350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 392ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to below 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt.
Please help reduce our carbon emissions.
On 10-10-10...walk, use reusable bags, plant trees, plant vegetables, turn off unnecessary lights and appliances, eat vegetables...make everyday meaningful and Go Green...
Though it was cold outside...inside the building Mama gnome felt the warmth of meeting kindred spirits of people who came there for the same purpose:
To light candles for Climate Change Action in Copenhagen (COP15) so that nations will work together for a "fair and binding" climate deal that will reduce carbon dioxide parts per million in the atmosphere to 350.
Mama gnome spotted Leah Levitt who organized this event.
Leah said she hoped more people would show up and Mama gnome nodded her head, mindful of the importance of this event.
And more people joined Mama gnome and Leah...
They were:
Vianna Friss Judy Garrett Geoffrey Levitt David Perkins Ulrica Bell-Perkins Eugenia Regan Mike Vernetti
(c) photo by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
The vigil started with Ulrica reading a speech by President Nasheed of Maldives calling for nations and people to sign up for a "survival pact." Below are excerpts...
Scientists say that global carbon dioxide levels must be brought back down below 350 parts per million.
And we can see why.
We have already overshot the safe landing space.
In consequence the ice caps are melting.
The rainforests are threatened.
And the world’s coral reefs are in imminent danger.
Members of the G8 rich countries have pledged to halt temperature rises to two degrees Celsius.
Yet they have refused to commit to the carbon targets, which would deliver even this modest goal.
At two degrees we would lose the coral reefs.
At two degrees we would melt Greenland.
At two degrees my country would not survive.
As a president I cannot accept this.
As a person I cannot accept this.
I refuse to believe that it is too late, and that we cannot do any about it.
Copenhagen is our date with destiny.
....After all, it is not carbon we want, but development.
It is not coal we want, but electricity.
It is not oil we want, but transport.
Low-carbon technologies now exist, to deliver all the goods and services we need.
Let us make the goal of using them.
Mike Vernetti wrote a song about global warming and the need for climate action after he watched the movie, "An Inconvenient Truth."
He performed his song, "Not Welcome Here," at our candle vigil.
His song warns...
"We can no longer wait for just the right time...Life won't be the same when we're not welcome here."
We heard Mike's beautiful voice and words. We want our voices heard as well.
Global warming is a stark reality for all of us... and for many... it is a reality of great peril and loss of their homes and lives.
We want our nations' leaders to sign a "fair and binding" climate agreement that will help bring our planet back from the brink of global warming disaster and on to the safe path for 350.
Mama gnome urges each and every one of you to make your voice heard as well.
The sun burned bright on the fateful day of October 24, 2009.
Mama gnome, Auntie gnome and elder gnomelet worked on posters worthy of being ecofriendly for they were made by their gnome hands on recycled paper and held up by twine and clothespins.
They worked feverishly to finish on time.
Their plan: to participate in the International Day of Climate Action. A day initiated by 350.org.
Mama gnome had previously consulted 350's map of action for October 24 and found a human and pet rally will be held at the local park to call attention to 350's cause: to call attention to human world leaders to work on bringing carbon levels in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million. Current levels are at a dangerous 390 ppm.
By the by, the gnome family and their pet, a baby dragon, made it to the park.
Mama gnome said right before she pulled into the car resting lot, "If no one else is here, we'll do our own rally."
Mama gnome said this with confidence, though inside she was secretly afraid.
It would not be the first time she'd seen low numbers for environmental causes.
And what did she see when she pulled the gnome car in? No one. Not one human or dog...
Mama gnome said, "It's okay, maybe we're early. Not time to panic yet. Besides our posters are quite eye-catching thanks to Auntie gnome."
photo by: Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
Auntie gnome said, "Maybe they're on the other side."
Elder gnomelet said, "Mama, where are the dogs?"
Baby dragon said, "Zzzzzz."
Mama gnome said, "Other side? Okay, we'll try the other side. But usually they walk the dogs over here..." But hope flickered anew.
After a few stealth maneuvers and gnomish driving, the gnome car pulled into the other car resting lot.
It was packed. And lots of humans walked around.
