International Day of Climate Action

Last Thursday, October 16, was the largest coordinated climate communication of all time, thanks to Blog Action Day. Through the power of social media, bloggers from across the world increased the total awareness of the number 350 by showing their support for environmental action, setting up October 24 (today!) to be quite possibly the “largest widespread day of environmental action in the history of the planet”! Articles, messages, pictures, tweets and feeds were all a part of the viral wave creating over 4500 events in over 170 countries. How amazing!

In just two months, leaders of the free world will gather in Copenhagen to come up with a new agreement to reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming. Since bloggers used their social networks to increase awareness now many understand that this may be the last and only chance to show support of reversing climate change and unleashing the green economy in full effect and the best way to do it, is to get involved.

It’s not enough to only make conscious consumer choices, we need to expect more and demand more, and therefore, we must do more. 350.org is a grassroots environmental campaign started by Bill Mckibben in hopes to raise awareness through social media and then follow up the support of 350 by mobilizing direct action from places all over the world (follow 350 on Twitter). Through the efforts of social media, people have created events large and small ranging from get-togethers at the base of Mount Everest to pushing the extreme opposite meeting place to the reefs of Maldives. You too can become involved; find out if there are events going on in the streets of your community.

There are a few things you can do today to be a part of the grassroots campaign to reverse the impacts of climate change. Spread the word! Use different platforms of social media to talk about 350 and what the impacts of climate change mean to you and your future. Another way to get people to talk about it is to host a get together, but remember to include the number 350 somewhere to be a part of the global wave and show your support. Check out 350.org’s photo stream from inspiring pictures from all over the world.

Get creative and take pictures of you and your people showing your support for 350 and don’t forget to upload them to 350.org so you can become a part of the global gallery of images and stories that will be saved and used to be a part of the movement that changes the course of climates history and future. Activists will be uploading events and pictures to 350.org which will be available to view in real time on a giant screen in New York City’s Time Square. New Zealand provides the first pictures of International Climate Day, check them out and hear what they have to say.

Last week Blog Action Day demonstrated the power that bloggers across the web can have on raising awareness about an important issue, however this week and today, we are taking just being heard, to another level. Social media alone can’t stop global warming but your efforts to demonstrate your support and your cause can. Today, you have a chance to mobilize direct action.

Where will you be?

Share the “In every corner of the globe…” video! Tweet it, Facebook it, email it, put it on your ipod, and even take your laptop to the streets. This video was made to convey the importance of 350 and inspire people around the globe to join events.

Here are a few more resources we thought you might find helpful:

5 Ways To Organize For A Meaningful International Day Of Climate Action On October

TckTckTck – I Am Ready