Without a number you’re nobody. Potheads have 420, Satanists claim 666 and now a group of environmentalists have some digits of their own: 350. Three hundred and fifty isn’t just a primitive semi-perfect number (trust us, it is), it also refers to the parts per million (or ppm) of CO2 our planet can sustain without suffering the effects of global warming: famine, drought, environmental degradation and blistering sunburns for millions of ill-prepared northerners.
To that effect, a worldwide network of scientists and promoters have banded together to spread their gospel through an organization called, surprise: 350.org. The problem is we’ve already reached 385.92ppm. So if the world really is galloping full steam towards disaster, why is it still so goddamn cold outside? Well, it’s kind of like food poisoning—by the time you feel it, it’s too late. We’re all better off preventing the calamity in the first place.
350.org has called for a day of action on October 24th and they couldn’t have picked a better date. With the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen taking place in early December, organisers need to spread a cultural buzz in time to put pressure on the participating nations. Plus, October 24th is United Nations Day, the perfect time to attract attention to their cause.
Actions in over 100 countries have been planned including cooking events in Nairobi, marches in Tokyo, 350 model wind generators in Kiev, and a 350-person human chain in Cadena, Venezuela. Now 350.org wants Icelanders in on the party. Drink 350 beers with 350 friends. Then try to walk 350 meters backwards. Eat 350 hot dogs in 350 minutes. Cuddle with 350 kittens for 350 hours. Look, we couldn’t care less what you do, just do something.
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