Utahns 'Step It Up' for climate change

Memo to Congress: Step it up.

An estimated 3,500 people visited Washington Square on Saturday to be entertained, educated and counted among those demanding that Congress cut carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

"Our politicians need to do something about global warming," said West Jordan resident Gina Riggs, who attended the event with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Rhianna.

"Hopefully our elected officials will get the message," Scott Riggs said. "They obviously aren't listening."

Step It Up organizers say global warming is a crisis that requires immediate action, a clear-energy revolution to ensure the long-term health of the planet. A desire to move in that direction is what attracted Scott Riggs to the event.

"It's about making a better future," he said. "It's all about less use and more responsibility."

More than 1,000 events like the one in Salt Lake City were held throughout the nation Saturday to raise awareness about global warming. A performance by Grammy-winning musical group Los Lobos capped the concert lineup of the seven-hour event that featured clean-air cars and other environmental displays.

Event organizers invited attendees to sign e-letters and form letters to send to Congress, demanding that bold action be taken on global warming. Local businesses and environmental organizations passed out educational materials to event-goers.

"Step It Up has been designed to educate and entertain in bringing the community together for this important endeavor," said Talitha Day, Salt Lake City's community events manager and organizer of the event.

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson was involved in fund-raising efforts so the event could be held without city money being used. Anderson spoke to the crowd Saturday evening, leading chants for Congress to "step it up."

"In the long term, for our future, for our children, for their children, our Congress, our president must step it up," Anderson said. "That's going to be the message to Congress. We need to lead the world."

Local musicians Motherlode Canyon Band, Blue Haiku, Brenn Hill, Salty Rootz and the Salt Lake Alternative Jazz Band also performed at the event.

Rocky Mountain Power donated credits for the event through its Blue Sky program to offset the estimated 11 tons of carbon dioxide consumed during the Salt Lake City event, including air travel for Los Lobos, electricity and lighting for the stage and attendees' vehicle travel miles, according to Jordan Gates, Anderson's environmental adviser.

---

E-mail: jpage@desnews.com