Come hear everyone from James Hansen to James Cameron, from Sting to me. Let’s show the Tea Partiers what a real crowd looks like.

Earth Day Network is organizing a huge event on the Mall in Washington DC on April 25. The goal is to demand tough, effective climate legislation and a swift transition away from 19th century energy sources.

“So what?” you may be asking yourself. There have been a lot of climate rallies over the last 25 years and Congress still hasn’t managed to pass a law. Why should I come to this one?

Let me count the ways….

Our guest blogger today is the legendary Denis Hayes, national coordinator for the first Earth Day in 1970.

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Last Sunday’s post “What are your favorite climate and energy soundbites? drew dozens of comments that are a must read for anyone who speaks on this subject.  I will definitely use and/or adapt some of those suggestions.

Now I’m looking for something a little more specific — pithy metaphors and jokes, maybe two sentences at most.

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Sign the Solar Bill of Rights

Guest blogger Rhone Resch is President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association.

As Americans, we make decisions by finding a balance between personal values and pragmatism — is it the right thing to do and is an effective solution or improvement? This balance persuades us to order a salad instead of fries or to buy a hybrid car instead of a Hummer. Or, in my family’s case, installing a solar photovoltaic system on my roof instead of relying on electricity from the nearest coal plant.

For us, national energy policy works the same way.  Environmental conservation and the free market shape our decisions for better or for worse. This week’s release of the 2009 US Solar Industry Year in Review report shows, thankfully, that Americans are beginning to make the right choice. Statistics show that despite a harsh recession, the solar industry added new solar electric installations totaling 441 megawatts, pulled in $1.4 billion in new venture capital investments, created 17,000 new jobs and grew by 36 percent in annual revenue.

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Using executive authority to boost investments, create jobs, and save oil

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970, and was launched at a time when rivers caught fire, smog choked many cities, and pollution went untouched into the air, land, and water. Today our air, land, and water are significantly less polluted due to federal safeguards established since that day. As Earth Day’s 40th anniversary approaches, we are faced with new global economic and security challenges in addition to the continuing need to reduce the same pollutants.

These challenges call for comprehensive national action to transition to a clean energy economy.  Our guest bloggers, CAP’s Daniel J. Weiss and Kari Manlove have dozens of suggestions that Obama could launch immediately — before Congress acts on comprehensive energy and climate legislation.

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