350 Updates

Welcome Obama!

Jamie Henn
Posted by Jamie Henn - 01/20/09, 4:25pm

"Hooray!" That's the word I saw spelled out in big cardboard letters on the roof of a car driving through the streets of San Francisco this morning. Hooray! That pretty much sums up how a lot of us in the United States are feeling about Barack Obama's inauguration as President.

There's plenty to say about the inauguration, but since I'm writing here on the 350 blog, I want to lay out a few reasons why I think this moment is so important for our movement to stop climate chaos and return the world to 350 ppm C02.

First, we've got a political opening. For the last eight years, the Bush Administration has lead the United States down a suicidal path of climate destruction. Sound harsh? Totally, but it's hardly hyperbole. With Obama in office, we finally have a chance to push the US in the right direction: strong emissions cuts and funding for developing countries for adaptation and sustainable development. That's work that will involve all of us, no matter where we live.

Second, we've seen the strength of a people powered movement (we like to think of the ppm in 350 as representing those last three words). Obama was swept into office with a savvy campaign that mobilized millions of people with a mix of new technology and old-school organizing. People around the US took the campaign into their own hands, organizing block by block, city by city. We can do the same - all around the world.

And third, we've been reminded that history doesn't crawl forward: it moves in leaps and bounds. With all the hurdles we must overcome to pass a strong, international climate treaty in 2009, some are already giving up hope. They've forgotten about the explosive nature of change. With the right mix of ambition, creativity, sheer commitment, and yeah, a good amount of luck, we can move the world faster and farther than the cynics would ever admit.

Here's to more hoorays in our future!

 
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350 at Davos?

Anonymous
Posted by Anonymous - 01/20/09, 4:31am

Note: This is a guest blog by Michael McGee, creator of CO2now.org.

People need to know about 350. So, when YouTube invited video submissions to its 2009 Davos Debates, I saw it as an opportunity that should not be missed. World leaders will be meeting at the World Economic Forum (starting January 28, 2009) in Davos Switzerland..an ideal forum for raising the profile of 350. After checking out this 8-minute video, there should be no question why Bill McKibben calls 350 the most important number on the planet. And do watch it right to the end – past the credits. For me, it’s the best part.

 
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A Reva Car to 350, a hopeful India Climate Solutions Road Tour!

Govind
Posted by Govind - 01/16/09, 5:45am
in

The India Climate Solutions Road Tour has been on the drive. Starting from the southern IT city of Chennai, the tour has now already crossed Banagalore and Hyderabad while also visiting several smaller towns and villages - and is now on its way to the beautiful city of Pune in Central India. The tour has seen tremendous success and has been received by everyone with much warmth, and affection.

Everyone, right from the village folks, the town and city people, the petrol pumps where the electric cars were charged, to the IT parks and the universities that the Road Tour touched - not only appreciated the efforts made, but also promised to do all in their capacity to bring down their emissions and make others aware of it as well.

Driving in Reva, a hope-giving electric car with 350 painted all over, the road tour has been a successful initiative so far, in that it has been a reassurance to all those who have been tirelessly working to be the solution. At the same time, the road tour has also been an inspiration to many, most of whom were keeping away from initiating action on climate change, simply because they did not see others doing it, or they did not know who to connect to for taking action. The road tour has, on its way, touched base with all those who are working towards climate solutions and also with those who want to work towards the same.

The India Climate Solutions Road Tour will soon be visiting Mumbai - the financial capital of India, Goa, Ahmedabad and will reach New Delhi after driving through the desert of Rajasthan!

 
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John Kerry Hops On the 350 Train...

The 350.org Team
Posted by The 350.org Team - 01/15/09, 12:39am

350 is truly starting to bubble up from the grassroots to the government.  The latest to get on the 350 train?  John Kerry, who will play a critical role starting January 20, when he will replace Joe Biden as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

While questioning Hillary Clinton at her confirmation hearing, John Kerry threw in this tidbit that I thought you'd all appreciate:

"One thing I do want to ask, if I may, and I don't want to belabor it, but it's coming at us enormously and that is the question of what we're really going to be able to do here with respect to global climate change....

