October 6, 2009
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – On October 24, join people all over the world to take a stand for a safe climate future. As residents of Haywood County, we are invited to join people from around the world on this global day of action. Because Haywood County annually hosts Folkmoot, our global connections make us a prime place to be involved in this international celebration as we join people around the world in this call to lower the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
The most important number on the planet is 350 because it’s what scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere parts per million, we will cause irreversible damage to the earth. However, solutions exist. All around the world, a movement has been building to take on the climate crisis, and to get humanity out of the danger zone. We must make reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere to below 350 parts per million (ppm). The movement is massive, it is diverse, and it is visionary. We are activists, scholars, and scientists. We are leaders in our businesses, our churches, our governments, and our schools. We are clean energy advocates, forward-thinking politicians, and fearless revolutionaries. We are united around the world, driven to make our planet livable for all those who come after us.
Our mission: our first job is to make sure everyone knows the target so that our political leaders feel pressure to act. Reducing our carbon levels to 350 ppm will require unprecedented international cooperation. The United Nations is negotiating a treaty that could put the world on a course to solve the climate crisis, but the current plans for the treaty are much too weak to get us back to safety. Millions of voices will be brought to the table by 350.org, united by a common call to action. Together, we will refine the possible and rally the world behind solutions that science and justice demand.
This is your invitation to take a stand and to reshape the future! Join people from around the world on the global day of action. October 24 is just weeks before world leaders meet to create a global treaty in Copenhagen. We want to send a powerful message that the entire planet is ready for equitable climate solutions grounded in the best science available.
We can’t all be on the Great Wall of China, at the Pyramids, or the Eiffel Tower, but we can speak out in the countryside, towns and cities by joining the rest of the world in this challenge to rally care for EARTH.
Haywood County is called to join in this great International Day on October 24, 2009, by ringing your church bell 350 times beginning at 3:50 p.m., or by joining other ringers on Main Street in Waynesville. It is hoped that church hand bell choirs will come and meet in front of the newly renovated Court House and then move to line Main Street and ring more bells.
Individuals are also encouraged to bring a cow bell or school bell in front of the Court House by 3:15 p.m. Participants will move to Main Street from there and begin ringing at 3:50 p.m. Each bell needs to be rung 350 times. This effort is in cooperation with the Western North Carolina Alliance.
Lake Junaluska will be ringing its big bell on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 3:50 p.m. People are being recruited to ring the bell 50 times each. For more information, contact Loy Lilley at llilley@lakejunaluska.com, or visit www.350.org.