WASHINGTON - June 4 - On June 5, 2012, residents of the District of Columbia will join citizens around the country as they participate in a national day of action, sending a strong message to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the critical issues global leaders will discuss when they meet later this month in Brazil for the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

WHAT: Rio+20 State Department Rally - Nature and People Over Profit!

Citizens will unite to tell the U.S. negotiators that nature and people should come before corporate profits. We will create our own version of the Mastercard "priceless" ads outside the U.S. Department of State, calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to defend our water and food. 

WHERE: U.S. State Department

2201 C Street Northwest

Washington, DC 20520

Google Map Link: http://bit.ly/LTchQu

WHEN: Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 12:00-12:30pm

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

Darcey O’Callaghan, International Policy Director for Food & Water Watch

Dave Kane, Latin American Associate for Maryknoll

Karen Hansen-Kuhn, International Program Director for Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Kathy Ozer, Executive Director for the National Family Farm Coalition

VISUALS: We will create our own version of the Mastercard “priceless” ad outside the State Department with costumes, including a cow, chicken, corn on the cob, fish, and tree.

BACKGROUND: Right now, the Rio+20 “green economy” agenda is being driven by interests that seek to privatize nature by further deregulating industry and handing our common resources over to companies for profit.

The Rio + 20 coalition will host events in 15+ cities across the U.S. and invite you to join us here in the District of Columbia as we organizers outside at the U.S. Department of State building. Check our calendar for other events in your area, which includes links to additional resources and opportunities to take action.

Learn more about our June 5 day of action to tell the U.S. not to sell out nature to Wall Street at Rio+20.

The Rio+20 coalition includes: 350.org, Center for International Environmental Law, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, Cornell Global Labor Institute, Corporate Accountability International, Earth Law Center, Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative, Foundation Earth, Food & Water Watch, Food First, Friends of the Earth U.S., Global Alliance for Rights of Nature, Global Exchange, Indigenous Environmental Network, Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy, Institute for Policy Studies, Local to Global Advocates for Justice, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, National Family Farm Coalition, Nourish 9 Billion, On the Commons, Our Water Commons, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Institute Justice Team, WhyHunger, and the Women’s Earth & Climate Caucus.