8th Day Center for Justice
e-zine #49
www.8thdaycenter.org  

350 Campaign

We all have numbers important to us; phone, anniversary, pin, addresses, emergency police and many more.  Some people may already be familiar with 350, and we hope everyone will become so, and take action. The following information is from their materials.

 

350 parts per million (ppm) is what many scientists, climate experts and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.  

Parts per million is simply a way of measuring the concentration of different gases, and means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules per million other molecules in the atmosphere. Without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, our planet would be too cold for humans to inhabit.

 

From all of human history until 200 years ago our atmosphere contained 275ppm of carbon dioxide. Beginning in the 18^th century, humans began to burn coal, gas, and oil to produce energy and goods. Many of the activities we do every day like turning on lights, cooking food, heating or cooling our homes rely on energy sources that emit carbon dioxide and release it into the atmosphere. Here is what we have to change: THE PLANET NOW HAS 387 ppm CO2 – and the number is rising by about 2 ppm every year.  We are 37ppm above the safety zone for planet earth!

 

 We know that the world's most low lying countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change.  An example of work being done is in Maldues Island  working to be carbon neutral by 2020.  In March 2009, President Mohamed Nasheed publicized plans to establish 155 wind turbines, have ½ a square kilometer of rooftop solar panels, and a biomass plant burning coconut husks to provide clean energy for its population of 385,000. Most of Maldues Islands are barely 2 meters above sea level.

 

After an active year of promoting 2,000 rallies in 50 states, the 350 Campaign is focusing all of their efforts toward the UN hosted meeting in Dec. 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark .

Delegates, NGO's and business and representatives from every nation will meet there to finalize a new global climate change agreement.  350 Campaign intent is to continue building the movement by having an International Day of Climate Action on Oct. 24, 2009 to stop the climate crisis.  United by a common call to action, it will make it clear the world needs an international plan that meets the latest science information and gets us back to safety. The invitation from 350 is to organize an action in our communities on Oct. 24.  These can be bike rides, festivals, marches, etc. A kit to assist with planning an event will be available soon.

 

Resources: 

For information about the campaign and kit: www.350.org 

8th Day Center for Justice
205 West Monroe, Suite 500
Chicago IL 60606
312.614.5151
www.8thdaycenter.org