Oct. 24, 2009 Kids love “dress up” and DOING things, so today’s the day to blend the two into global fun to seed ‘one world’ thinking with 350.0rg early on, joining 181 countries for the most widespread day of environmental action in history! (CNN World coverage)
Find a local event near you (ck out the global 350 map!) or create one yourself by snapping some 350 group signage to add to the gigantic “visual petition,” using media as the distribution channel to play a vital role in positive steps toward change and help kids understand the big picture. (FAQs to help) Yep, today is the global day of action where children can ‘act out’ for International Climate Change via 350.org and turn our blue marble into a worldwide stage of doers and change agents eager to impart the vital message of reducing the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to 350 parts per million.
Why 350? That’s the number our world’s top scientists say is the safest upper limit for carbon dioxide on our planet, and we’re already at 387ppm, so we need to get DOWN to 350ppm FAST and send a strong signal ahead of the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December that if we all act together as one world, we CAN do this!
The fun part? Every event will highlight the number 350 in wacky ways, from humans as signage themselves to themed group costumes depicting the urgency to raise awareness…
Locally, here in San Mateo, for example, kids can don goggles, flippers, wetsuits, mermaid outfits and such to represent a nautical theme as in ‘rising sea level’ right smack dab in our ritual downtown corner spot on 5th Ave. between 3-4pmPT.
Check out the amazing gallery of photos/slideshows taken from the most remote spots on the planet showing how kids throughout the globe can take action and add their visual voice to the importance of climate change CO2 reduction to turn back time to 350ppm.
On Twitter, pop into #350ppm to see the stream of photos and follow @350 to get updates on actions worldwide in real time…
From polar bear ice cap meltdowns to the need for peace on the planet to work together as ONE for climate change, kids can ‘have fun and do good’ in fresh, innovative ways that impart math, science, environmental studies, civics, social studies, and art all on one amazing day!
You’ll be teaching kids about the power of ‘one’ multiplied by millions, the history of how we got here and what we can do to reverse the trend, and the science behind the message of 350 to spread it ‘virally’ to future thought leaders and stewards of our planet!
At Tactical Tech & 350.org’s Project Mobilize for example, they’ve created a multi-country text message system allowing the public to participate in the global debate on climate change from hither and yon.
Yes, there’s some very valid conversation about whether social media can move this needle a bit toward the 350 side and whether using Twitter and mobile matters…(this piece is particularly good on Cool Green Science called “Is Tweeting Against Climate Change Really Accomplishing Anything?” —VERY worthy of a mandatory read!)
But as Nature Conservancy indicates in the same blog post, the innovation and inspiration of groups like the Tactical Tech teams using texting via FrontlineSMS, a free software designed for NGOs, run on regular computers gives us all hope that mobilization can be accomplished no matter where you are from Mumbai to Bombay!
I’m hoping the thousands of people at Neil Young’s Bridge Benefit rock concert tonight will be pressed into action for 350 right then and there too!
What a great way to amuse ourselves waiting for the music to start, I say…
So what are you waiting for?
Get out there and have some 350 fun!
Leave a comment with your antics (or a link to your visuals!) for how YOU impart the 350 message to children today, and enter into our recycled book drawing for “What Kind of World Do You Want?” along with some VERY cool eco-picture books for kids.
A favorite of mine pertinent for today? Climate change classics like The Last Little Polar Bear, by fellow NextNow colleague & Digital Earth champion Dr. Tim Foresman.
Have fun out there spreading the 350 message today!
A Few Recent Shaping Youth Eco-Articles
(Rich in Resources/Links)
To Help Spread the 350 message!
Kids Bring Home the Message to Cool the Earth
Inspiring Kids As Stewards of the PlanetHope Is On The Horizon When Movements Go Mainstream
Green Teen Videos On Climate Change: Global Challenge
Climate Change Chocolate, TerraPass E-Cause Animation…
Teen Scene: Eco-Concerts (Let’s Activate 350 at the huge rock-n-roll Bridge School Benefit Tonight!?)
When Art Meets Earth: Wyland’s Murals Inspire Kids to Care
Coen Brothers Ad For Clean Coal Air Freshener (kids faves!)
Disney Nature’s EARTH movie: Our Teen Team’s Take
International Day of Peace to Reach and Teach
2009 Green Grades Report Cards: Forest Ethics Back to School
One Teen’s View: Use Eco As An Equalizer
Project Green Dorm: Engaging Youth Via Teens Turning Green
S.F. Oil Spill Prompts Altruism & Activism in Kids
Planting Earthseeds Via The Magic School Bus
Inspire Kids With Green Media: Kid-Vid & Games Galore
New Media Worldometers Help Data Click With Kids
Media Savvy Kids and Nature Deficit Disorder
The Nature of Tweens: Wired Worlds & Outdoor Ed
Shaping Youth Through Nature, Media Unplugged
Kids Plant Virtual Trees to Benefit REAL Trees in Dizzywood
Get Kids to Eat Green: Using Shrek Against His Drek
Seeding Virtual Worlds: Kids Going Green in Dizzywood
Nim’s Island: Shaping Youth Through Imagination & Adventure
When Green Gets Jaded: Marketing Hope to Kids
Elf Island: A Virtual World To Be Wild About
Elf Island GoodQuest to Help Polar Bears
Can Somethin’ Be Done About All This Consumption?
…See our EcoKids category for more! 🙂
Small efforts often lead to more efforts and sometimes greater efforts. And pretty soon, each of us is a part of the solution in our own way. And best of all, most of the time it’s fun.
In the course of planning this climate action I have experienced the power of taking action – like a pebble falling in water, the ripples never stop reaching out.
.-= Hostelling´s last blog ..Primo Hotel =-.
Hostelling has a way of bringing together like-mindedness and fun by spreading the power of good and ‘pebble ripples’ too…thanks for taking the time to comment. My brother is couchsurfing in Tampa right now spreading his Earthseeds 2020 eco vision too so know exactly what you mean.
Thanks for letting us know about your site, too…best, Amy
Dear eco-Peopls(please share this email widely):
The Live Progressive Site of The Earth Party needs help. We need
people like YOU to be Subject owners of this major site on the
major topics of our time.
See
http://mynichecomputing.org/TheEarthPartyBlog/ and see
http://mynichecomputing.org/TheEarthPartyBlog/answer.php?id=12&subject=16&topicid=8
Any help you could provide would be appreciated.
Regards, Larz
Climate change is a serious issue in 2020. That is why the theme of this world earth day is climate change. Actively participate in this year’s earth day. Share your favorite slogans from here