The 2007 Relay for Clean Air
The Canary Coalition organizes its 4th annual 100-mile civil rights march
On Saturday, August 18, from 6:15am thru 8:30pm bike riders, runners and walkers will take turns marching from Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, to downtown Asheville, NC to proclaim “We all have the right to breathe clean air.” A pennant-sized “Clean Air” banner will be passed between participants as they complete each of the thirty-seven segments along the route.
“The Relay for Clean Air takes on new significance this year as communities throughout the Southeast are faced with an energy crossroads.” explains Avram Friedman of the Canary Coalition. “On one hand dramatic technological and economic strides are being realized in energy efficiency and renewable energy resources holding great promise to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. But, on the other hand, plans are being developed to build a new generation of polluting power plants, threatening to reverse all the progress achieved in recent years. We can’t and won’t let that happen. Future energy demand, even with an expanding population, can be met by using energy more wisely and without devastating our health and the environment. The community in western North Carolina is empowered after a groundswell of public involvement emerged to defeat the recent attempt to build an oil-burning power plant in Woodfin. Likewise the grassroots response has been powerful in opposing legislation introduced in the NC General Assembly this year that would ease the way for construction of new coal and nuclear plants by passing on the financial risk to ratepayers.
“We’re expecting the largest turnout ever this year for the Relay for Clean Air. This movement is growing.” adds Friedman.
There will be continuing updates and press advisories as the date comes closer.
To sign up as a participant or volunteer, to view the schedule, to download a poster, or for more information please visit www.canarycoalition.org or call 828-631-3447