People of Faith
Communities of faith are at the forefront of the 350 movement. (Click here to see photos from 350 Faith events on the 24th October global day of action). Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples -- people from all spiritual traditions are joining in the call for 350. Some have joined in the Interfaith Call for 350 (many of them clergy -- bishops, ministers, rabbis, monks or imams) -- and even more have joined in for action. Starting as far back as December of 2008 hundreds of churches rang their church bells 350 times in the United States. And since then the bell ringing actions, drumming, shofar blowing, and other kinds of spiritual celebrations of 350 have stretched all across the globe.
350 represents more than just a scientific benchmark for a safe climate – there are also deeply moral and spiritual reasons for getting the world back below 350 ppm CO2. Social justice, creation care, stewardship, earth community, beloved community – there are many ways we can name and express our moral and spiritual perspectives on this issue. We invite people of all faiths and all traditions to join with us in prayer, meditation, action, and celebration for 350.
In 2010, the 350 movement is Getting to Work. We invite communities of faith to help lead "work parties" in their communities on the 10th of October, 10/10/10. Click here to register a work party, or click here to read more about what the "work parties" are all about.
Also, in the United States, we're happy to point out that 10/10/10 is also being celebrated as "Faith in Action Sunday" -- a day when churches will be engaging in community service projects as an effort to be the church that Sunday. If you are in the US and want to connect your 10/10/10 work party with such a Faith in Action event, click here for more information.
More faith-based organizations, resources, and campaigns on climate change...
- Click here to download and 350 Prayer Brochure created by 350 supporter and leader in South Africa, Fiona Maskell
- The Seven Year Plan by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation and the United Nations
- The World Council of Churches' 350 Bellringing: www.350bellringing.org
- The Buddhist Climate Project
- The Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Studies
- Counting Prayers
- The Indigenous Environmental Network
- Catholic Climate Covenant
- Care of Creation
- ARCC -- Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
- The Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change
- Web of Creation -- Ecology Resources: Transforming Faith and Society
- Create a Climate for Justice by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and the Scottish International Aid Fund
- Wisdom in Nature
- Unitarian Universalist Minister and singer-songwriter Fred Small in Massachusetts, USA created a beautiful 350 anthem: download English mp3, download Spanish mp3
- US Groups and Resources:
- Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
- The Regeneration Project and Interfaith Power and Light Campaign
- The National Religious Partnership for the Environment
- FUSE -- Faiths United for Sustainable Energy
- Renewing Creation -- Students Caring for Creation
- Religious Witness for the Earth
- Renewal
- Earth Ministry
- Green Faith: Interfaith Partners for the Environment
- The National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Ministries Program
- Muslim Green Team
- COEJL -- Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
- Eco-Justice Ministries based in Colorado
- The Evangelical Climate Initiative
- The Episcopal Environmental Network
- Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
- Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative
- Restoring Eden
- The Evangelical Environmental Network
- DC Green Muslims
- United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries Environmental Ministries
- Some of our faith allies in Massachusetts, USA also created this great set of resources for staging a "Climate Theater" performance. Here are those resources, and feel free to adapt these to best fit your own state or country...
FROM THE BLOG...
Asia 
Action Spotlight: 350 Climate Change Festival in Ladakh, India
Earlier today, high up in Leh, Ladakh, one of the most remote and mountainous areas of India, over 1,500 people gathered for a beautiful display of their concern for climate change and their call for a world returned to less than 350 ppm CO2.
Ladakh, like more and more places around the globe, is already facing real challenges in face of climate change -- unpredictable weather, floods, and the prospects of diminished water supply from glacial melt. All this and more, is reason enough for the people of Ladakh to stand up and call for bold action around the world as they did today.
Fortunately, news of the 350 movement is gradually reaching more and more parts of the planet, and in Ladakh, a visiting student, Will Wickham, carried the message with him. When he a arrived a few months ago, he met others interested in leading a new 350 project there, and today we get to enjoy the remarkable images of the first 350 event to take place at over 3,500 meters (roughly 12,000 ft).
