350

You may have noticed the patch that says “this blog fights climate change!” Well that is only true if I write about climate change and help inspire others, you maybe, to do something about it. Climate change (a.k.a. global warming) --albeit the capstone-- is only one of many ways humans have negatively impacted our non-human world. In short, humans impact the world --we can impact for the good (i.e. plant a tree, rehabilitate a wild animal and release it) or for the bad (i.e. leak oil and chemicals onto pavement and ultimately into aquatic systems). Not all negative impacts are avoidable… or are they? The problem is that for far too many years, far too many people have failed to ask simple questions about consequences, side effects, other options, or relative importance (i.e. pesticides, starting with DDT, when will we learn?) This lack of regard for stewarding the non-human world is monumental in a tragic way. Social and even spiritual implications are at stake… part of the reason I care so much!

On the 24^th of this month festivities are taking place all across the world to promote recognition for an international call to address climate change. Not just bandwagon-feel good-stuff, but an actual coordinated goal to make policy makers aware of the number 350, a level of CO2 in the atmosphere that countries need to aim for. The brain of this campaign is Bill Mckibben (read his book, Deep Economy). My biggest goal in my personal effort to spread truth is to cause people to realize that there are larger implications to most choices we make. We can’t blame God, we can’t blame a growing evil culture, we CAN start to think twice, think deeper, think creatively, and start anew making different choices.

Beyond your personal choices, it can be necessary to join with groups of people and campaigns… so look up an event happening near you and voice your support. If you can’t really picture yourself campaigning for climate change policy, think about it some more and let me know your thoughts! Here is the website http://www.350.org/map, and three events that I looked up --maybe in a town near you.

Grand Rapids, MI – GR350 Action – Rosa Park Circle, music, art-making and speakers 11 to 3! A march to Calder Plaza at 12:30P.M. (10/24)

Kansas City, MO – 350KC Rally for Climate Action – 47^th ST./Cleaver II Blvd. and J.C. Nichols Parkway Mill Creek Park (Near the plaza), music (starting at 2pm) and fun, rally beginning at 3pm (10/24)

Lakeland, FL – kids and adults ringing bells 350 times, North side of lake Morton on the corner of Lake Morton Dr. and Tennessee Ave. 3:15p.m. (10/24)