Six weeks from now, the leaders of 192 nations will converge on Copenhagen, Denmark for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) to develop a new, and perhaps final, treaty on climate change. Leading up to COP15 have been numerous efforts do develop awareness such as Hopenhagen which allows people to share location-specific messages of hope, and Not Stupid, the action campaign of the recent film The Age of Stupid which fast forwards us into a future where nothing was done to prevent climate change. Obviously global warming is a subject that gets no lack of coverage, however awareness is one thing and action is quite something else. The above sites and many others like it are valuable in getting people connected on the same issues, but there’s no substitute for getting out there and doing something. The forthcoming documentary The Yes Men Save the World features two guys, who through outrageous stunts expose inaction on environmental issues at the highest levels, and in the process get people inspired to do something too.

This Saturday, October 24th is 350: International Day of Climate Action, the keyword here being ‘action’, while the number 350 represents the ideal parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide that can reside in the atmosphere before human life becomes at risk. The problem is that we are already at 390 ppm and rising, and 500 ppm is widely regarded as the point of cataclysmic and irreversible change as outlined in sources like Tim Flannery’s brilliant book The Weather Makers (a must read if this subject is of interest). Saturday’s 350 is therefore a way of people initiating change, within their own communities, to create a visual petition to show world leaders that they must head into the Copenhagen Climate Summit with open minds, and properly represent the will of their people. According to 350.org “There will be big rallies in big cities, and incredible creative actions across the globe: mountain climbers on our highest peaks with banners, underwater demonstrations in island nations threatened by sea level rise, churches and mosques and synagogues and ashrams engaged in symbolic action, star athletes organizing mass bike rides -and hundreds upon hundreds of community events to raise awareness of the need for urgent action.” If that seems embellished, consider this: 4,000 events are planned in over 168 countries worldwide, which surely goes beyond wishful thinking.

Head to www.350.org and see what events are being held where. It’s easy to ignore this subject since it’s so glaringly obvious; there’s more than a fair share of hype and media saturation, but so much is based on passive actions: buying a hybrid, shopping organic, changing your lightbulbs…purchasing more responsibly is a valid gesture but there’s no substitute for standing up and being counted.

via Leon Fitzpatrick, 22 October 2009 9:59am | |