Oct. 10: Most Widespread Day of Environmental Action in History

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 7,000 events are planned in 188 countries for this Sunday's Global Work Party, a day of action coordinated by 350.org to push politicians to take action on climate change.

There are more than 400 work parties planned across California, a broad show of support for clean energy solutions in advance of a contentious election.

"Politicians may still be debating climate change, but citizens are getting to work solving it," said Bill McKibben, renowned environmental author and founder of 350.org

"I'm tired of sitting around and watching politicians argue," said Actress Ellen Page, who sent a video endorsing the day. "It's time for them to stop talking and start doing."

"Just a week ago, there were 100 events in the state--now that number has exploded, to 400, making October 10 the most widespread day of rallies of this election season. Climate change continues to be an issue that motivates widespread action from Californians. In contrast, the tea party has joined the Yes on 23 campaign--but so far, only 8 events have taken place." May Boeve, US Campaign Director, 350.org

Global Work Party event highlights in California include:

*   In Los Angeles, CA, thousands of people are expected to take part in "Ciclavia," when 7.5 miles of streets will be closed to cars and opened to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

*   In Oakland, CA, Sungevity is installing solar panels for Oakland's Green Youth Arts and Media Center.  One of 20 events in the Bay Area.

*   In San Francisco, CA over a hundred students will get to work at Alemany Farm, San Francisco's largest urban food-source, while another hundred people are expected to take part in a variety of events and rally at Hayes Valley Farm, an urban farm in downtown SF.

*   In Pasadena, CA, parishioners from local churches will fan out to host rallies at local Valero stations to protest the Texas oil company's funding of Proposition 23, which would repeal California's global warming law.

*   In Larkspur, CA, inmates at the San Quentin Fire Department will fix unwanted bicycles, then donate them to schoolchildren who need a safe ride to school.

*   In Davis, CA, hundreds of people are expected for a city wide celebration in Davis hosted by Mayor Don Saylor.

*   In San Diego, CA, local unions and bands will enjoy a day of music and action to support good jobs and a clean environment.

Highlights from around the world include: students in Iraq working to put solar panels on the University of Babylon, youth in Afghanistan planting hundreds of trees outside Kabul, hundreds of rallies in both China and India, refugees planting a "Forest of Hope" in the Congo, and President Nasheed putting solar panels on his house in the Maldives.

Organizers estimate that on 10/10/10 over 100,000 trees will be planted, over 100 solar panels will be installed, hundreds of homes and buildings will be weatherized, cyclists will ride over 1,000 miles, citizens will clean up at least 500 miles of coastline, and much more.

Events in California have taken a more political turn, however, as clean energy supporters mobilize to try and block Proposition 23 that would repeal California's clean air laws. The Rainforest Action Network, for example, is organizing dozens of protests at gas stations across the state to directly confront Big Oil.

"We're getting to work on solutions, but we're also getting to work confronting polluters who are working to stop those solutions," said Becky Tarbotton, RAN's Executive Director. "From Richmond, CA to Ecuador, Chevron cuts corners, fights regulation, pollutes communities, and keeps America dangerously addicted to oil when what we need is a clean energy future."

"People will be doing very practical things on 10/10/10," said 350.org founder Bill McKibben. "But they will also be sending a pointed political message. When they put down their shovels, many will pick up their cell-phones to call their leaders and say: 'We're getting to work, what about you?'"

The number of Work Parties dwarfs the dozen or so events organized by the American Petroleum Institute this summer. It is nearly double the 642 Tax Day Tea Parties organized this spring with the support of Fox News.

About 350.org:

Bill McKibben founded 350.org with a group of six recent university graduates in 2008. The campaign takes its name from the goal of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from its current level of 390 parts per million to below 350 ppm, the safe upper limit according to leading scientists. 350.org has quickly expanded to include hundreds of thousands of members and over 30 staff in 20 countries. 10/10/10 is being coordinated over email, Skype, and social networks with nearly all 7,000+ events organized by volunteers.

10/10/10 has been organized in cooperation with hundreds of organizations, from the Nepalese Youth Climate Network to tcktcktck, a global alliance of over 250 organizations.

SOURCE 350.org