Protest the Keystone XL pipeline. Protest along with Bill McKibben, Danny Glover and James Hansen in Washington, DC, outside the White House

Dear friend, President Barack Obama will decide as early as September whether to light a fuse to the largest carbon bomb in North America. That bomb is the massive tar sands field in Canada’s Alberta province. And the fuse is the 1,700-mile long Keystone XL Pipeline that would transport this dirtiest of petroleum fuels all the way to Texas refineries. As concerned leaders from Maryland, Virginia, and DC, we’re writing you now because the Keystone XL Pipeline is a climate and pollution horror beyond description. From August 15th to September 5th, thousands of Americans – including Bill McKibben, Danny Glover, and NASA’s Dr. James Hansen – will be protesting at the White House, day after day, demanding Obama reject this tar sands nightmare. Given the high stakes, many protestors will also engage in peaceful civil disobedience, day after day. Won’t you join us – for at least one day – during this historic protest? Pick a day between Aug. 15 and Sept. 5 and let the world hear your voice. Learn more here. If built, the Keystone XL Pipeline would lock America into a future of planet-warming energy dependency. Indeed, Dr. Hansen – America’s top climate scientist – has said that full exploitation of Canada’s tar sands would constitute a “game over” scenario for efforts to solve climate change.  This development is doubly tragic for the Maryland, Virginia and DC area. That’s because, as a region, we are right on the cusp of developing our own major new energy resource: offshore wind power. Indeed, there is enough clean, harness-able wind power off the coasts of Maryland and Virginia to power millions of electric cars – forever. With zero pollution. President Obama alone – without input from Congress – has the power to approve or reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. He will decide as soon as September whether to honor his campaign pledge to create a clean-energy economy – including wind power for the mid-Atlantic and beyond – or to lock us in as a nation that cooks and distills filthy tar sands for much of our energy. Make no mistake: building this pipeline will be an economic and moral setback for clean-energy sources of all types. This is a line in the sand. The tar sand! So won’t you pick one day between August 15th and September 5th and join usat the White House? Those of us who live in the greater Washington region have a special opportunity – and responsibility – to act on behalf of Americans everywhere. The goal is to have dozens of people arrested each day. Peacefully. With dignity. We’ll wear professional clothes and many will dig out old “Obama ‘08” campaign buttons as a reminder of promises once embraced. Learn more and register here. We hope to see you at the White House. Sincerely, Mike Tidwell, Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network Nora Pouillon, Owner, Restaurant Nora George Leventhal, Montgomery County Councilmember, Maryland Anya Schoolman, President, DC Solar United Neighborhoods Andy Shallal, Owner, Busboys and Poets Bookstore & Restaurant Gary Skulnik, Clean Energy Executive E. Ethelbert Miller, Board Chair, Institute for Policy Studies Lise Van Susteren, Advisory Board Member, Center for Health and the Global Environment Joelle Novey, Faith Activist for Climate Change Scott Sklar, President, The Stella Group, Ltd. Dr. Cindy Parker, Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility

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