Count us in for 350.org

On the weekend of Oct. 24 and 25, First Parish will participate in the International Day of Climate Change Action.

There will be a sign on our lawn indicating our support of this major international push that is building for strong action on climate change.

Why 350?

Scientists generally agree that if we continue to allow the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to exceed 350 ppm, we can't sustain a planet similar to the one we know and to which life on Earth is adapted. Currently, the CO2 in the atmosphere is around 390 ppm and increasing at the rate of 2 to 3 ppm each year. 350 ppm represents more than just a benchmark for a safe climate - there are deep moral, social justice and spiritual reasons for getting back below 350 ppm.

Unitarian Universalist involvement

As part of a major environmental justice initiative between various Unitarian Universalist groups, the UU Ministry for Earth (http://www.uuministryforearth.org), UUA Green Sanctuary Program, UU United Nations Office, UU State Action Network, and others are collaborating with 350.org on Oct. 24 Day of Climate Action.

One action we at First Parish will take is tolling our bell 350 times

around 10 am on the 24th for the opening of the 350.org Energy Rally to take place on the Sudbury Town Green. This rally has been organized by Sustainable Sudbury (aka Sudbury Earth Decade Committee), and members from several Sudbury houses of worship, such as our First Parish of Sudbury. During this rally arrangements will be made for car pooling to the Concord North Bridge National Park for a much larger Rally where persons from many surrounding towns gather together. The tolling of our church bells 350 times represents 350.org and the need to get back down to 350ppm of CO2.

For more details

speak with Bruce Langmuir, check the bulletin board in the Parish Hall and visit the 350.org website at: http://www.350.org/people/faith and Global Warming Education Network at http://www.gwenet.org and http://www.mass350.org. These websites are being frequently updated.

Revision 4. Last edited Fri 16 Oct 2009 8:55am by TomYelton