. Everyone was in high spirits. Certainly our future leaders are very inspiring.

We arrived early, all dressed in blue, and stood all the way in front to hear the speakers. When we turned around at the end, we were so excited to see thousands of people, all ages and backgrounds, dressed in blue, seeking peaceful change.

We followed the fish banners and joined the East group down Pearl Street, over to South Street Seaport. We were told by the volunteers that at a certain point we would spread our arms -- so that every one would be arms-length from the person next to them, in order to make the wave that would signify the Sea of People.

We never did the arms-length thing. We had too many people to do the arms-length thing.

We made a lot of waves, though.

We had a real good time, and we know that we are not alone out there. A lot of people want change. And we will have it!

Congratulations to everyone who got to attend any of the StepItUp events.

Special congrats and thank yous to Bill McKibben, who spoke at the rally, and who was fighting this issue long before any of us knew what the words "global warming" meant.

We will save the world!

We had a rally in Battery Park with several excellent speakers, including scientists, an attorney, youth, and community activists. Then, wearing blue, we lined up in Lower Manhattan to demonstrate where the water line would be if sea level rose 10 feet.

Line of people dressed in blue stretching out over the potential sea rise level in Battery Park area.

IT WAS AWESOME!

There were so many people in blue from every NYC borough, Long Island and Westchester. Even a few tourists joined us.

The volunteer turn-out was great and the public's participation was so enthusiastic and heartfelt. There were children, teens, young adults and many middle-aged and elderly people as well. So many cards to Congress were filled that many pens ran out of ink. Lots of people took some home to share there, and at work, or with neighbors. Some thanked those of us who volunteered and the organizers for providing them with a venue to speak out!

The speakers and musicians were super, the marching band was awesome and the wave was really great. Having been a floating-volunteer was a geat experience. I was able to help in many areas. I highly recommend the position to one and all!

The banners, wave ribbons and other items were super and we have been seen and heard around the world.

I just saw a short report on the PM news. Channel 7. They showed many events including an areal shot of us SEA OF PEOPLE. It was geat to see it mentioned even if just for a few minutes. It was also great that an interviewee stated that we did it in our own states rather than going to DC to save fuel.

This even gave me a shot in the arm--back to my old days of activism. Can't wait for the next step! Let's get the message out over, and over, and over again! Till they get going to fix the mess were in.

Love you organizers!

Some photos from the Step It Up 2007 rally in lower Manhattan, April 14, 2007. Began in Battery Park with speakers, and included a march to represent a "sea of people". A number of young environmentalits spoke quite movingly as well.

We had a great rally with hundreds of people, and marched up Pearl Street to Fulton street--it was fantastic and created quite the image with everyone dressed in blue outfits and enthusiastically chanting and doing the wave. Looked like good media coverage. The beginning rally was inspiring and featured a wide array of viewpoints including youth, people of color, a scientist, and an evangelical as speakers. It showed that this is a universal issue and it's time for Congress to STEP IT UP and regulate carbon emissions NOW! I was honored to winess and participate in this fabulous and well organized event. Thanks to all-B.F., Energy Program Director, Neighborhood Network, Long Island

Speaker: Congressman Anthony D. Weiner, NY 9th District

A large group of people gathered for a rally at Battery Park around noon. The event was kicked off by congressman Anthony Weiner. He was followed by an upbeat performance by the Shop Stop Gospel Choir. Also in the program were long time global warming activist Bill McKibben, and scientist Dr. James Wang. There was also a multitude of young speakers, ranging in age from 12 to 17. After the speeches, we formed two lines representing the impact rising water levels would have on the coast line of New York. We were led by a marching band. We all enjoyed sending numerous "waves" up and down the lines. All in all, it was a great day to be out raising awareness. The turnout was excellent, demonstrating New Yorkers' commitment to solving the problem of global warming.

