Residents participate in international 350 event

By TOM KANE

RIVER VALLEY — Two groups of local residents participated in a world-wide environmental event on Saturday, October 24, called 350 Day, that focused on the planet’s need to lower carbon dioxide emissions.

According to organizers, 181 countries participated and staged 5,200 events in celebration of the International Day of Climate Action in nations all over the earth. Over 19,000 photos were taken and can be viewed at the organization’s website at www.350.org.

“According to many environmental scientists, climate experts and progressive governments, 350 parts per million (ppm) is the safest upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere,” said Michele Sands, who organized the event in Manchester Township, PA.

Over 40 people participated in that event, which was held in the Manchester Public Library. The other event was held in Damascus Township, PA, at the site of Steve Adams’ windmills on Route 371.

Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390 ppm and that unless we are able to rapidly return to 350 ppm in this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt.

At the Manchester event, which was sponsored by Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS), an internationally popular film called “Towns in Transition” showed a growing movement, mainly in Europe, that focuses on the startling reality of “peak oil” and climate change and showed a practical vision for creating a post-consumer society that is not carbon dependent, aiming toward community sustainability.

Peak oil is a term that focuses on the fact that the world’s sources of oil have peaked and reached the point where the oil supply will lessen and eventually peter out. The film portrays how many towns have organized citizens in projects that lessen the dependence on oil and other fossil fuels within their communities.

The film will be viewed again at the next SEEDS meeting held at the Park Street Complex on Route 6. The public is invited to attend this free event. Call 570/224-0052 for more information.