The children wore colorful shorts,knee high socks and shirts embellished with numbers on the back.
Mama gnome said, "Strange, their numbers are not 350."
Finally, with eyes sharp as an eagle's, Mama gnome spotted three humans with one dog and they were holding up 350 signs!
Mama gnome shook hands with them. She met Leah, the human lady coordinating this local event. Leah brought her very eco-friendly dog.
Mama gnome decided not to introduce baby dragon to the dog at this time.
Slowly, our numbers increased.
We gathered round and the bells rang...and so did the baby rattles, the gong and maracas 350 times!
With every beat, Mama gnome's heart swelled, amidst the group of tall humans, gnomes, dogs and baby dragon.
In that moment, hope grew inside.
Our numbers may have been scant compared to the gatherings in New York and Sydney, but our spirits were strong and united with every one else on the planet who came together for this cause, for 350, for planet Earth.
A gnome trudged down the aisle, climbed up with much difficulty over the platform and crawled into the ring.
Finally the two fighters faced each other in the ring.
The crowds hushed.
The announcer grabbed the microphone and said:
"In this corner, wearing a green pointy hat and tunic, weighing one hundred th...mmmmmph...Mama gnome please take your glove off my mouth...huh? Fine I won't say your weight...Okay, in this corner, wearing green and weighing ummm slightly less than a polar bear, Mama gnome!"
Mama gnome raised her gloved hands and jogged around the ring, repositioning her hat.
Daddy gnome, gnomelets and a couple of dwarves cheered and clapped.
"And in this corner wearing a rather filthy, soot covered shorts, weighing atmospheric concentrations of 390 parts per million carbon dioxide, the monstrous Global Warming Machine..."
The crowd coughed in unison from the stench of noxious fumes that emanated from Global Warming Machine, planet Earth's mortal enemy.
Mama gnome checked with her coach, Daddy gnome.
Through her mouthpiece, Mama gnome mumbled, "Right hook wind turbine then or should I give him the solar power jab?"
Daddy gnome said, "He looks worse than the graphs, Mama gnome. I'm afraid, neither one will be sufficient."
Mama gnome said, "What about the reforestation dancing jig? Float like a monarch butterfly, sting like an anaconda?"
Daddy gnome shook his head with tears in his eyes.
Mama gnome said, "The reusable bag club? Recycled bottle bash? What? What? Daddy gnome answer me!"
Global Warming Machine growled and hissed. CO2 and methane gases spewed out and blew out a couple of compact fluorescent light bulbs. The troll sitting in the front passed out.
Daddy gnome whimpered, "I love you, Mama gnome. At least the gnomelets will see you fight with honor."
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! The bell tolled.
Mama gnome turned around, pulled back her shoulders and looked at the Global Warming Machine. Armed with the green smolders in her heart, Mama gnome charged...
On October 24, 2009 Mama gnome will face off against this behemoth Global Warming monster. But she will not be alone.
On this day, Mama gnome will follow the lead of 350.org, an organization founded by environmentalist and author,Bill McKibben. Lean Green Fighting Ecowarriors will launch environmental acts to fight global warming and bring attention to this cause.
350.org based their name from the number 350. photo from flickr.com 350.org
"350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere."
"Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt."
On October 24, 2009, be one of our planet's Ecowarriors and battle against Global Warming to take back our planet.
Log on to 350.org's map of action. Just type in your city, state, country and find out what action you can take part in. This is a global endeavor.
And in case there isn't one close to you, you can decide on your own battle plan, engage in some kind of eco-friendly, "green" action that will help fight global warming as well as emphasize the number 350.
Plant a tree, plant a fruit tree, turn off your TV on that day, be off the grid that day, walk to work, bike to work, ring the bell 350 times, walk 350 steps, something that will help contribute to this cause, bring attention to the number 350.
Mama gnome is jogging and lifting weights, holding off on eating her favorite peanut butter cups (a huge sacrifice for the motherly gnome) for a week, just so she'll be in better shape to battle against the monstrous, stinky Global Warming Machine.
She's consulted the 350 map of action and will ally herself with fellow Ecowarriors on that day.
photo from 350.org
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