Deeper Shade of Green

Ever feel disempowered by climate change? Like no one cares? As if our government aren’t listening to us? I do too. But on Saturday, Oct. 24, I got injected with hope – something I have not felt in a long while. That was the day when 350.org – an organization promoting reduction of CO2 in atmosphere to 350 parts per million – have called on the world to assemble, peacefully and demonstrate to our leaders that we want – that we need – leadership on the issue. Our planet is at stake, our kid’s future is at stake and failure is simply not an option.

On that day, tens of thousands of people all around the world participated in 5,200 events in more then 170 countries. From New Zealand, to Mongolia, to many countries in Africa, to Afghanistan to Israel to underwater in Maldives to Europe and North and South America – people everywhere celebrated this unique moment. A moment in time, a moment in planet’s history when the citizens of Earth stood side by side, hand in hand and together, irregardless of the race, class status or wealth we made history.

And history we did make. Never before was there a movement, a peaceful gathering of people all over world of this magnitude. In New York Time Square, the colourful video billboards displayed pictures of people arranged in the number 350 from the four corners of the world. The event was top news story on Google, NY Times and other leading newspapers.

In Vancouver, thanks to the progressive municipal government, the north bound three lanes of the Cambie bridge was closed to traffic and people packed the bridge. I was there with my 20 months old son, taking it all in and lending my voice to the estimated 5,000 that attended. This was the largest such event in Canada and one of the largest in the world. Vancouverites – Canadians clearly showed they do not agree with their federal government’s plans of expanding Alberta’s tar sands, withdrawing from kyoto and sabotaging meaningful dialogue on climate change when the world meets again in Copenhagen this December to solve this calamity.

Standing there on Saturday, with a backpack on my shoulders, son in my arms, drumming together, surrounded by so many people that cared – it was just an amazing experience. I never felt more connected with everyone around the world. I felt like the people in so many diverse countries were all there with me, all on the same wavelength, all smiling, all celebrating together. This is what the protests in US during Vietnam war era must have felt like – no, this must be even better.

This event was only the beginning. Already many other events are planned. The movement has started, and it won’t be stopped now till politicians really start working on the issue. The movement will get bigger and bigger and people – especially young people who understand only too well their future is at stake – will employ gutsier and gutsier tactics in order to bring change in. And sometime soon this movement will grow so big, that even the likes of Harper, Gordon Campbell, Jim Prentice, Gail Sheia and all other corrupted politicians in the service of big corporations will have no choice but to answer the will of the people.

I’m all smiles just thinking about it

Want to get involved? Feel inspired? Join 350.org so you can be notified of upcoming events. Make a pledge at beyondtalk.net to help with civil disobedience – a powerful tactic many young people employ to be heard.