Sometimes, if you need to get something done, you just have to do it yourself. That is the approach Laura Johnston is taking in her quest to raise awareness about the dangers of climate change.
Johnston, a Springfield resident and graduate student at Georgetown University, entered in the second annual Brita Climate Ride, a fund-raising bicycle ride that begins in New York City and ends in Washington, D.C. The trip, which lasts five days and four nights, will take more than 200 riders on a 300-mile journey that ends with a face-to-face meeting with elected officials.
"I think that for a lot of people, they have the desire to make a difference, and this is an easy, effective way to do it," said Johnston, a West Springfield High School alumnus. "I’m dong this because I came from the mentality that anyone can make a difference."
That mentality originated in Johnston’s childhood, which was spent traversing the world as the daughter of two State Department employees. While in elementary school, her parents were assigned to Kenya, were she lived for four years. There, immersed in an outdoor lifestyle because of the culture, she spent a lot of time on game reserves and hiking trails. Johnston said that this experience made her aware of the environment’s vulnerability, and ever since, she has been on a mission to protect it.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Johnston got a job at Arlington-based Conservation International, a non-governmental organization where she still works. There, Johnston works with indigenous peoples in developing countries to construct and maintain microfinancing projects and does other climate change and environmental conservation work.
While at work several months ago, Johnston saw an e-mail promoting the Climate Ride, and after reading the details, was immediately interested. Though she wanted to sign up right then and there, she knew that her academic commitments could prevent her from taking part.
"I wasn’t sure if I could participate because of classes," Johnston said. "But I realized that this was too great of an opportunity and cause, so I told myself I’d make it work."
The race was the brainchild of Montana residents Caeli Quinn and Geraldine Carter. According to Quinn, she and Carter each spent 10 years leading bicycle trips across the world. After seeing the environmental destruction caused by fossil fuel consumption and the subsequent climate change resulting from their use, they decided to do something about it. After brainstorming, they came up with the idea to stage a bicycle ride to the nation’s capital to deliver their message of awareness and action to their elected officials personally.
"How we deal with climate change as individuals, communities, a nation, and a world, will define our generation," Carter said. "We must rise to the challenge of dealing with complex and complicated issues, and we must have the courage to stand for future generations and their right to inherit a healthy planet."
According to Quinn, the ride route begins in Manhattan and then moves along country roads in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and into Maryland. On the ride’s final day, Sept. 30, the group will make its way down the Capitol Crescent Trail into the District, where they will hold a rally on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. During the ride, the bicyclists will camp out at night together, and will be treated to three or more different guest speakers each night.
Though the 300-mile trek seems daunting, Johnston said she is training daily to prepare. She said that she is swimming as much as possible and biking to as many places as she can, such as the grocery store and even work. As for fund-raising, Johnston is raising her $2,400 share of the ride’s total goal of $250,000 in several different ways.
Johnston said that she reached out to family, friends and coworkers, even giving a presentation at Conservation International. In addition, Bus Boys and Poets in Shirlington is donating 5 percent of their total receipts for a four-hour period as part of their "Nonprofit Tuesdays" promotion. So far, these efforts have netted $1,800, all of which will go to nonprofit organizations Rails to Trails, Focus the Nation and Cool Planet.
"We're excited to have someone like Laura on the ride," Quinn said. "She's active and dedicated to climate change issues. She really understands that Climate Ride is a great advocacy event."
While Johnston knows that no sweeping policy change or total attitude reversal toward climate change will happen overnight because of the ride, she is confident that she and her fellow riders can still make a difference.
"It’s difficult for people to make big changes in their lives," Johnston said. "But hopefully, this inspires other people to ride their bikes more. This is putting into action what really needs to happen."