Here is the full press release from the event:
Today in the North-East region of Ladakh over 1500 members of the local community turned out in Leh the capital city to join in events aimed at raising awareness regarding climate change. The event was organised by the Ladakh Young Buddhist Association in collaboration with the US based NGO 350.org, “it was a success,” said Will Wickham the 350.org organiser of the festival.
Special guests included the Vice President of the well renowned Ladakh Buddhist Association Thupten Phuljung who spoke to the crowd, 97 year old Tashi Angchuck from the village of Skurbuchn charismatically shared with the attendees his experience of changing weather patterns in the region such as unprecedented cold spells in the spring and autumn months in addition to the increasing rainfall in recent years. It was such intense rain that destroyed over 20 houses and washed away local Nepali labourers in the village of Phyang in 2006.
Throughout the day there were drama performances from local schools groups, music from the Ladakh Scout Band, a movie showing in Hindi of Al Gores ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, a human sign in the shape of 350, as well as a poster competition. Rigzen Namgyal from 
Landon Model School in Shey village was awarded first prize for his poster that most creatively conveyed climate change.
The days speeches were commoned by the theme of empowering community to take action and address the impending climate disaster, with particular attention towards lowering the earths carbon ratio to a sustainable level of 350 parts per million in the atmosphere. Starting climate action groups, planting a tree on ones birthday and using less non-renewable energy sources were suggested as small steps to be taken in the direct future.
All images and text copyright Conor Ashleigh 2008
A complete photo story on climate change in Ladakh that particularly cover this 350.org event will be available on 07.12.2008 at www.conorashleigh.com
Requests to publish images or to attain high resolution copies,
Contact:
Conor Ashleigh
www.conorashleigh.com
conoraaa@hotmail.com
Ladakh # 96229 53952
All India# 998160 81605
Asia Buddhists Taking on Climate Change -- The Dalai Lama Endorses the 350 Target!
Announcing... "The Time to Act Is Now -- a Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change" just launched by our new friends at the Buddhist Climate Project. This is a truly profound statement (and website, if you ask me). And it's most especially exciting to see the Dalai Lama's official endorsement of the 350 target!
Here is what the www.ecobuddhism.org website says in the introduction to the declaration:
"In the run-up to the crucial U.N. Climate Treaty Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, the Declaration that follows will present to the world's media a unique spiritual view of climate change and our urgent responsibility to address the solutions. It emerged from the contributions of over 20 Buddhist teachers of all traditions to the book A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency. The Time to Act is Now was composed as a pan-Buddhist statement by Zen teacher Dr David Tetsuun Loy and senior Theravadin teacher Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi with scientific input from Dr John Stanley.
The Dalai Lama was the first to sign this Declaration. We invite all concerned members of the international Buddhist community to study the document and add their voice."
Click here to read the full declaration, (which includes specific mention of the 350 target), and share it with any Buddhists you know!
There is much to report this week about communities of faith joining in the movement for 350 (sneak peak). If you're not Buddhist, stand by for more interfaith action, but for now, enjoy this news from the Buddhist world.
UPDATE: The Buddhist Declaration -- "The Time to Act Is Now" -- has generated 800 signatures in it's first five days online, including 25 Buddhist teachers from all traditions and many countries!
Counting Our Prayers
“The two most pressing issues of our time are inseparably linked. The continual warming of the globe will take the living conditions for the world's bottom billion people from serious to critical. We need to act. Say a prayer. Ring the bells!” - Jonathan Denn, founder of countingprayers.org
There are many ways to unite the movements to fight climate change and end extreme poverty. Over the last few weeks our friend Jon Denn has been working diligently to create a new online platform to invite prayers to solve both crises. Since 23 September of 2007 countingprayers.org has been an online hub for The Prayer Vigil to End Extreme Poverty. This Counting Prayer reads, “The world now has the means to end extreme poverty, we pray we will have the will.”
