“WATER WALK FOR LIFE” Begins Saturday, July 22nd
Hudson Valley walkers to trace proposed Pilgrim Pipelines route: 170 miles, 13 days, from Mahwah NJ to Albany and Grafton, NY
Kingston, NY – Beginning Saturday, July 22nd 2017, internationally renowned environmental and human rights activist Jun Yasuda, Buddhist nun in residence at the Grafton, NY Peace Pagoda, will embark upon a 170 mile, 13 day prayer walk protesting the proposed Pilgrim oil pipelines and praying to protect water, health, climate and peace.
WHO: Municipal officials, faith leaders, members of the Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipelines (CAPPNY), and participants from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Ramapough Lenape, Mohican, and Lakota, will launch the walk together and traverse communities directly in the Pilgrim pipelines’ proposed route in New York including Harriman, Tuxedo, Newburgh, New Paltz, Esopus, Highland, Kingston, Saugerties, Catskill, Coxsackie, Bethlehem, and Albany.
WHAT: The Water Walk for Life launches with a dramatic three-hour ceremony followed by up to 50 walkers traveling the first day together. Walkers will travel on average 10 – 15 miles/day.
WHERE: The opening ceremony is at the Ramapough Lenape Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp in Mahwah, New Jersey near Ramapo College. The first leg is short, to Sloatsburg NY.
WHEN: Saturday, July 22nd Walk Launch Water Protection Ceremony: 10 AM – 1 PM
Day 1 Walk Mahwah, NJ – Sloatsburg, NY 1 PM – 4 PM; evening speaker Geoff Welch
Day 2, Sunday July 23rd, Walk 8 AM to Harriman (overnight in Cornwall)
Day 3, Monday July 24th, Walk 8 AM to Washingtonville (village) in Blooming Grove (town)
Day 4, Tuesday July 25th, Walk 8 AM to Walden
Day 5, Tuesday July 26th, Walk 8 AM through Gardiner to New Paltz, NY; potluck dinner 5:30-7 PM at New Paltz Friends Meeting House; speakers. Welcomed by New Paltz Supervisor Neil Bettez, New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers, Rosendale Councilwoman Jen Metzger.
Days 6-7, Wednesday July 27th, Walk 8 AM to Kingston, NY; welcomed by Unitarian Congregation of the Catskills; REST DAY July 28th; Potluck dinner/ program, Friday July 28th
ATTACHED: Itinerary incl. Saugerties, Catskill, Coxsackie, Bethlehem, Albany, Troy, Grafton.
MORE CONTACTS: Bill Barr, CAPPNY (Saugerties) (845) 598-7770
Arielle Herman, CAPPNY (Catskill), hosting Walk in Catskill Sun. July 30th: (845) 417-8428
Water Walk for Life: Jim Suriano 518.542.4543
Water Walk for Life: Megan Kylee McLean 518.603.3571
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