I have posted more of my photos from the day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lcstep/sets/72157600077386027/

Speaker: Eric Goldstein, NRDC NY Environmental Program

Bill McKibben and Pearl Street marchers

An all age assembly, (poss. app. 300) dressed in aquatic colors, symbolizing rising sea levels, gathered on Saturday April, 14 by the water's edge in Battery Park, NYC. There was music and "rally cry". We then poured, sprayed and splashed far inland towards the projected point of a future shoreline. Playful sea creature costumes, bright colors in general gave energy levels a big boost. Environmentally, it was a festive air with an underlying cloud upsurge of deep concern. Seriously, folks. Locally, Lower Manhattan will be under water if we don't act. Treasured sea creatures will likewise suffer dislocation & habitat-challenge. Homelessness is presently a real crisis worldwide. Now it seems, similar forces, short-sighted commercial interest, has the power to affect our homeostatic land & sea, & cause homelessness to Polar bears, as well as the affluent. This event had speakers talking about "unity issues" "ethics" "interwoven existence", "home" . There were fliers about new Green Technologys, Respect of Others, Artistic License, and necessary "boundaries" on CO2 emissions. Cyclists flew alongside. Stay tuned.

I enjoyed the speeches, although there were sometimes problems with the sound. The rally was rather long, but hopefully this attracted attention (and allowed latecomers to participate). I thought it was overall very well-organized. I liked walking on the line and felt very safe. I wondered why we were protesting in a neighborhood that is so quiet on the weekend- were we not able to get permission to be in midtown or the village, or is it because Lower Manhattan would be so significantly affected by the changing water levels?
I hope we got media attention!

Hopeful, important, beautiful event.

Sea of People kicked off at 12 noon in historic Battery Park - the very southern tip of Manhattan. Our rally, which featured youth speakers, environmental justice advocates, scientists and other notable climate activists, drew around 1200 people - mostly dressed in blue! Press coverage was very good - the AP, NYT, NYP and the New York Sun, ABC, CBC local and several well trafficked online news sources.
At 1:30 the Sea of People line along lower Manhattan's future 10-foot sea line. By 2pm the lines were fully formed, and were really quite impressive. . . .Looking forward to SIU 2008!

at Battery Park: 7:30am 11 Sea of People Volunteers were behind our approprietly themed banner, as the Good Morning America Reporter promoted our rally for approximately 2 minutes. I was impressed with the Leaderships' can do spirit many times, e.g. when the NYC Parks STAGE was stuck in the mud, a make-shift stage was combined in 3 or 4 parts. I along with Cynthia, at the East Banner, exhorted the paticipants into single file, like a string of Pearls, down to Pearl Street." Well-done

Music, singing, dancing, and cheering; the mood may have been festive, but close to 3,000 people came together for Sea of People on April 14 to send a clear and urgent message to Congress that was no joke: Cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050!
Nearly everyone at the rally dressed in blue for the grand finale, a human chain stretching east and west from Battery Park around Manhattan's southern tip.
The line this created was a visual representation of how the most important financial center in the country (if not the world) could be reshaped by a modest 10-foot-rise in sea level.
Sea of People brought together children and teens, 20- and 30-somethings, adults and grandparents, from every walk of life, from many races and religions, to present a unified voice urging the United States government to take action now and become a global leader in curbing greenhouse emissions.
One U.S. Congressman in attendance, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), expressed his full support of what he hailed as both realistic and feasible goals.
While some skeptics remain, a majority of Americans and nearly the entire scientific community are in agreement: Humans are drastically changing the environment we live in, and the effects could be devastating to our civilization and life as we know it.
Despite this bleak outlook, we have the ability and the technology to turn this all around. America just needs the political will and individual sacrifice to get it done. This is what Sea of People and Step It Up 2007 sought to do by organizing actions all across the country.
In New York City, which has received nearly 3 inches of rain since yesterday's event (with another 3 inches anticipated overnight) the timing of Sea of People could not have been better. Global warming is hitting very close to home with flood warnings across the tri-state area.
This is a city that thrived and grew to become the largest city in the U.S. thanks to its proximity to major waterways. Ironically, this is what also makes it particularly vulnerable to even a miniscule rise in sea level.
Most of Manhattan?s southern tip is reclaimed land taken back from the river and much of Brooklyn and Staten Island are barely above sea level. People here understand what is at stake and are waking up to the reality.
Sea of People and Step it Up hope that the remaining non-believers and especially the U.S. government take note of the public outcry and start taking serious action of their own.

it was amazing a sea of people

On April 14th we gathered at Battery Park City on a surprisingly windy yet sunny day to signify where the sea level could potentially rise in Lower Manhattan if nothing is done to prevent the heated rise of global warming patterns over the years.

