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Day of Climate Awareness, Sat. Oct. 24

When:

To be announced.

Details:

Join the International Day of Climate Action on October 24 with 350.org

Sierra Club NYC will be working with 350.org to coordinate and promote climate change awareness events in NYC.  To find out where and when the events will be taking place, and to help organize them and build turnout, contact Events Committee Chair Stephanie Corrado at 908.309.3986 or Stephanie.corrado@gmail.com

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Both climate science and climate activism are rapidly changing arenas. Just a few years ago scientists thought that it would be safe to allow atmospheric CO2 to rise to 450 ppm. But polar ice is already melting dramatically faster than UN IPCC predictions. Now, NASA’s Dr. James Hansen, America’s leading climatologist, and many other observers now say the maximum safe level is 350 ppm. We’re already at 385 and climbing. To avoid runaway climate change we have to steer back to 350 ppm as soon as possible.

The Waxman Markey bill, narrowly passed by Congress, is generally agreed to be a weak start on climate change action. To strengthen U.S. and international action we need a major shift in political will. Back in April 2007, author Bill McKibben and a handful of students organized Step it Up, mostly through the internet. Communities came together in more than 1,400 places, all holding up banners that said: Step It Up, Congress: Cut Carbon 80% by 2050. http://stepitup2007.org/ 

McKibben and 200 partner organizations are organizing an international day of grassroots climate action on October 24, to spread the message that we must get below 350 ppm as soon as possible. Check out the great online video at http://www.350.org/animation

To join and organize New York City events on October 24, contact Stephanie Corrado, Events Committee Chair, at 908.309.3986 or Stephanie.corrado@gmail.com

Getting started with your October 24 climate change event

- Choose an action and location, and register it at 350.org. Organize a march, a rally, a community discussion, or a service project. Hold an action at a well-known or symbolic location. Think out of the box and be creative! Register your action at 350.org, where you can login to post announcements, and others can sign up to attend your event.

- Build turnout: organize your neighborhood, invite friends and neighbors. Hold educational events in the fall with local organizations to prepare for the action. Contact area religious centers, labor unions, sports teams, schools, and arts groups. Put it on your Facebook page. 

- Take care of logistical details as soon as you can. Timing of the action, directions, transportation, bathrooms, sound system, permits, etc.

- Spread the word. Send out emails, write letters to local newspapers, ask organizations to include action information in newsletters and bulletins, and put up posters. Go to the Resources section of 350.org for downloadable posters, some with general information, and others that can be customized.

- Make a banner to communicate your support for 350 PPM. Or spell out 350 with your participants. Make sure home made banners are large and legible.

- Take action, and a picture. Take a picture with everyone present with your 350 banner displayed front and center. Pass around a sign-up sheet so that you can stay in touch with people who come to your event, and plan more actions with NYC’s climate action community.

Contact Information:

Sierra Club New York City
Stephanie Corrado at 908.309.3986 or Stephanie.corrado@gmail.com
Stephanie.corrado@gmail.com