Now, countingprayers.org has launched the tools to pledge prayers against global warming as well. Click here to add your prayers to the count. And the website makes very clear the need for all us to not only pray to solve these crises, but also act. That's why in addition to the pledge for prayers the website also invites participation in global “Bell Waves to Save Earth.” And here's where 350 comes in...
“Worldwide Bell Waves start at the international dateline at 3:50 pm when we ask everyone, especially spiritual institutions, to ring their loudest bell 350 times to send the message to the world's governments that CO2 emissions need to be reduced to 350 parts per million, a sustainable level to support life as we know it on the planet.”
The first Bell Wave will commence on November 30, one day before this year's UN negotiations on climate change in Poland. Click here for more information about the bell waves.
We often discuss on 350.org the need for this movement to be incredibly diverse and creative. We need people of all faiths, all cultures, all ages, and of all political persuasions to join in our common mission of reaching 350 ppm. That's why it's tremendously exciting to see some spiritual communities and institutions are already helping to lead the 350 movement -- ringing bells 350 times. Click here to learn more about what some faith communities are already doing to mobilize around 350, and then don't forget to pledge your prayers at countingprayers.org. Pray and act, and on we go...
N. America Faith in Action
For the last couple weeks an exciting new campaign has been emerging in collaboration with 350.org. Several Christian communities have begun ringing their church bells 350 times in an effort to sound their hope for achieving a safe and just climate. Among the leaders of this new effort is Rev. Jim Antal, President of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ in the United States. Here's his brief report from the start of this campaign...
"Beginning June 22, 2008, one by one, United Church of Christ congregations throughout Massachusetts have begun to ring their bells 350 times to educate their communities about the peril of global warming and our common cause to address it. Some of the church bells are too old to take 350 rings – and some churches don’t even have steeples or steeple bells -- so hand-bells are used as substitutes. Our goal is to have 350 of our almost 400 UCC churches ring their bells before the 350th day of the year (December 15). Many say that the likelihood of that proportion of UCC congregations agreeing to do anything in common is remote, but I believe that this is an expression of the kind of hope that can give us the confidence that the human family can change our behavior to assure that our children can enjoy the same kind of Eden into which we were born."
The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Minister and President, Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ
Thanks to Rev. Antal and all the churches charging ahead with these actions.
This is a great example of communities offering their own flavor of action to this movement. We need all kinds of folks to spread the word about 350 and take action if this is going to work. Churches, mosques, temples...sports clubs, artists, youth groups, businesses, governments, individuals -- we need everyone.
N. America The Sound of Hope and Spirit
Today we've launched a new global project. Along with the ongoing 350 Postcards Project, we're introducing an effort started by church groups in Massachussets, USA, and now expanding to include spiritual communities of all kinds around the world...
It's essential that our movement convey the moral and spiritual implication of fighting climate change. Faith communities have the unique capacity to comunicate and address those deeper elements of this movement.
Some groups are already taking the lead in organizing actions for 350. In Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States, churches have begun a campaign to ring their church bells 350 times and spread the 350 call to action.
We're inviting all faith communities around the world to add their voices – or noises of any sound really -- 350 times.
Click here to learn more and take part.
Add Your Voice: The Interfaith Call for 350
When announcing the Dalai Lama's endorsement of the 350 ppm target on Monday, I mentioned that there would be much to report regaring communities of faith joining the 350 movement this week. Well, the latest news is from right here on the 350.org website...
We are very pleased to announce this week the launch of the Interfaith Call for 350, found here: www.350.org/interfaithcall
350 represents more than just a scientific benchmark for a safe climate – there are also deeply moral and spiritual reasons for getting the world back below 350 ppm CO2. Social justice, creation care, stewardship, earth community, beloved community -- there are many ways we can name and express our moral and spiritual perspectives related to this issue.
