CONCORD, Mass.—Dozens of protesters took the Polar Bear Plunge into the frigid Walden Pond on Saturday to press political leaders to take stronger action to fight global warming.
About 100 protesters and onlookers gathered near the pond and were briefed on security precautions before half of them stripped to their bathing suits and took a brief plunge.
"The message we want to send is we want our elected leaders -- the congressmen, senators and the president -- to realize that Global Warming is a serious problem that needs their leadership and individuals can do their bit to solve the problem" through the use of energy-saving initiatives and turning to alternative sources of energy, organizer Roger Shamel said.
The event was part of protests organized around the world to coincide with the two-week U.N. Climate Change Conference, which runs through Friday in Bali, Indonesia.
Skiers, fire-eaters and an ice sculptor joined in worldwide demonstrations Saturday to draw attention to climate change and push their governments to take stronger action to fight global warming.
In Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S. activists prepared to ski wearing their bathing suits.
From costume parades in the Philippines to a cyclist's protest in London, marches were held in more than 50 cities around the world to coincide with the Climate Change Conference.
In Massachusetts, three protesters were dressed in polar bear consumes and carried banners at the Walden Pond that read: "Please save the Earth for our babies."
