350 Updates

Accra: Not Just a Rest Stop!

This coming Thursday marks the start date for the United Nations Climate Conference in Accra, Ghana. This is the next in the series of international meetings to craft a new international climate change treaty. Unlike in Bonn, Germany, we aren't able to send a 350 delegate, but all the same, we will follow the meeting closely and keep you updated on our blog!

The Accra meeting is set to take up issues concerning nuclear power and forestry, some of the most controversial issues within the process. The controversy surrounding nuclear power hardly needs to be explained. As for forestry, the photo above was taken at the Bali climate meeting, and there will likely be similar political statements made in Accra. REDD stands for "reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countires," and it is a mechanism currently under consideration in Accra.

 

The Green Long March

Check out this video of the Green Long March, China's largest youth conservation movement, and read on to find out how you can show your solidarity by taking action in your community:

When I spoke with our Chinese allies, they mentioned how important it would be to them to know that people around the world appreciated their work and were taking action with them. Right now, while the whole world is watching the Olympics, is our best chance to demonstrate our solidarity with the people working to create a truly green future for China.

Can you organize a sports-themed 350 action in your community during the Olympics?

It's easy: gather your friends together after an athletic activity and take a team photo with a 350 sign. Then, upload it to 350.org with a “sports” label. Take action before the Olympics end on August 23, and we'll send your photo to our Chinese allies so they can see your support.

You'll be taking action with some of the world's top athletes.

This month, we've launched 350Athletes, an elite band of high-profile sports stars leading the charge for the call to 350. The team even includes Olympians like cyclist Adam Craig. Sports are a great way to reach out to new people – whether they're climate organizers half-way around the world or sports-fans in your neighborhood. Please join the 350Athletes and our Chinese allies by taking action during this Olympics.

 

The Indian Youth Summit on Climate Change 2008

There will undoubtedly be more to share regarding the Indian Youth Summit on Climate Change in the weeks to come -- video and more reflections are still in the works -- but now that some photos are ready I thought I'd share the news of this fantastic event...

From Kerala to Kashmir, Rajasthan to West Bengal, and beyond, over a 150 Indian youth (and a few foreign friends, like me) came to Hyderabad on August 7 - 10 to spark the youth climate movement in India. It worked -- the Indian youth movement is now kicking into high gear with enormous potential and energy.

This was an extraordinary assembly of young people.

 

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

 

Ross Gelbspan: $350 billion for 350 ppm

Ross Gelbspan is a leading voice in the struggle for a clean energy future. He is the author of a number of books on global warming, including The Heat is On. Please read the following piece, a look at how we can get to 350 ppm:

Cosmically enough, 350 turns out to be a magic number for the 21st Century.

That is the number of parts of atmospheric carbon dioxide that could spare us from the ravages of climate change.

It is also the number that could finance the transformation of this civilization, with its intolerable poverty and grotesque inequity, into a far more cooperative, secure and peaceful world.

 

Holistic Solutions in Johannesburg

Check out this excellent video about South Africa's Greenhouse Project, produced by our friends at Global Oneness Project.