Ambassador Scharioth Joins Climate Ride in DC
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- Ambassador Scharioth cycles past the White House.
- (© Germany.info)
German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth jumped on his bike and cycled up Pennsylvania Avenue to the US Capitol on September 30 with 150 other "Climate Riders," to call for urgent climate action.
The event was the culmination of the Brita Climate Ride 2009, a five-day fundraising bike ride from New York City to Washington, DC, to raise awareness of climate change, renewable energy and environmental causes.
The 150 intrepid cyclists, ranging in age from 13 to 80, had biked 300 miles through wind and rain to reach the US Capitol. Decked out in eye-catching red and blue jerseys, the bikers stopped traffic with their calls: "We want a climate bill, and we want it now."
Joining Ambassador Scharioth and the cheering Climate Riders in the final three miles of the marathon bike ride were several other ambassadors, including Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen.
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- Ambassador Scharioth rides and talks with Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen on the way to the US Capitol.
- (© Germany.info)
Ambassador Petersen had joined the environmental cyclists two days earlier to speak about the importance of passing comprehensive climate legislation in the United States prior to the United Nations negotiations in Copenhagen. He went on to cycle the last 123 miles of the ride and impressed everyone by being one of the first to reach Washington.
Also riding in the event was Team Transatlantic Climate Bridge, a six-person team hailing from England, Germany and the US and proudly representing the German Government’s Transatlantic Climate Bridge initiative.
Climate Ride 2009 culminated with all cyclists (and ambassadors) being greeted by Congressman Kuchinich and Senators Cardin and Shaheen on the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
All spoke passionately about the urgent need for the United States to pass a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill, and to create a future with more clean energy and less global-warming pollution.
Link
Brita Climate Ride 2009
