What Does “350″ Mean to You?

Bill McKibben’s new climate change movie, “Do the Math,” airs April 21st across the United States. We’ve always loved Bill McKibben for his scientific integrity – his ability inspire people through his careful articulation of the evolving data behind climate change. In a world where science has largely eroded from the pop culture “green movement,” Bill McKibben is a crusader for a movement based on pure science. Watch the trailer below:

Science and math tend to scare people. We think we encounter numbers in a limited scope: as prices, hours, pounds, or grocery items. The irony, of course, is that numbers are ubiquitous; numbers describe the very atoms that make you you, and me me. And science is just a way of interpreting and predicting them.

The psychological impact of numbers is why we think the name of McKibben’s campaign, 350.org, is so powerful. 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide—measured in “Parts Per Million” in our atmosphere. 350 PPM—it’s the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. If we can internalize this number, we can internalize behaviors which, on the individual level, can stop the global catastrophe that Bill McKibben foretells. Numbers are not opinions, they are iterations of truth. Truth alone inspires people.

We are proud of our passionate, adaptive, curious Kindermusik community of educators and leaders. You all would make tremendous advocates for the 350.0rg campaign – and we just recently learned how you can join! 350.org hosts workshops where you can learn how to achieve climate change goals specific to your community’s environmental issues, policies, and economic development.

Find out more about becoming a 350.org workshop leader here, an opportunity which will teach you how to:

  • Understand recent climate science and policy.
  • Be able to present your own stories through the lens of Public Narrative.
  • Know how to communicate effectively about climate change and local organizing.
  • Be able to identify strategic targets and goals.
  • Understand campaign nuts and bolts.
  • Develop a campaign plan.

We’ll leave you with 350.org’s definition of leaders. Leaders are those who do the work of helping others to achieve purpose in the face of uncertainty.

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