On October 10, 2010, 350.org is calling on YOU to join your neighbors in an effort to green your community, proving that individuals can do their part to tackle climate change, and send a resounding message to our politicians: "We're getting to work, what about you?"
10/10/10 is a Global Work Party, and -- at the time of writing this -- has 6,077 events currently registered in 184 countries. That's right -- people across the world, in all but 8 countries, are coming together to do things like plant trees, install solar panels and work in community gardens.
If all those people can do it, surely you can too. 350.org makes it remarkably easy for you to get in on the Party. CLICK HERE to find events near you, or CLICK HERE to register your own event.
In case you're drawing a blank on ideas, 350.org even provides a list of activities you can do to create your own Global Work Party event, like setting up a bike repair shop, installing a wind turbine or outfitting homes and offices to be more efficient. The possibilities are endless, and each individual's specific talents have something to contribute to addressing climate change in their community.
In Hawaii, university students are hosting a bike ride to the beach, where the group will then spend time cleaning the coastline.
In New York City, volunteers will help to paint roofs of various buildings, like schools, white. The reflective coating will save energy and cut back on emissions.
A group in Scotland has three events planned, including removal of invasive plants and planting of trees and other native species instead. They will also be mobbing a local pub that has pledged 20% of the profits toward making the establishment more energy efficient.
Oxfam's New Zealand office is holding a clothing swap where people can get some exciting new additions to their wardrobe without having to buy more, and thus create more waste.
In October of 2009, 350.org's Day Of Action was hailed by CNN as the "most widespread day of political action in the planet's history." The Global Work Party on 10/10/10 is set to eclipse last year's event in size and scale.
Be sure to check out 350.org for more ideas, and to find an event near you!
350.org was founded by author Bill McKibben with the goal of reducing CO2 in the atmosphere below 350 parts per million, which some scientists say is necessary to stop the accelerated effects of climate change that are already being seen around the world.