Dear UK,
I'm following up the latest 350.org message from Jamie Henn to pass on UK-specific thoughts and details as we enter the final month of buildup to the 24th of October 350 Day of Action.
The most galvanizing feedback I hear from 350 team members scattered around the world is how powerful it is for people new to this movement to feel buoyed up by those people, and those countries, where the social response to climate change is most vibrant. Some of these organizers are creating the first fabric of civil society in taking up the challenge of climate, and when searching for inspirational examples, many look your way.
They look with good reason, too. There are already over 100 events organized around the country for the 24th of October, from Forres in the North to St Just in the South, the mountains of Snowdonia to the streets of London proper, and you can even range a bit afield and check out the drumming planned on the Isle of Man.
The UK has some of the strongest advocacy for climate on the planet, and the 24th is a perfect time to show it. They need to keep seeing it at 10 Downing St., for sure, and seeing it more creative and powerful every time, but more sweet is that they want to see it in Delhi (18 actions), in Nairobi (7 actions), in São Paulo (9 actions). And they don't want just to see it, but want to share in it, too - that's the real power of the idea. Start with the baseline in the latest science, that we need less than 350ppm CO2, and then layer on thousands of interwoven human stories and actions to fill that number up with real meaning and determination. That's something for both the Parliament and the people.
To get us to that place on the 24th, check out some of the good things our friends and allies are working up in the UK below, and if you're on the edge of organizing an event, check out how that meaning is already being woven together here, and then jump in here.
See you all on the 24th, and thanks a million for helping make this day one for the ages.
Jeremy Osborn
European Coordinator, 350.org
UK excitement:
Powershift. The UK Youth Climate Coalition must have broken records for fastest rise of youth campaign and quickest assemblage of cool people in history. On the 9-12 October, they're unrolling a massive gathering in London - speakers, workshops, discussions, music... If you know young people, send them this video, this website, and a few quid because they're students, and get them to London for the 9th. 350 action planning is on the docket.
10:10. What better example that the world is watching the UK than the folks who brought us the Age of Stupid? This campaign to reduce emissions 10% by 2010 is bursting at the seams after the global Age of Stupid premier in September. The most crucial step for getting to 350 is starting to go down instead of up, and fast, so please spread it around.
The Bigger Picture. It seems everybody these days wants to know what's going down in London on the 24th. With plans coming together for a huge aerial art event downtown, the day will flow in and around a huge, free festival called The Bigger Picture, organized by our friends at the New Economics Foundation. Check out the breadth of actions before deciding, but if you're in London on the 24th and looking for something to do, I'd highly recommend making this a part of your day.
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