For those who want to get in a little bit of activism in the weeks before SolarFest... This came to my attention as an invitation sent from SolarFest's keynote speaker, Bill McKibben: Join the Sea of Green at the Amherst, NH 4th of July Parade. This July 4th, show your neighbors, elected officials, and candidates your patriotism and support for real global warming solutions: Add green to your red, white, and blue!

It has been an exciting year thus far for grassroots global warming activism in New Hampshire. 167 towns signed on to the New Hampshire Climate Change Resolution, calling for effective federal action on climate change and 21 communities organized Step It Up events on April 14th. July 4th will be our next opportunity to build support for this issue and make our voices heard.

As you may know, many of the Presidential candidates and the national press will attend the Amherst, NH Fourth of July Parade---what better opportunity to send a strong message for the need for immediate, courageous action on global warming than when weave such a grand audience?

We are hoping to have a large contingent of people who are likewise concerned about our planet to march or be present at the parade and to wear a green shirt, costume, or other green attire (be creative!) to send a bold message to the candidates, the press, the and the public at large that stopping global warming is a priority for New Hampshire citizens. We hope to see a HUGE "Sea of Green"!

At 1:30 p.m. following the parade, everyone is invited to hear author Bill McKibben give a speech in the Congregational Church right on the Town Green entitled ÒTurning the Corner on Climate ChangeÓ. Bill is the author of several important books about environmental issues and global warming, including The End of Nature and his most recent book, Deep Economy, and was the co-founder of Step It Up 2007, a day of action to tell Congress to take global warming seriously and cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050. Bill will also have a look signing at the local bookstore.

It should not only be a lot of fun, but also an incredibly important opportunity to send the message that the people of New Hampshire care deeply about our environment and the threat posed by global warming. We are Stepping It Up and asking our presidential candidates to do the same!

So tell everyone you know to start rummaging around for some fabulous, crazy, fancy, silly, elaborate or simple, but definitely GREEN threads and COME TO THE PARADE!