Starting this week, we invite people of all faiths and all traditions to join with us in prayer, meditation, action, and celebration for 350. You can click here to sign the Interfaith Call for 350, and you can also learn more about ways that churches, mosques, synagogues, and people of all traditions are joining in for the October 24 global day of action for 350 here: www.350.org/people/faith
This interfaith call was initiated by 350 supporters and allies and the language developed by people of many faith traditions. We hope for it to be a powerful way for people of faith, around the world, and of all faiths, to join together in calling to set below 350 ppm co2 as the goal our world must seek. There are no strict perameters regarding what faith means for this call -- "spiritual, but not religious" folks are perfectly welcome to join in this call. If you agree with the call and care to join the movement, please add your voice and pass it on to all you know around the world: www.350.org/interfaithcall
And many thanks to all the 350 supporters and leaders who helped to develop and launch this initiative!
N. America 
Bill McKibben at Yale Divinity School: "I am just working"
There's a great interview with 350.org founder, Bill McKibben, in the latest issue of one of our favorite environmental newsletters, Yale 360. Check it out to get the backstory behind the creation of the 350.org movement and a bit more on our political strategy in the year to come. And make sure to check out the great video that's in the blog post of a recent talk by Bill at the Yale Divinity School.
Click here to watch the speech.
Most people probably think the life of a writer is pretty plush: no boss to speak of, long hours at home just thinking and scribbling some notes, plenty of time to relax and indulge in esoteric concerns. Maybe for some, but Bill (and he'll be embarrassed I'm telling you) spends most of his time on the road, rallying support in the United States and around the world for the 350.org movement you're helping build.
We don't even need a schedule to follow Bill's travels: our staff can track his progress by the emails we get from inspired people who saw him talk and are now planning a 350 event for October 24 in their community. But to be honest, there's someone else we'd rather have speak in your town: you.
It doesn't matter how good a speaker someone is, there's nothing like hearing from your friend, family member, or neighbor about a cause that they believe in. Now's a great time to start thinking about how you can build support for a local 350 action in your community. Check out our actions section for some helpful resources.
And if you need some good one-liners, feel free to steal some from Bill's video, interview, or writings. I don't think he'll mind.
N. America Rev. Jim Antal's Call to Action
We each have our own communities whom we can activate for this year's day of action on October 24. Here is a beautiful example of a great 350 leader doing just that:
At the recent national Synod of the United Church of Christ, environmental activist and UCC leader Reverend Jim Antal encouraged thousands to “Do what almost 100 churches in Massachusetts have done: On the internet, go to 350.org and learn the facts. Then on October 24, ring your church bells 350 times and teach your community about climate change. That weekend, thousands of actions around the world will make 350 the most recognized number on the planet. And then adopt new spiritual disciplines of shopping, eating, driving, advocating, sharing, spending, using energy, voting, recycling, and more. We have the power to let our grandchildren experience the Eden into which we were born.”
Here is the text of Rev. Antal's 1 minute “speak out” before about 3,000 UCC members representing our 5,600 churches, and 1,200,000 members: “Look at my T-Shirt....Let me hear you say 350.....350 is the most important number in the world... and as a person of faith, you need to know why.God’s earth can only survive if our atmosphere has 350 parts per million of carbon OR LESS.That’s the limit... 350.We now have 390 parts per million, and it’s going up fast. Do what almost 100 churches in Massachusetts have done:On the internet, go to 350.org and learn the facts.Then on October 24, ring your church bells 350 times and teach your community about climate change.That weekend, thousands of actions around the world will make 350 the most recognized number on the planet. And then adopt new spiritual disciplines of shopping, eating, driving, advocating, sharing, spending, using energy, voting, recycling, and more. We have the power to let our grandchildren experience the Eden into which we were born.”
Asia 
Saving the Ganges
We work with many partners in many places, but none are any more inspiring than the Sankat Mochan Foundation in Varanasi, India.
Varanasi is India’s holiest city, the place where pilgrims arrive from across the subcontinent to bathe in the waters of the Ganges. The great ghats, or stone steps, descending to the river are one of the most gripping sights I’ve ever seen; this is truly a timeless and eternal place.