Students, adults, young children; even dogs were dressed in blue holding banners and signs as they marched through the streets surrounding Battery Park City. The NYPD was on-site wearing their dark blue uniforms that accidentally dressed them up in matching attire. Although this specific Step It Up event focused on the rising sea levels as a result of global warming, environmental groups of all sorts gathered to express a communal sentiment that change in environmental policy must take place NOW.

Greenpeace had two volunteers dress up as giant whales to promote awareness of their International Save the Whales campaign. The importance of solar power was stressed by energy groups and concerned individuals. Religious groups and activist groups including Reverend Billy's Church of Stop Shopping gathered to express the need for Congress to listen to the thousands of us gathered across the country in a nation-wide effort to reduce emissions in the US 80% by 2050.

One man in the crowd jokingly mentioned that he would not live to see the effects of our efforts by 2050. Others agreed, but noted that their children will bear responsibility of the earth's deteriorating condition.

Although we were present with serious intentions of spreading awareness of the dangers of global warming, fun was had by all wearing wacky costumes of blue mermaids with crazy hats and holding creative signs such as "Cold is cool", "got gills?", "Papa Smurf says save the Earth", "Make Waves Not War" and "Hold your breath we're going under."

We beat on drums, chanted Step It Up!, and caused construction workers alongside tourists visiting nearby Statue of Liberty to turn heads.

Perhaps we were incredibly lucky that Step It Up '07 took place on Saturday, April 15, for would it have been postponed a day later we would be rallying inside the designated shelters opened by NYC's Office of Emergency Management since the financial district is listed as a low-lying coastal area in which residents might be especially vulnerable to the Nor'eastern currently ravaging the coastal areas afflicted by flood & wind advisories throughout the state..

SEA OF PEOPLE - Porjected tide level rise in downtown Manhattan. About 1, 000 people showed up, dressed in blue, chanting environmental chants, handing out pamphlets, and much more. Everyone there was for the event and for the cause of it!! :]

An intrepid crew of us launched from the Harlem River in the South Bronx to head South down the East River to join up with thousands of New Yorkers in Battery Park for the Step It Up action to darw attention to global climate change and demand action from Congress to reduce polluting emissions. With the founder of Forest Ethics we navigated the current in our favor past Hallet's Cove in Queens where we wanted to link up with our LIC bretheren, who were otherwise engaged. Zipping south with the wind at our back we chose to land at the Dumbo Park Beach in Brooklyn, though our eyes cast look to the Manhattan side shore under the Brooklyn Bridge, armed with the awareness of the Public Trust Doctrine that local paddler Rob Buchanan and others have shared with us, knowing we all must advocate ever more for waterfront access and landing and launching rights everywhere in New York City.

After paddling from the South Bronx past Randall's Island, landing in
Brooklyn and biking to Battery Park with canoes in tow, local environmental
activists met with Bill Mc Kibben, lead organizer of Step It Up and the
author of "The End of Nature". The event was part of a nation-wide series of actions to demand Congressional action on climate change and highlight local impacts.

The campaign to preserve Randall's Island and stop the development of a 26
acre private beach club and amusement facility is gaining momentum and
powerful allies. Advocates are working with the legal team at NYC Environmental Law and Justice Project to stop this park land alienation, and are seeking supporters from schools, in softball leagues, fishing clubs and paddling groups. Also, activists have made it a priority to move forward the southern leg of the South Bronx Greenway to the island to ensure that the Port Morris, Mott Haven and Hunt's Point communities have access to this green resource.

For more information see: http://www.eastharlempreservation.org/docs/Randalls_Island.htm

city-action-mob-flash paddle.
-reflections on a spring paddle in the harlem and east rivers, passed
randalls island, millers rock, through the roosevelt island/long
island passage and on to d.u.m.b.o.

sun, barges, industrial age overgrown by dominium under steel and
glass, sewage overflow.
trees first buds emerge.
and shopping carts rust at the high tide mark
as harry steers towards the swirls and whirlpool diablos of hells gate.

tzeporah, my wife's best friend growing up, skirts in her kayak like
a pilot fish across the eddies.
into the mountains, rippling canyons, swells we dig our oars,
cultivating human gifts, wisdom and grace.

dawning a sweater on the beach in queens in the shade of new life's
greeting,
the faces of friends who have died and those yet to be born are
carried by the wind
stirring the water's surface.