South Shore 350

Making a Stink About Climate Change: South Shore 350's contribution to the Global Work Party.

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See below for info on our action on October 24, 2009.

SOUTH SHORE 350 EVENT

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2009, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION

Over 100 South Shore residents of all ages braved rain and wind on October 24 to join the international call for climate action held around the world that day. Impromptu noisemakers of bucket drums, bohrans and cowbells melded with the energetic sounds of local band You, Me, a Dance Floor and the lyrical sounds of Reid Campbell and Company, all demanding that federal Canadian politicians push for fair, binding and ambitious global climate treaty. Local politicians , Patrick Hirtle, representing the Town of Bridgewater, Don Downe, Mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and MLA for Lunenburg West Gary Ramey also expressed commitment for strong action to fight climate change. After the brief musical program and passionate calls for action, participants, many of them wearing life jackets, marched from Riverside Park onto the Old Bridge in Bridgewater. There a blue wave was created at chest height, to demonstrate where water levels would be should sea levels rise seven metres. A beautiful 350 banner, crafted by students from Parkview Education Centre, hung from the bridge during the ceremony. Afterwards You, Me, A Dance Floor again entertained the crowd before the hour long event wrapped up.

The call to action was endorsed by approximately 25 key organizations, businesses and prominent individuals on the South Shore. Volunteers from Parkview and Bridgewater high schools, Bridgewater Town Police, the Town of Bridgewater, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg joined forces with members of the general public to make sure the event happened smoothly and safely.

What do drums, banners, life jackets, snorkel gear, musicians, kids and turtles have in common?

Answer: They will be all be part of a colourful, important South Shore event on

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2009 (3 – 4 p.m.) to mark
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION

The local event, centred around the old bridge in Bridgewater, will graphically show the impact of rising sea levels caused by climate change. Similar events are being organized around the globe to push for strong governmental leadership in taking action on climate change.

Click here to play our own SouthShore 350 video

Some Background: 350 refers to parts per million (ppm) of CO2 in the atmosphere. This is the level that scientists have identified as the safe upper limit of CO2. We are already above this safe zone at about 390 ppm. Unless we are able to return to below 350 this century there will be irreversible global impacts. Some greenhouse gases are necessary. These gases trap heat in our atmosphere and without them the planet would be too cold. But too much is disastrous. 350 is a new target informed by the most recent science.

This December in Copenhagen Denmark world leaders will meet to carve out a new global climate change agreement. The treaty that is currently on the table doesn’t meet this new 350 target. October 24 is an opportunity to have our collective voices heard. It’s our chance to influence international climate politics as governments finalize their positions leading up to this world global summit.

Find out more at www.350.org

Plans are coming together to make this a real “spirited” event.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:

Leon de Vreede leon@ruralsustainability.org (902) 530-5945 (home)

Marion Moore marionm12@gmail.com (902) 527-2928 (home)

Phyllis Price pprice@ssdha.nshealth.ca (902) 543-0857 (work) (902) 677-2794 (home)

David Walmark davidmary3@eastlink.ca

Tim Reeves Horton thorton@southshorenow.ca

Phyllis McBride pmcbride00@hotmail.com

Paula Saile psaile@ssdha.nshealth.ca

Carolyn Ekins cekins@southshorenow.ca

ARE YOU IN?

LIST OF ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS

Town of Bridgewater

Municipality of the District of Lunenburg

Sustainable Bridgewater

Council of Canadians, South Shore Chapter

Broad Cove Community Association

South Shore Worship Group (Quakers)

Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation

Arby’s Restaurant, Bridgewater

Lighthouse Media Group

Friends of Crescent Beach Society

South Shore Health

Second Story Women's Centre

Denise Peterson-Rafuse, MLA Chester-St. Margaret's

Ellora Natural & Organic Foods

Carousel Book Store

Impressions Home Design

emOcean - A Living Well Centre

M&M Meat Shops - Bridgewater

Gary Ramey, MLA Lunenburg West

Pam Birdsall, MLA Lunenburg

Kocken Sistemas de Energia Inc.