But in recent times the Ganges has grown dirtier and dirtier, with untreated sewage sending bacteria counts through the roof. So the Sankat Mochan, led by Dr. V B Mishra (Mahantji), has waged a quarter-century battle to force local governments to clean the water. Mahantji is a remarkable man, both engineer and spiritual leader; he and his team have worked with patient persistence and focus, and been recognized for their work by everyone from Sonia Gandhi to Bill Clinton. It’s the kind of head-heart combination that resonates so strongly with us at 350.org. And this time last year they won their greatest victory, when the government agreed to fund their plan.
But because they recognize that we can’t save particular spots if the whole planet is being damaged, the Foundation has agreed to be a 350 ally. They held a public meeting for us to spread the news last night, and on October 24 we expect one of the greatest images of the entire day to come from this ancient and entrancing city. So many thanks to Sankat Mochan!
N. America The Green Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine on New York City’s Upper West Side is the largest ecclesial space in the western hemisphere, a church so large you can barely see one end from the other. It’s long been an ecological outpost, sometimes called the Green Cathedral, and it lived up to its billing on Sunday night, with a wonderful program that helped launch the new Interfaith 350 call.
The Evensong liturgy included not only the Episcopal Bishop of New York, but also a rabbi, a Muslim cleric, and a Hindu singer—the chanting and music of all traditions filled the air, before a showing of the lovely new film Renewal, which documents the work of religious people on behalf of the environment.
Bill McKibben gave the keynote talk, describing 350 and October 24 as the best chance for people of faith around the world to come together—and after the film the evening ended with Fred Small singing his 350 anthem (link coming soon), as the young people from the Teva Jewish Learning Center danced amidst the ancient cathedral. From all accounts I have heard—a memorable night!
N. America A "Three Five O" Anthem
Singer-songwriter, environmental activist, and Unitarian Universalist minister Fred Small has composed a thrilling anthem proclaiming the 350 message! Fred and the Pan-Latin ensemble Sol y Canto (www.solycanto.com) have recorded “Three Five O” in both English and Spanish as a powerful call for climate justice. You can listed to the English with the tool below (at the very end of the post) and click here to listen in Spanish. Lyrics and Chords below.
The next phase of this project will be to circulate a video of “Three Five O” for online posting and global networking. Production of the video is already underway, but more funds is needed. UU Ministry for Earth (http://uuministryforearth.org/orderform.html) is collecting funds to complete the video. Make your tax-deductible donation by clicking here (http://uuministryforearth.org)!
Three Five O
Words and Music by Fred Small
Spanish lyrics by Brian Amador
© 2009 Pine Barrens Music (BMI)
English lyrics with chords:
Em
For the snows of Kilimanjaro
C D Em
Three Five O
For the children who will follow
C D Em
Three Five O
For the seasons ever turning
D
For the ancient forests burning
Em D C A
Seize the number, speed the warning
C D Em
Three Five O
Chorus:
G
Step it up—we can’t slow down now
F
Take my hand and don’t let go
Em
Gotta make it to higher ground now
C B7 Em
Three Five O
Glaciers melting, oceans warming/Three Five O
Cities flooding, insects swarming/Three Five O
We took the earth and its sweet wonder
Paved it over, plowed it under
Sold it short and still we hunger/Three Five O
Chorus
Bridge:
Am Em
While we are sleeping the night is deepening
C B7
Lift up your light and shine
People dying in the heat now/Three Five O
People marching in the street for Three Five O
Blood-red sky, storm tide rising
Can you see that blue horizon?
Keep your eyes on the prize—it’s Three Five O
Chorus
Spanish lyrics:
Por las montañas nevadas, tres cinco cero
Por el cambio de temporadas, tres cinco cero
Por los bosques que están quemando,
Por los niños que están mirando,
Escuchemos la advertencia, tres cinco cero.
Adelante sin descanso,
juntos en nuestro sendero
alcancemos las alturas, tres cinco cero.
Se derriten los glaciares, tres cinco cero
Se calientan los mares, tres cinco cero
A los milagros de la tierra
Hemos declarado guerra,
Arrasando por dondequiera, tres cinco cero.
Del calor se están cayendo, tres cinco cero
a la calle están saliendo, tres cinco cero
bajo un cielo muy oscuro
hay que caminar seguro
aferrados al futuro, tres cinco cero.
