We gathered at Easton's Beach, with Newport's famous Cliff Walk in the background, to hear talks by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, environmentalists (Save the Bay, Norman Bird Sanctuary), and business people (Newport Harbor Corporation, a Newport fisherman, Newport BioDiesel), and listen to music by Leroy White, an inspiring local, but also nationally known, musician. Our program was hosted by the ministers of our two churches (Channing Memorial UU Church and Portsmouth United Methodist Church), who gave our reasons for being involved, and led us in prayer. The Director of Campus Ministries of Salve Regina U. gave the Catholic Church's perspective. We finished with an environmental educator giving tips on changes we can all make, then some of us took a walk along the beach we hold so dear. Representatives from local environmentally oriented groups and businesses had displays, and just this morning, our local Toyota dealer called to ask if they could bring a couple of hybrid cars to show. (We said yes.) We also had our own literature table featuring posters showing how Newport and Aquidneck Island would look after a 20 foot storm surge set upon a 10 foot sea level rise. The images were produced by Brown University. We posted signs with our logo along the 20-foot mark of the rotunda, behind our speaking area, to show the "new" water line. Local press covered the event, and we made audio and video recordings. The night before the event, our local paper featured us in their lead editorial.

Mother Nature smiled on us last Saturday for StepitUp Aquidneck Island. The kids especially enjoyed singing, looking at the exhibits and listening to our senator, Sheldon Whitehouse, and many others speak of Global Warming, and the need to cut carbon emissions.