Dear Friends,

 

The big day of climate action is right around the corner, so with 9 days left I decided to write up the top 9 reasons why I'm unbelievably excited.

1 - October 24th will be the most widespread day of climate action ever 

As I write this, our action counter just ticked past Action #3000--scratch that, 3003! There are events taking place in 158 countries around the world.  This. Will. Be. HUGE. 

Visit www.350.org/map to find and RSVP for an action near you. If there isn't one being planned yet, worry not, you can still start one! - www.350.org/Oct24

2 - The world will hear our call 

In case you missed the news, 350.org staff just got permission to display your 350 action photos & videos from around the world on the MASSIVE screens in Times Square, in the HEART of New York City. We can't wait to broadcast your 350 action media in such a way that's both worthy of this amazing moment and is sure to reach world leaders: 
www.350.org/bigscreen 

On the Monday after October 24th, the 350.org crew will be visiting UN headquarters in NYC to hand-deliver the photos to diplomats and delegates from around the world to make sure they know how much you want a global climate deal that meets the science.

 

3 - Partners are pulling out all the stops

Al Gore invited his millions of email subscribers & 1.75 million Twitter followers to join or start actions around the world @ 350.org. Read more about this exciting announcement here:www.350.org/gore

Other partners--from environmental groups like Greenpeace and 1Sky, to online powerhouses like Avaaz, to brand new coalitions like TckTckTck--are all coming forward in an unprecedented alliance to create a global climate movement. This movement is only possible because of a network of friends and allies around the world, including major international NGOs and local, grassroots organizations. Please visit our partners page to learn more: www.350.org/friends

4 - It's not too late to join the action

The European team whipped up a "Quick & Easy" Action guide to help new organizers pull off a great 350 action just in time--check out all the great actions you can organize even if you have only a week left before the big day: www.350.org/quick

5 - The timing is right

Today (October 15th, depending on your time zone) is "Blog Action Day"--an annual event when thousands of bloggers all over the world write about a single topic.  This year's subject: climate change. Over 7,000 blogs have signed up, reaching 10+ million readers! 350 is thrilled to be a featured partner--today literally hundreds of blogs will feature 350. If you have a blog and want to get involved just click here: www.350.org/bloggers

And speaking of good timing, it turns out the International Day of Climate Action just happens to take place on the internationally recognized "UN Day", and the UN just happens to be a major target for the outpouring of action the world will see on October 24th.  Perfect. 

6 - 350 has gone mobile

Keep the movement in your pocket at www.350.org/mobile.  We have a brand new iPhone App, plus people in a dozen countries can use their mobile phones to join the world's first grassroots global SMS text messaging campaign. 

7 - This movement has room for everyone

October 24th won't be like anything you've ever seen before--not just in terms of scope and scale, but in terms of diversity as well.  October 24th events will be of every stripe and color--in addition to the thousands of amazing rallies, educational events, and protests, there will be unique contributions from unlikely places and people:

- The president of the Maldives, a near-extinct island-nation, will be holding a cabinet meeting underwater, complete with scuba gear and 350 banners.

- Afghan youth will be creating a giant chalk image of 350 on the side of a mountain in the Hindu Kush.

- Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli activists will put aside political differences to push for a fair, ambitious and binding climate treaty.  On the beaches of their respective shores of the Dead Sea, they will make a big 3, 5, and 0. 

And that's just just a few...out of 3003.

8 - The media is getting very interested...

350 is gaining momentum in the mainstream media - what politicians use as the barometer of public opinion. The Washington Post, New York Times, BBC, CNN, are but a few sources covering the 350 movement this past week. And this is just a taste of the global & local media headlines we're going to make together on the 24th--and beyond!

9 - We've got the most powerful tool on the planet--the internet

Just a few years ago it would have been laughable to try to pull off a global campaign, in 10+ languages, with events in 150+ countries.  Now, a web-powered campaign can harness video (like these animations), social networks (like our pages on Twitter and Facebook), e-mail (like this one), online maps, and more.  And now you can help build this buzz online--take 15 seconds emblazon your Twitter avatar or Facebook profile picture with a 350 badge. 

 

That's all for now--we'll be in touch next week for the final push.  So much is happening in this final stretch that's it's hard for any one of us to keep track. 

Can you believe there are only 9 days until Oct. 24th?

Onwards, 

Jamie Henn for the entire 350.org team around the world
 

P.S. With bad news all around us, good news is worth sharing.  Can you pass this list with just two clicks to everyone you know on Facebook and Twitter?  Many thanks in advance.