N. America 
350 Yoga: Be a part of the downward trend!
The 350 message has really taken off in the northwest corner of the U.S. in a town called Bellingham, Washington. Climate activists there have put their own creative spin on the number however - just last weekend they organized a community-wide event to all do yoga together in the name of 350. Rather than a simple speech or power point presentation, these yogis used their bodies to explain what 350 means, and current climate science. They started out in the chattaranga pose - hovering flat above the ground to represent where we used to be, pre-industrial revolution. Then they moved into the Upward dog, laying flat on the ground with head and back curved upwards - to represent the emissions trajectory since the beginning of the industrial revolution. The crowd then moved into the downward dog, which symbolized both the steep rise in emissions over the last 200 years, and then the sharp decline we'd need to see to get to 350ppm CO2. Besides the great symbolism, these climate activists recognize that they ought to be limber and flexible to be able to prepare and adapt to the long term work needed to cope with climate change. To get involved with 350 yoga, check out the blog, watch the great video below, and get inspired in your community:
After the event, local businesses opened their doors to the yogis for $3.50 margaritas and $3.50 burritos, all within 350 steps of the event. There's no need to wait till October 24th to take action! Think about what creative events you can plan to build momentum and excitement towards the big day.
Asia A 350 made of Holy Water Vessels at the Source of the Ganges River
Here is a remarkable post from my friend Bidisha Banerjee as she journeyed to the headwaters of the Ganges River, high in the Himalaya:
The World Council of Churches, Agnihotra, Noah, and more... (Faith in Action for 350)
Lately I have not been able to keep up with the amazing rate of reports we are getting about faith communities joining in to take action for 350 across the globe. Here are just a few of the exciting reports to share (adding to the many other stories, like the Dalai Lama's endorsement of 350 ppm that you can find if you scroll down on the 350 faith page: www.350.org/people/faith):
First, the World Council of Churches (WCC) just recently adopted the 350 ppm target in their messages to world leaders for action on climate change! This is huge! That's 560 million Christians across 349 churches, denominations, and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories now on board with 350. And like us, they are not just settling to adopt the message and let it be. They are planning to have churches all across the globe ring their church bells 350 times on 13 December, the middle Sunday during the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen. So any churches planning to ring your bells on the 24th of October, here is another chance to join in sounding the global call once again.
At a more local level (and switching religions) this photo on the left is of a tree planting action in Nepal led by Swami Kamal Nayanraj Shirji, a religious leader in the village of Sakhu where the action took place, along with Youth Engagement in Sustainability (YES).
And elsewhere in that part of the world, the latest faith action idea starting to spread amongst Hindu communities for 24 October is to perform a puja called Agnihotra (or Agnihotri), a ritual healing of the atmosphere -- with either 350 people or 350 kinds of offerings. How perfect is that?!
Among Jewish communities it just so happens that 24 October will be the weekend when many synagogues will be reading the story of Noah from the Torah -- with ample connections and ideas to share to our struggle with climate change today. The photo on the right at Temple Judah in Cedar Rapids making their preparations for the day of action.
In Srinagar, Kashmir, in India -- it's the Kashmir Sufism Society that is helping lead the charge to form a 350 out of shikaras (the local boats) on Dal Lake. And all across the world more and more communities of faith are contacting us to let us know about their plans.
Here is one more photo to share from our friends at Oregon Interfaith Power & Light, making their own preparations for the 24th.
"Three Five 0" Anthem Launches
Fred Small has been a lot of things, including a well-known singer. We lured him out of musical retirement (he's now a Unitarian minister, and one of the founders of Religious Witness for the Earth) by asking him to write a 350 song, one that people could sing along to. This is it, and we love it. Take it and show it at rallies, teach it to kids choirs, do whatever you can with it. We're grateful to Fred, and to Marty Ostrow (producer of the RENEWAL documentary), and to Rosi & Brian Amador, of Sol y Canto, and to their whole crew--grateful beyond measure.
