DK GreenRoots

Just one little picture from our local rally, but head on over to 350.org for pictures, slideshows and diaries on what is undoubtedly the most inspiring global event in the history of the world.

350.org succeeds in truly defining 'news;' and mainstream papers, tv and radio stations are lapping it up!

Congratulations, Bill McKibben. Our biggest challenge as a people now truly begins

Cross-posted at Daily Kos

Today marks the 350.org International Day of Climate Action.

TODAY, the 24 October, people in 181 countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis.

Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown emphasized the crucial important of completing an effective global agreement to address the Climate Crisis at the upcoming Copenhagen meeting:

"If we do not reach a deal at this time, let us be in no doubt: once the damage from unchecked emissions growth is done, no retrospective global agreement, in some future period, can undo that choice. So we should never allow ourselves to lose sight of the catastrophe we face if present warming trends continue."

Promoted by the editors

Bottled Water: I call it one of the greatest "con job" of the preceding 3 or 4 decades and a marketing dream...aimed at the gullible. It is also my main pet hate. One of the biggest untruth in our world is the following line: "bottled water is safer than tap water." It is not. It is...errr...the same.

Here are the simple and undisputed facts: roughly 40% of ALL bottled water sold is nothing more than yer ole municipal tap water put into a fancy plastic bottle which may cost an arm and a leg and will find a way, one day, to add to our polluted planet (sadly only 1, maybe 2 out of 10 plastic bottles get recycled.) On a yearly basis, bottled water needs some 320 billion plastic bottles to accommodate multinationals such as Pepsico, Coca-Cola and a slew of others in order to what I call "double-taxing" the unsuspecting consumers (since you pay water taxes and various levies to your local government to acquire the certainty of untainted & safe water - though in most instances you are paying for recycled, treated and purified water).

It is a foregone conclusion that nuclear power will be part of the equation that reduces our carbon emissions in the future. That said, there are plenty of issues that progressive environmentalists need to address with respect to the effort, as we need to be sure that this conversion, which will take place over a number of years, gets handled in the best manner possible.

As a part of the 350.org International Day of Climate Action, folks in Ann Arbor, Michigan, gathered to figure out what we could do to reduce our own carbon footprints. You can read more about it here and see some great pictures and information below the fold.

Goodbye³⁵⁰

Of course it was the ultimately the simple utterance of "yop!" by that one recluse geeky Who that finally adds enough oomph to the other Who cries and screams of "we are here, we are here, we are here!" to break through and let the world know that in fact, they were there.

This diary launches a blogathon in recognition of International Day of Climate Action, organized by 350.org. Throughout today, you will see a slew of climate themed diaries posted at Daily Kos, with several cross-posted here, to keep the topic front and center. I would be remiss should I not mention that Patriot Daily is the organizing force whose dedication and very good energy are the reason for today's coming cavalcade of climate diaries.

Of course, the impact of today's action will depend on a grand assist from you. Here are some ways you can help:

• When you see a 350 Climate Action post today, please read and join our discussion in the comments.
• Visit 350.org, sign their petition and see if any actions are happening in your neck of the woods via their interactive map which allows you to search for your community.
• Post/cross-post a diary today on the topic of climate change.