OCTOBER 22, 2009 ISSUE
International Day of Climate Action Saturday
This Saturday, October 24, a group photo will be snapped at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market at Horn in the West in Boone. The photo shoot is no vanity pose, but instead is meant to serve as a powerful, visual petition signed with images to initiate change on the International Day of Climate Action. The photo petition will be delivered to the United Nations and more specifically, it will be delivered to the world leaders at the Copenhagen Conference this December—to the people who will be determining the carbon limits of our earth.
Any women, child or man who wants to decrease their carbon footprint, is welcome to attend the event that begins at 11:30 a.m. All participants are encouraged to paint, draw or otherwise compose a message for the world leaders to initiate serious action in Copenhagen to reduce carbon emissions.
The organization 350.org conceptualized the International Day of Climate Action and this event is taking place in almost 170 countries at more than 4,000 locations worldwide, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Honduras: pretty much everywhere except in countries, such as Burma and North Korea. A photo will even be taken underwater on the Great Barrier Reef and on the shores of the Dead Sea in Palestine, Israel and Jordan; in 300 cities in both China and India; and in Machu Picchu and the Great Pyramids in Egypt. The number 350 will be incorporated at an iconic locale in each world community and the photos will be uploaded to the 350.org Website.
“It’s going to be fun!” said Sam Zimmerman, one of the event organizers. “Photos will also be displayed on the super huge screens in Times Square! Hang out before the photo at our local farmers’ market, write your comments and draw on the big banner board. Express yourself—bring your kids and your friends and we’ll see you there.”
Why the number 350? Read about the story of carbon below to find out.
The Story of Carbon and 350 ppm
Scientists agree that 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide or CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for our planet and for humanity. The current climate supports a CO2 level hovering at 387 ppm. Parts per million is a method used to measure the concentration of various gases and indicates the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules per million other molecules present in the atmosphere. Increased CO2 levels cause the climate change we know as the greenhouse effect, that is, the heating of the earth because of these gases. Greenhouse gases include methane, nitrous oxide and fluorocarbons, in addition to the CO2. The presence of the gases above the recommended limit is believed to cause more severe floods and droughts; an increased prevalence of insects; rising sea levels; and the earth’s precipitation may eventually become redistributed. After 1997 and the Kyoto Protocol, the world began taking the first step in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. People began burning coal, gas and oil in the 18th century to produce energy, releasing millions of years worth of stored CO2 from fossil fuels. Every time electric lights are turned on, food is cooked and homes are heated or cooled, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. Now, with carbon levels already at almost 390 ppm on our planet, CO2 is rising by approximately 2 ppm per year. Ideal levels of CO2 are thought to be around 275 ppm by scientists, authorities on climate and progressive national governments. Some CO2 is helpful and vital to the earth because if the planet were left bereft of trapped greenhouse gases, it would be too cold to be inhabited by humans.
The photo petition is free and open to the public. For more information click to www.350.org.
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