Desmond Tutu in USA Today on the 350 Coalition: "Unity doomed apartheid. Next up: climate change"
If we could have picked a single person in the world to back 350.org, it might well have been Desmond Tutu.
The former Anglican archbishop of South Africa, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is not only perhaps the planet's leading moral voice, but also the exemplar of global unity on tough topics. While most of South Africa's anti-apartheid activists were in exile or underground during that nation's struggle, Tutu used his pulpit to rally worldwide sentiment that helped turn the tide.
This morning--in USA Today, with an essay that will be reprinted in the next 24 hours in newspapers across the globe--he makes the case that the 350 movement is much the same. "People in almost all the nations of the earth are involved — it's the same kind of coalition that helped make the word "apartheid" known around the world," he writes.
When you are in the middle of last-minute organizing for your action, or if you get out of bed tomorrow on Saturday and it's raining and you wonder if you should bother attending an event, remember these words from Archbishop Tutu:
"In South Africa, we showed that if we act on the side of justice, we have the power to turn tides. Worldwide, we have a chance to start turning the tide of climate change with just such a concerted effort today."
N. America 
The Faith Movement Speaks out About Green Jobs & 350
We want to share an important initiative from our friends at Fighting Poverty with Faith.
The folks at Fighting Poverty with Faith are organizing a United States mobilization, Good Jobs, Green Jobs, whose goal is to create a strong and united faith voice to ensure that as the US transitions to a new economy, that is does so in a way that is energy efficient and respectful of the earth, and that the legislation that is passed and the programs that are created will lead to meaningful poverty reduction. The mobilization is happening the week leading up to October 24.
"Every day faith organizations serve individuals in need within our communities. But our efforts to sustain our brothers and sisters living in poverty must be complemented with a serious plan of action from our political leaders to reduce the number of needy. By speaking out collectively during this week, we hope to expand the national conversation on the need to create green pathways out of poverty, and create a mandate for our political leadership to aggressively pursue an anti-poverty agenda." - Becky Eisen, Field Organizer, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
The green jobs movement and the climate movement are inextricably tied together - green jobs will help secure a safer climate and working towards a safer climate will in turn lead to more green jobs. That's why many local faith groups participating in Fighting Poverty with Faith will be holding 350 signs throughout their week of events. And as part of the Fighting Poverty with Faith's event schedule, 350 Founder Bill McKibben will be giving a Climate Convocation on Oct. 18th at Harvard University's Memorial Church. Check out the US event calendar for events near you - you can also add your own.
We’re very excited about the overlap between our mobilizations, so please make sure to let us know if you're planning on taking 350 action with Fighting Poverty with Faith by sending us an email at organizers@350.org.
Fighting Poverty with Faith's week of events come with perfect timing as they're a wonderful way to build momentum for the ever-approaching International Day of Climate Action - On Oct. 24th!
The faith community is a strong part of the 350.org movement. Visit 350.org/faith for specific ideas and resources to help you get your faith community involved in the climate movement.
N. America Church Worms
Excuse the silly title for this post, but it's hard not to have some fun with a story as juicy as compost worms in Church...
That's right, those are worms inside a church sanctuary staging their own 350 demonstration. Ok, maybe they had a bit of help from these folks at Saint Augustine's Episcopal Church in Kingston, Rhode Island, USA...
These photos are from yet another 350 action from last October that was just brought to our attention recently. It's a great example not only of faith communities at the forefront of the climate movement, but also of a community Getting to Work, implementing solutions to climate change while also calling for political action for 350.
Here is how Katherine, a parishoner at Saint Augustine's, describes the day's event, and their onging compost initiative...
"My church, St. Augustine's Episcopal in Kingston, RI, maintains a worm composting bin in our Sacristy for handling altar flower refuse and coffee grounds from our Sunday coffee hour. Our congregation has had an active environmental stewardship group for a few years now, and we look for ways of applying more sustainable practices in various corners of our lives, both congregational and individual... The worms - 350 of them were used for the display - were arranged on a plastic mat in a 350 design the night before the service, then covered with a piece of wax paper to prevent drying, and refrigerated overnight. At the service the next day the worms received a blessing along with the various animal companions of various church members. After the service many of us posed together for a picture with the worms gingerly held in the center."
