350 Updates

New 350 Messenger: Keibo Oiwa

We're pleased to announce that Keibo Oiwa, the founder of the Sloth Club, Japan's leading 'Slow Life' environmental group, joins us as our first Japanese 350 Messenger. 350 Organizer Claire Tsai and I met Keibo on the outskirts of Tokyo during a trip to Japan to build the 350 network - and reported on our experience in a blog post here.

Keibo's words are a good reminder that as we rush to build a global movement, we also need to take time to slow down and remember what we're fighting for. Thanks to Keibo and sloths across Japan and the world for joining the 350 team!

 

350 Craft Contest Update: Submit your entries by Friday!

A few months ago, we announced an exciting partnership with Craftster.org and several other crafting organizations and websites, to host a t-shirt and craft design competition to help spread the word about 350. The contests are now drawing to a close - you have just a few days to finish up your best 350 t-shirt design, hat, quilt or whatever awesome idea you've come up with, and submit it to www.craftster.org/350. The submission period ends Friday, at which point the entries will be opened up to the general public for viewing and voting.

The submissions are rolling in and looking great so far - we'll share one sneak peak with you, a beautiful quilt with a 350 design from a supporter in Belgium. There are still a few days left - so pull out the sketch pad, knitting needles, or sewing machine, and whip something up that can help spread the word in new and creative ways, and win one of great prizes offered! Visit www.craftster.org/350 today to learn more and upload your entry...

 

350 in the Arctic - "Like a Sticky Sweet Chocolate Sauce"

350.org has partnered with Voyage For the Future--a recent expedition coordinated by WWF that young people from all over the world to see the effects of the climate crisis first hand. One of the "Ambassadors For Change" is Casper ter Kuile, a co-founder of the brand spanking new UK Climate Coalition--here's his report:

350 is starting to spread all over the world map, like a good, sticky chocolate sauce. Last month, 18 young people from nine different countries took it to the top of the world – to the Arctic.

We were there - not just to be trained in the science of climate change by top scientists, nor just to be given the skills to be powerful communicators – but it energised and empowered us beyond our wildest desires, yet another group of committed and practical-thinking youth to help lead the global climate movement.

We swam in the Arctic Ocean to demonstrate how unnatural the extent of sea-ice loss is, we met the Norwegian Royal Family to talk about their role as state figures, and we decided to develop a viral idea to make it go global. The Green Finger Project. People from the all around the world are showing that climate change matters to them, and voicing what they want to protect.

So for us, the voyage is certainly not over. Since we’ve been back, we've become more active on fighting climate change than ever before. And we have a big, common goal. That is - to make sure that in 2009, when decision-makers meet in Copenhagen to follow up the Kyoto Protocol, they will make the right decisions and will unite to fight this global security threat, this major health threat, this climate crisis.

Our generation will not accept failure. A Global Climate Movement will not accept failure.

Young people will lead in this fight. It is our generation who are inheriting this earth, and our generation who will have to deal with, pay for and live with the consequences of today’s actions.

This is why we have created the UK Youth Climate Coalition. To unite diverse groups of young people – be they political, environmental, social, sporting, faith-based, whatever – to create a strong voice that cannot not be ignored. We will stand together with people from all over the world to demonstrate that we are ready to fight climate change, and that our leaders must listen to the science – and to us.

Casper ter Kuile

Co-Founder UK YCC