On Nov. 30, environmental activists from Mobilization for Climate Justice marched in downtown Washington, D.C., to protest climate polluters and K Street lobbyists, according to a recent MCJ press release.

The march began at the headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the top lobbying group that represents corporate CEOs, according to the press release. The march continued to the American Petroleum Institute, Bank of America and offices of lobbying groups for oil companies such as Shell, Chevron, BP and Conoco Phillips.

Small rallies were held outside each of these buildings. Speakers demanded that lobby representatives cancel their plans to travel to the climate summit in Copenhagen. The protesters raised their concerns about the companies’ environmental efforts and encouraged them to pursue concrete measures such as wind energy and solar energy in order to combat climate change.

Kristin Ng (MSB ’11), president of Georgetown EcoAction, an environmental advocacy student group, said that no one in her organization was able to participate in Monday’s rally due to other on-campus commitments. Ng said she did not agree with the sentiment of the protest.

“Personally, from what I’ve read about MCJ, they seem to be a bit extreme and anti-consumerism/anti-business, which I, as an MSB student, do not agree with,” Ng said. “They say that they’re for `climate justice,’ but they do not seem to have concrete, tangible plans.”

onday’s march marked the 10-year anniversary of the demonstrations in which activists gathered in Seattle in an attempt to stop the meetings of the World Trade Organization. It was one of nine marches in nine American cities that day, including Chicago; New York; Boston; San Francisco; Seattle; Burlington, Vt. , and two other cities in Maine.

Although Ng is skeptical of some aspects of MCJ’s views, she said she sympathizes with the basis of its activism.

“I believe that there is definitely a lack of accountability for major corporations and polluters that needs to be addressed,” Ng said. “The environment is truly a social justice issue, which we’re relatively shielded from, but which poorer citizens bear the brunt of.”

CJ is a network of North American organizations and activists that has collaborated to form a climate rights movement characterized by public awareness campaigns and nonviolent action, according to the MCJ Web site.”