Thanks Katherine and everyone at Saint A's, and we'll look forward to hearing about what sorts of work party plans they're developing this year too.
Faith Action Round-Up
Anyone following closely will notice that the 350.org blog is now cruising at a speed that almost no one can keep up with. There are just too many great things to report!
Well, here are 5 updates from 5 faiths -- packed into one post (though really each of these deserves it's own separate spotlight, if we had the time)...
1) The photo on the left is from a recent meditation gathering focused on 350 at the Zen meditation center in San Francisco, USA. It is the latest of the Buddhist communities worldwide taking action for 350, we will be seeing more Buddhist action on Saturday in Dharamsala, Kathmandu, and beyond.
2) We were honored to receive a great piece called "Noah" written by Ellen Bernstein, founder of the first national Jewish environmental organization, Shomrei Adamah, Keepers of the Earth, discussing the great coincidence of October 24th landing on the Shabbat when Jewish communities read the story of Noah. We recently had another guest blog post about the same theme, and click here to read Ellen's full piece.
3) The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ here in the US overwhelmingly passed an official resolution to "Reverse Climate Change and Protect God's Creation" which very explicitly sites below 350 as the necessary target for global CO2 levels. You can click here to read the full resolution.
4) While the underwater cabinet meeting held by the Maldives President is gaining most the media attention, there are actually more than 20 actions registered there for the 24th across the country, including a group who will be reciting portions of the Qur'an. The organizer's goal was to have 350 people recite the Qur'an during the day, and to pray for the safety of the world and the Maldives. But it turns out there was more interest than expected so there will be 600+ people joining in the prayers, not to mention the many other activities taking place on the islands (and beneath the waves) that day.
5) In the remote foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India, girls from the Lakshmi Ashram near the village of Kausani will head into town on the 24th to discuss 350 with everyone they can find in the village and connecting it with their Hindu faith.
So there you have it -- just a taste of the amazing diversity of communities taking action for 350 from a faith perspective -- Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Hindus. Beautiful.
Faith Communities on Board with 10/10/10!
We're pleased to announce the launch of our partner Interfaith Power and Light's 10% Challenge, which encourages congregations to cut their carbon footprint by 10%.
This is a big effort, which will reach hundreds of communities of faith, who will choose from a variety of activities to participate in. Some groups will perform energy audits, others will switch to more efficient lighting in their churches.
Not only will these actions help get Interfaith Power and Light to their own 10:10 commitment, but many of them will plan work parties as well!
In other faith partnership news, we've just begun working more closely with members of the Episcopal communion, who will be taking part in the big day.
To learn more about 350's work with faith communities, visit 350.org/faith
The Science of 350
Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. Learn more about 350 – what it means, where it came from, and how to get there. Read More »
Featured Movement Updates
Tell world leaders to go solar!
As you all know, we're getting to work on 10/10/10--all around the world people are preparing climate solutions projects for their communities, their mosques and churches and synagogues and temples, their schools and homes. We thought our leaders should have a chance to get personally involved too, which is why we're today launching a special campaign aimed just at them. Read Post »
Circle This Date.
It's been an incredible few months of non-stop campaigning here at 350.org--and we're about to kick it into high gear. Starting today, we're pulling out all the stops and charging towards 10/10/10, the "Global Work Party." This one day will be a MASSIVE opportunity to celebrate climate solutions at the local level--and put the pressure on our leaders while doing so. If you don't already know all about 10/10/10, read the NEW invitation letter from 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben. Read Post »
My favorite photo.
On the morning of October 24, 2009, as people rallied in thousands of cities across the planet, a young woman named Ola walked alone to the center of Babylon, Iraq, took a deep breath, and unfurled a 350 banner, joining a worldwide call for climate action... Read Post »
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To check out our ever-expanding pool of photos, visit www.350.org/photos
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