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Marching for Mother Earth and an ‘Eco City’

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BY BOB KRASNER | This is how the East Village throws a parade: colorful and loud, with heart and a sense of purpose.

In fact, Saturday’s “Ecological City: Procession for Climate Solutions,” organized by the nonprofit organization Earth Celebrations, was all of that and more.

A Green New Deal was a goal to strive for for one marcher at the Ecological Cities procession. (Photo by Bob Krasner)

Beginning at the Sixth Street Community Center, the creatively costumed group made their way to the beat of drums to 21 different community gardens and landmarks. They stopped at each one for a short performance, all with the common themes of our climate change and sustainability.

This costume was definitely getting some buzz. (Photo by Bob Krasner)

Dancers from the Artichoke Dance Company, covered in plastic bags, entertained the crowd at El Sol Brillante garden, on E. 12th St.

Elsewhere, poems were read, children sang and performers rolled in the dirt. The battle between Mother Earth and the Evil Pirates was enacted on E. Ninth St.

Bazile Deenks blew the shell to start the parade. (Photo by Bob Krasner)

The six-hour extravaganza ended at East River Park, where the city’s reconstruction plan to safeguard against flooding is vigorously opposed.

The marchers oppose the city’s plan to bury East River Park under nearly a dozen feet of dirt to raise it and protect it from flooding. (Photo by Bob Krasner)