350 Updates

U.S. Activists Take on King Coal

Anonymous
Posted by Anonymous - 11/07/08, 11:28am

As we've mentioned before, whether we as a planet decide to use coal as a source of energy moving forward will largely define whether we achieve 350 parts per million. Here in the U.S. we've seen a major effort to build many new coal plants in an effort to lock in more dirty and cheap energy for the next fifty years - and in response we've seen a major grassroots movement rise in opposition all over the country where new coal-fired power plants are planned. We've also seen a major, multi-million dollar effort from the coal corporations to convince Americans of all the great benefits of "clean coal", an oxymoron that Al Gore has referred to as akin to trying to sell a "healthy cigarette".

And so we've been heartened and inspired to see, in all corners of the country, local activists banding together to organize, gather petitions, and ultimately sit down in front of the construction equipment for these new plants - all to little or no national media attention. Until this week, when Time Magazine, a major weekly magazine in the U.S., published this article detailing the efforts to stop King Coal in the U.S. This quote from the article sums up well the response to the coal question here in the U.S.: "To accept a new generation of polluting coal plants is to doom future generations to an impoverished planet. So the response should be fundamentally moral as well, using the same tactics--civil disobedience, nonviolent protest--as those of the civil rights movement."

 
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Tomorrow: Youth Prepare for Poland - A TIG Live Chat

Anonymous
Posted by Anonymous - 11/05/08, 2:28pm

Tomorrow, Taking It Global (check out a great video of their staff inviting the U.S. President to Poland!) will host a live web chat for youth in preparation for to the UN climate meetings in Poland in December. The chat will feature representatives from several youth organizations sending delegations, including 350.org, the Indian Youth Climate Network, Energy Action in the U.S., the UK Youth Climate Coalition, and more. So log on tomorrow, Thursday November 6th, 2008 at 2pm (GMT/UTC) to find out what youth are expecting to see happen at the conference, and how they're planning to make their voices heard!

 
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We Made History

Phil Aroneanu
Posted by Phil Aroneanu - 11/05/08, 1:37pm

Yesterday, Americans made history. We elected the first African American president and the first man in nearly a half century who understands what it means to look at this country with hope, not fear; with pluck, not cold political calculation.

It's understandable that millions of Americans celebrated last night on the streets of Washington DC, in New York and San Francisco, in Tuscon and Cleveland and Miami, and that millions more celebrated in their homes with friends and family close by.

 
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35,000 and growing...

Will Bates
Posted by Will Bates - 11/03/08, 12:30pm

In fact, we've all now sent over 43,500 invitations to the US Presidential candidates to go to the UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland this December.  Here is Bill McKibben's latest piece in the Grist about the upcoming US election...

You can count the hours until the election is over, which means the debate has been reduced to its basic elements: Who's a socialist? Who's a plumber? Who's ahead?

But against that backdrop, one large group of people -- voters here in America and citizens of countries around the world -- have been asking a more sophisticated, and more unlikely, question: "Will you come to Poland?"

The drive we at 350.org launched a few weeks ago with Grist's help has passed the magic 35,000 mark -- in fact, we vaulted past it on Thursday with a huge influx of new interest swelling the number of video and e-mail invitations.

The people joining the 350.org campaign aren't demanding that the next president solve global warming. But they are asking that he show that Ameerica will once again be a player in the game -- and the best way to show that is to show up ... in Poznan Poland, in December, for global talks that will set the stage for next year's climactic Copenhagen conference.

 
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Action Spotlight: Un Picnic Sans Carbone

Jeremy Osborn
Posted by Jeremy Osborn - 10/31/08, 12:24pm

In Begles, France, near the city of Bordeaux, a new organization is taking root, and it involves strategic French climate policy, 350 bicycles, and a lot of delicious food.

Early on in the 350 project we received an email from Jean Sireyjol. He had just picked up one of Bill McKibben's pieces in The Nation, an American magazine, and agreed with the scientific assessment of James Hansen and our work promoting it. His global warming work was also just developing, and a little bit of mutual reinforcement seemed fun and appropriate.

The organization is called TACA (in French - Taxe Au Carbone ajouté), which, as it turns out...

 

 
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"We did it, we can undo it"

Will Bates
Posted by Will Bates - 10/29/08, 7:14am

No, I'm not talking about the 35,000 invitations we're aiming to send to Obama and McCain by election day (please send yours today).

"We did it, we can undo it" is the headline that appeared on an op-ed in the International Herald Tribune on October 27. Written by Thomas E Lovejoy, Tim Flannery, and Adam Steiner (Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program), the op-ed supports the latest science about 350, and highlights the need to create a bold international agreement for solutions starting in Poland this December.

Click here to read the full op-ed.

It's incredibly exciting to read about more and more scientists and influential leaders recognizing the importance of 350. Let's not forget, however, it's up to all of us to ensure that that international negotiation process lives up to the latest science of 350. People like Adam Steiner, who are in a position to help craft the next global agreement, need an overwhelming mandate from all of us so that they can bring the debate to the next level.  Right now, the single best opportunity for our support is sending invitations.  That's why we need to make sure everyone we know is sending invitations to Obama and McCain to join the international conversation. Not only that, but we need to pour as much energy and creativity as we can into organizing within our communities to spread 350. Click here to find out more about how you can take action in your community in the days and weeks to come.

 
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One Week To Reach 35,000: Can We Do It?

May Boeve
Posted by May Boeve - 10/28/08, 10:41am

The months long process to elect a new U.S. President is about to come to an end. In just one week, voters by the millions will cast their ballots. By this time next week, we at 350.org hope to also have completed a milestone: sending 35,000 invitations to both candidates to attend the UN Climate Meeting in Poland.

Will you send yours today?

We know the message is getting through. In a few days, we'll be sending a big update from the weekend, a major development in our campaign.

But for now, help us reach our goal. Tell your friends abroad about this: we know the whole world is watching the outcome of the U.S. election.

 
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CAN Meet Concludes: Mamallapuram Climate Equity Declaration Signed

Govind
Posted by Govind - 10/26/08, 8:09am
in

Day 3 of the Climate Action Network (CAN) Equity Meet 2008 started with the 90 seconds 350 animation that found much appreciation from many delegates, including those who did not speak english. The 350 animation was also distributed to the delegates.

The power-packed day started with splitting the delegates into different groups; to address all aspects of climate equity; particularly effort-sharing for mitigation and adaptation, movement building, development & climate change, tech-tranfer etc. Amidst much debate and negotiations, each group presented its outcome in the form of bulleted points that needed to be urgently addressed. Further negotiations led to finalizing these points taking the meet to its next level. Eight breakaway groups were formed on issues identified by participants themselves.

However before these groups commenced work, an impromptu plenary session was held on ‘What can we learn from other movements.’ Two speakers, one non-CAN and one CAN, were invited to highlight relevant issues arising outside of the climate arena which also needed to be addressed if a fair deal was to be achieved in Copenhagen.

 
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