...Scientists have now revised the levels of supportable greenhouse gas emissions from 550 parts per million to 450 to now 350.

...So our challenge is going to be even greater than it was five months ago, Senator, or two months ago. The perception that we can kind of creep at this and perhaps do something this year, notwithstanding our economy, is foolhardy...

...I know that the president-elect has said he's going to focus on it. But I'm not sure that everybody coming into the administration is completely aware of what a big lift this is going to be and how imperative it is that we make Copenhagen a success.

I simply want to ask your undivided focus and leadership on this issue, because it is that critical."

It seems that Kerry gets the urgency that comes with 350.  We'll have to work hard this year to make sure that all of our politicians follow suit, including the man Hillary will be reporting to in less than a week (!) -- President-Elect Barack Obama.

 
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Action Spotlight: 350 in India's Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Will Bates
Posted by Will Bates - 01/14/09, 3:44am

Our friends at Kids for Tigers in India have done it again. A group of nearly 70 students and 23 teachers ventured into the Sanjay Gandhi National Park a few days ago, and amidst the beauty of the forest they demonstrated their call for reaching 350 ppm CO2 and forest protection.

"With the forests in the back ground the children had a loud and clear message that our race towards 350 parts per million composition of CO2, in our atmosphere has to be very urgent and that protecting forests and other natural ecosystems are a vital tool to achieve our targets." - Pooja Nagpal, Kids for Tigers coordinator in Mumbai.

Click on "more" to read the full report from the action...

 

 
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"The Countdown to Copenhagen"

Will Bates
Posted by Will Bates - 01/13/09, 1:14pm

I stumbled upon a news article today by the environmental editor of The Independent, Michael McCarthy, in the UK which inspired me to write a brief blog post. The title of the article is "UN Climate Conference: The Countdown to Copenhagen" and the opening line reads, "Three hundred and thirty-one days, plus a final frantic fortnight: not very long, really, to put together the most complex and vital agreement the world has ever seen."

Whew, make that three hundred and twenty-eight days now. And it's true, the international negotiations dealing with climate change are absurdly complex, both due to the complexity and depth of the climate crisis and also the complexity of the United Nations process created in response.

But at least one fact is both simple and clear -- the new treaty to come out of Copenhagen must set us on course to 350 ppm CO2, and right now the majority of the world's governments have yet to adopt that goal. And so, we -- that's right, you and me -- have the next three hundred and twenty-eight days to change that and set 350 as the clear benchmark for a new global treaty.

 
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66 Years Later: We Can Do 350!

Anonymous
Posted by Anonymous - 01/12/09, 6:54pm

Our friend Paul Ferris with the AYCC just sent this poster he made out of the blue. It got us thinking: maybe it's around time for a Poster Contest? Anyway, I asked him to write some words about why he did it--enjoy!

The iconic "We Can Do It!" poster from World War II has long been a feminist (and personal) favorite.

On one level, the poster depicts Geraldine Doyle, who in 1942 worked in a Montana metal factory to replace men who were fighting in the war.

On a deeper level, however, it shows how in the space of a few short months and years, the American and world economies were transformed and production completely re-geared.

It's not hard to see the parallels with the transformation we need to solve climate change.

So I decided to have a bit of fun with the image, and show off the hot 350 sweatbands while I was at it.

Doyle's message: We Can Do It! We Can Do 350!

 
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Dispatch from Wild and Scenic Film Festival

May Boeve
Posted by May Boeve - 01/12/09, 1:49pm

This past weekend, some of the 350.org team ventured to the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City, California, which is billed as the largest environmental film festival in the U.S. The featured films ranged from kayak trips on China's last wild rivers to Navajo Nation struggles against coal expansion. A global perspective predomiated the festival, while still managing to connect to local issues, such as the work of the South Yuba River Citizens League.

We made the journey with our friends at Earth Island Institute, whose films about Brower Youth Award winners were presented in the festival. This gave us an opportunity to present to the audience about the 350 movement. We also spent time with our friends at Free Range Studios, who won the John de Graaf award for their groundbreaking work. We were pleased to see that they featured the 350 animation in a selection of films!

 
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