BONN – At the UN Climate Talks in Bonn, Germany this week, the international campaign 350.org announced plans for a Global Work Party scheduled for this 10 October 2010. All over the world, thousands of communities will be putting up solar panels, insulating homes, organizing bicycle parades and getting to work on the many solutions to the climate crisis.
"Our message is: if we can get to work, so can our lawmakers," said 350.org founder and environmental author, Bill McKibben. "If we can climb up on the roof of a school and hammer in a solar panel, our negotiators can climb up to the podium here at the UN Climate Talks and commit to a real deal."
In 2009, 350.org organized an International Day of Action with over 5,200 events in more than 180 countries to support the goal of reducing C02 from its current level of 390 parts per million to below 350 ppm, the safe upper limit according to the latest science. CNN called the events, "the most widespread day of political action in history." In Copenhagen, 112 countries endorsed the 350 ppm C02 target and continue to support it at the talks here in Bonn.
"Two years ago, nobody had ever heard of 350. By coming together around the world, everyday citizens made it the most important number on the planet," said McKibben. "Now, we're looking to get an even simpler message across to our politicians: get to work."
Along with the Global Work Party, 350.org is coordinating the Great Power Race, a clean energy competition between students in China, India, and the United States. "Youth across India are already working on solutions to the climate crisis. The Great Power Race will be an opportunity for us to highlight and build on their efforts," says Roselin Dey with 350.org India.
Over 1,000 events are already registered on the 350.org website for the 10/10/10 Global Work Party. "Our goal is to provide a platform for the millions of voices of everyday citizens who are left out of the international climate negotiations," said Jamie Henn, 350.org Communications Director. "The 10/10/10 Global Work Party will provide compelling stories of people in nearly every country who are getting to work on climate solutions and asking their leaders to do the same."
