350 Events to Combat Climate Change

October 24 Around the World People Gather to Commit to the Earth

Oct 24, 2009 Hildra Tague

Climate change is the most important issue facing the world today as it is the key issue affecting both the economy and the infrastructures around the earth.

There is grave concern among scientists around the world that in a few decades the worlds' people will be using twice as many resources as the earth can sustain.

A Round the World Celebration of 350

In nations large and small around the world, people gathered on October 24, 2009 to celebrate the need to rally around the 350 parts per million as the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Masai children did special jumping activities while people from Japan to Mexico City held celebrative events to kick off the world-wide commitment to reducing the carbon footprint from the current 389 to 350 ppm.

The numbers 3, 5, and 0 were spelled out with huge numbers of people standing across several continents, as well as similar small events in towns and villages across the globe.

One 350 Celebration in Houston Suburbs

After taking a picture of attendees in the shape of 350 and watching a slide show of similar and creative pictures from round the world taken on the same day, a drum circle started and the energy in the room heightened.

The church in the Woodlands, Texas, had begun their 350 observance with members of the community far and wide. They were coming together to "preserve the earth as we know it," says Dawn Newcomer. She said one of the goals was "to remind world's leaders to organize and echo the concerns through the United Nations climate talks and beyond."

Food, organically grown or ethically raised to be sustainable, was laid out, even including whole wheat pizza donated by Pizza Fusion, a Houston-based business committed to "saving the earth one pizza at a time." Diners were serenaded to the tune of Morning Has Broken and other nature music. This particular event was hosted by the Sustainability Committee of the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church chaired by Dawn Newcomer. However, the occasion was attended by friends of the environment from a variety of faiths.

A choir performed the song written by The Reverend Fred Small entitled Three Five O especially for this world-wide celebration in addition to other songs about taking care of the earth.

Ways to Make 350 a Reality by Reducing One's Carbon Footprint

Mary Strauss, Sustainability Programs Coordinator for Bryan, Texas showed a video from Awakening the Dream Symposium which further defined issues on a world scale, and why action is needed. She also explained how in her city taking action toward sustainability "saves taxpayer money and creates a cleaner and greener community."

There are a number of things an individual can do in daily life to reduce the carbon footprint:

Do a trash audit and use that information to increase recycling of plastic, glass, paper, and organic waste to reduce the amount going to a landfill.
Practice the old Scout campers' saying of "Leave the earth better than you found it."
Ask any print media one is involved with or subscribes to about their plans to use recycled paper, as less than five percent currently do.
Buy sustainable food from nearby farms.
Plan transportation to use less fuel by carpooling, riding public transportation, biking, energy-efficient cars, and reducing trips.
Get in the habit of unplugging appliances when not in use.
Use more efficient lightbulbs.
Plant trees, vegetables, butterfly-friendly gardens, and teach others about how.
Buy green products for cleaning and be willing to spend more if needed to encourage the green market.
Reduce as a habit. Be willing to give up some things for the greater and greener good.
Reuse containers and find new uses for things before they are discarded. For example, use old containers as planters, to hold nails or paperclips, etc.

October 24 saw celebrations around the world in 182 nations involving 5200 registered events in many nations, languages, representing all continents and time zones. Each of these activities included people who made this effort to commit to the earth for environmental action to combat climate change. There was one event in the suburbs north of Houston where attendees learned how to reduce their carbon footprint while celebrating and making a commitment toward positive and proactive steps toward that goal.

Maybe this is a good time to join the race to reduce. After all, all anyone needs is a bright clear sky interspersed with much-needed rain to grow enough food to sustain life, along with transportation, communication, and energy used in an ethical way which sustains the sharing of life on earth.

Source: Attendance at a 350 celebration north of Houston, Texas. Interviews with Dawn Newcomer and Mary Strauss on October 24, 2009.

The copyright of the article 350 Events to Combat Climate Change in Environmentalism is owned by Hildra Tague. Permission to republish 350 Events to Combat Climate Change in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

350 Celebrations Around the World	Eco Taxi Celebrating 350	People Who Care About Climate Change in 350 Shape
350 Songs About the Earth	350 Climate Action Event in Texas