350 Key for Climate Crisis
“Civilization is what grows up in the margins of leisure and security provided by a workable relationship with the natural world. That margin won’t exist, at least not for long, as long as we remain on the wrong side of 350. That’s the limit we face,” says Bill McKibben, who started 350.org, prompting 5200 actions in 181 countries for International Day of Climate Action on 24 October. We hear from Salil Jose in India.
Bill McKibben is a writer, activist, and co-founder of 350.org. A scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College, McKibben is the author of The End of Nature, the first book for a general audience on climate change.
Salil Jose reports from India on www.sify.com (22 October 2009):

The number 350 has become very crucial in the present-day world. Scientists say unless we reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, there will be irreversible damage to the planet.

Climate champions, scientists and people who care for the mother earth have come together to bring the world`s attention to the number 350. This international campaign or movement is called 350.org. It`s striving to inspire the world to rise to the challenges of the climate crisis.

350.org is coordinating more than 4,000 actions in different countries on October 24 as part of its mission to make people aware of the climate crisis. In India, the progarmmes are oraganised in different cities like Bangalore and tourists spots like the Taj Mahan and the Dal Lake in Srinagar.

In an interview to Sify.com, South East Asia campaign coordinator of 350.org Roselin Dey speaks about the mission of the movement.

What does 350.org stand for?

350.org is an international campaign to unite the world to find solutions to the climate crisis. Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenges of the climate crisis — to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.

Our focus is on the number 350 — as in parts per million (ppm), the level scientists, including Dr James Hansen from NASA, have identified as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number. It`s a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.

Making way for bicycle

How far 350.org succeeded in creating climate awareness?

The 350 campaign has helped unite and strengthen the international movement to fight climate change in some massive ways.

Already there have been hundreds of actions taken all around the world, spreading the number 350 from rallies to workshops to cycling actions. The movement is building, and it is growing at a tremendous rate. At present, 90 countries officially support the 350 target.

There are dozens of top UN scientists like Dr R K Pachauri, activists like Vandava Shiva and dozens of top notch people with years of experience who have extended their support to 350.org. Thousands of communities have joined the movement.

What are you planning to do on October 24?

We are observing October 24 as the International Day of Climate Action. Over 200 organisations including WWF International, Oxfam, Indian Youth Climate Network, Delhi Greens, Sanctuary Asia and IndyACT are supporting and organising actions on the day.

350.org is coordinating more than 4,000 actions in 160 countries on the day. There will be thousands of events happening simultaneously around the world – from the Taj Mahal to the Great Barrier Reef – united by a common call to action for 350.

People, communities, organisations are free to hold any kind of action that is suitable in their region and brings about awareness about the larger issues of climate change and the importance of 350.

At each event, organisers will take a photograph or video that shares the number 350 in an inspiring and creative way.

What are the highlights of the programme?

The highlights include Chinese students holding 350 banners at the Great Wall, the President of the Maldives leading 350 of his citizens in the world`s largest underwater scuba action, 350 Masaii herdsmen dancing in their parched Kenyan fields, and Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians gathering at the dead sea to form a giant human 350.

In the spirit of international collaboration, cities will come together to form global 350s, with a giant 3 in Sydney, a 5 in London, and a 0 in Quito, near the 0 latitude mark at the Equator. All of these photos would be telecast at the United Nations headquarters and the Times Square on October 24.

Are you planning any out-of-the-box protest programmes, like the underwater meeting held by Maldivian ministers?

Lots of such actions are happening. As I have already said, just a week after holding an underwater cabinet meeting calling for world leader`s to commit to 350 ppm CO2, President Mohamed Nasheed of Maldives will lead 350 of his fellow Maldivian citizens in a 24 hour action — a relay of teams diving in the shallow waters of the capital of Male to form an underwater 3, then 5, then 0, to be stitched together by day’s end.

Images: Maldivian ministers hold underwater meeting

The fastest climbers in Nepal will be venturing to the highest point in the world on Mount Everest with a banner declaring `350: Save Our Himalayas.`

Chinese students will hold 350 banners at the Great Wall while hundreds more universities take action simultaneously across the country.

In the Dal Lake in Srinagar, we plan to take a 350 aerial image with boats on the lake after a clean up drive of the river with children.

350 children will be undertaking a plantation drive along the Yamuna banks. Also they will make a 350 formation beside the Taj.

What should the developing countries like India do towards safeguarding environment?

It is very important for developing countries like India to strike a balance between development and over consumption of resources. To get back on the path to 350, several strict measure are required like to switch from the use of coal to renewable energy sources, investing in solar technologies, and reducing the overall carbon footprint of the countries.

What are your future plans, apart from the campaign on October 24?

This campaign aims at making people aware of what humanity should aim for if it needs to survive: 350 ppm. The next step would be to translate this dream into reality by taking all possible steps to bring down the amount of carbon dioxide by both the developed and developing countries, which requires a massive ongoing effort from everyone`s end.

In Brisbane, Ken Hickson took part in a 350.org programme at Indooroopilly Library on Saturday and organised by Sustainable Jamboree. Besides drawing attention to the people and events involved in raising climate change awareness and action from his book “The ABC of Carbon”, he also highlighted upcoming events including the Climate Change @ Work Conference, the launch of Sustainability Challenge and the first Electric Vehicle Conference. His talk was followed by a screening of the documentary “The Age of Stupid”.

Source: www.sify.com and www.350.org