Whether you are a seasoned activist or a first-time organizer, here is a simple guide to get you started. Go through the steps one by one, and you'll be on your way to planning a creative, engaging, and powerful action in your community for October 24th.

1) Choose an Action and Location, and Register!

Part of the beauty of October 24th will be the variety and creativity of actions organized across the world. Some common action ideas include organizing a walk or march through your town or city, a rally with speakers and music in your central plaza, a hike, a potluck, a community discussion, or a service project. Some actions' uniqueness will simply be their locations - is there a place to hold your rally that is particularly important to your community, or symbolic of the threat of or solutions to climate change? Examples include coastlines, mountaintops, levees, clean energy plants, or even underwater. Whatever your action, be sure to think about the best photo opportunity to capture your action and everyone who attends - photos are the primary way we link up actions worldwide and tell our story. Don't forget to register your action at 350.org, where you can login to post announcements, and others can sign up to attend your event.

2) Gather With Friends and Neighbors

Invite your friends, neighbors, and local organizations to assist in sponsoring and organizing the action. Think outside the box about who to reach out to - maybe the local church, mosque, synagogue, labor union, sports team, university, or arts cooperative would be interested in getting involved in the issue. This is when it gets fun!

3) Work Out the Details

Take care of logistical details as soon as you can (this is why you want friends to help you out). Important things to consider include the timing of the action, directions, transportation, bathrooms, sound system, permits for use of public spaces, sponsorships, etc.

4) Invite Government Officials

If we want October 24th to have as big an impact as possible, it's essential that we reach out to our local, regional, and national leaders. Invite your local mayor, governor, climate change negotiator, or environment minister. You never know who might be willing to show up and be a climate champion!

5) Spread the Word

Send out emails, write editorials for local newspapers, get on the local radio station, ask organizations to include the action information in newsletters and bulletins, and put up posters all over town. There are downloadable posters available in our Resources section.

6) Make a Banner

Each action on October 24th will have a banner, or some way to communicate their support for 350 ppm. Some communities will hold big 350 banners, others will spell out 350 with their participants, others still may make a mural together that says 350. We’re asking that everyone make their own banner – it will be great for each action to have its own home-made, local flavor, and yet to all have a common, unifying message. Just be sure to make it large and legible.

7) Tell the Media

It's important to contact local, state, and national media to make sure they report on 350 actions in your area. Think about what print, radio, television, and blogs you'd want to have cover your event, and start getting in touch now! There is a complete guide to getting media coverage, along with a sample media advisory and press release, and much more, available in the Action Resources section of the 350.org website.

8) Take Action

The details of your action are up to you, but at some point be sure to take a picture with everyone present with your 350 banner displayed front and center. Have a fun and meaningful day, knowing that you're forming a very important part of a giant global movement to stop climate change!

9) Report Back

This part is very important: as soon as your action is over, be sure to select your best photo and upload it to the 350 website (the website will transform to make this easy on Oct. 24th; if you have a picture before that time send it to photos[at]350.org). You might want to designate a volunteer to help with this. This is so important because we need your picture to be able to deliver the strongest possible message to the media, and to the world's decision-makers as they prepare for the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen just a month later. Video footage and written stories from your action are great too, but photos are the top priority. Thanks for being a part of this important movement for change!

 Download a printable version of the 9-step plan with graphics in Letter or A4 format. We're quite proud of it. :)

Visit the 350.org Action Resources page to download free, practical tools and sample materials to make your event a rousing success.