Bemidji will continue to participate in the 350.org mission

The annual worldwide event will allow the Bemidji public to participate and volunteer to help with the climate crisis

By Caley Jorgensen

Story #3

September 30, 2010

Word Count: 656

          On Oct. 10, as people pass by the waterfront, they might notice volunteers with big bags scattered around the area picking up trash. They might notice volunteers with dirt on their knees from planting tree seedlings in the local parks. These volunteers will be taking part in 350, one of the largest campaigns in the world, in which over 180 countries will work simultaneously in helping their local areas.

These flyers will be seen on bulletin boards around BSU’s 

campus to help spread the word and give students a 

volunteer opportunity. Picture taken by Caley Jorgensen.

Bemidji will participate in this international project to help stop rising carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Right now, the atmosphere contains around 390 parts per million CO2. The goal of 350 is to reduce carbon emissions to 350 parts per million. Scientists believe this will be a more sustainable level for the atmosphere.           

There will be a trash clean up along Lake Bemidji, the Mississippi River, and parks around the area. There will be brush clean ups for Bemidji bike trails that will be created. Tree seedlings will be planted in local school forests and parks. “A yearly rally isn’t going to solve the problem, but it helps promote to people that they can bring these habits into their lifestyles,” said Brett Cease, a group leader and volunteer.

A public meeting was held Sept. 29 at the Wild Hare coffee shop in downtown Bemidji to organize the Bemidji activities for this cause. Cease, accompanied by Alisa Hoven, a volunteer in last year’s activities, sat down to give more information on the upcoming rally. “We’re negatively impacting the environment and we’re finding ways to change those habits,” Cease said. “It involves looking at areas including how we eat, where we drive, and how we use energy.”

A meeting was held here on Sept. 29 

to discuss and plan Bemidji’s part in 350.

 Another meeting will be here at noon on Oct. 6. 

Picture taken by Caley Jorgensen.

350 is based on the scientific notion of the organization IPCC, [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]. Instead of stating “let’s protect the earth”, the goal was to have a clear, scientific goal to shoot for. On 350.org, James Hansen, the head of NASA Institute for Space Studies in New York City and respected advocate of climatology, states, “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted … CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm.”

Last year, on Oct. 24, there were about 5200 rallies in 181 countries. CNN calls the event the “most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history.” Events will range from installing solar panels, digging community gardens, to simply fixing bikes. Building off of the campaign called Step It Up, 350.org has been in action for two years and plans to continue until the goal can be reached.

A group of volunteers gathered in front of Paul and Babe 

last year on Oct. 24 for a group photo, showing they participated 

and helped clean up Bemidji in 2009’s event. Submitted 

picture from 350.org.

Another meeting will be held on Oct. 6 at noon, at the Wild Hare coffee shop, to help plan and prepare the upcoming event. On Bemidji’s site on 350.org, it states, “We will work together to beautify our city while raising awareness about the importance of building a sustainable future for our city and country."

To get involved and participate on the movement, the public will meet at noon on Sunday, Oct. 10 at the Paul and Babe Waterfront, where cleaning up the local area will begin. For harsh weather, it will start inside the Headwaters Unitarian Church. “It’s a big rally and cry all around the world based on last year’s events.” Cease said. “Hopefully this year will be a repeat of that.”