On Sunday, October 10, I attended a "Bring Your Own Laptop" work party associated with the 350.org global day of climate solutions, otherwise known as 10-10-10. Check out the 350.org site for the fullest dose of information about this wonderful event.

CBC along with much of mainstream media neglected to give 10-10-10 worthwhile coverage. On their website, CBC had nothing to say and tv-radio coverage was lame. (In fairness to the CBC website, I would like to point out that they did cover another 10-10-10 phenomenon.)Although mainstream media failed, the internet rose mightily to the occasion: There were 7,347 events in 188 countries. That is huge. That happened because hundreds of thousands of us, possibly millions of us, participated. That also means that millions more care because those that showed up for work group undoubtedly represent a small percentage of caring, concerned and worried global citizens.

As noted above, I attended one such 10-10-10 event. But let me go back to the beginning of the story.

In the past I have included information from a site I admire and utilize frequently, CO2Now.org. The widget with the earth coming out of a toaster that you see in the sidebar of this blog is from that site. There are in fact many widgets to choose from at CO2Now.org. They are free. Help yourself.

As an aside, the toaster widget was designed by Toronto artist, Franke James. Franke is an artist focussed upon climate health and a person who not only communicates uniquely, creatively and effectively, but also walks the walk. Franke and I met on twitter. Go figure. Find some time to visit Franke's website. It will draw you in, educate you, inspire you and entertain you.

Every month, CO2Now.org posts the level of atmospheric CO2 along with charts providing context. The amount of CO2 in our atmosphere is steady rising. Seeing it portrayed graphically is stunning.

A few months ago I wrote to the person responsible for CO2now.org and discovered that he, Michael McGee, is a ten minute bicycle ride from my front door. Sweet. Take a look through MIchael McGee's remarkable, generous and useful work, CO2Now.org.

It was Michael who inivited me to the 10-10-10 work group at his home. See how it works out? I wrote a single email and presto, I am part of a global happening. I am also motivated to use less carbon-based energy — more motivated than before.

Six of us met at MIchael's home in the morning of 10-10-10 -- October 10, 2010. Two members of the work group attended via, Skype. Jason a marine biologist from Stanford University joined us from Seattle. Swaroop, a high school science teacher, in a time zone putting him in the post-midnight of his day, joined us from The Republic of Maldives. As you may know, the elevation of The Maldives is on average one and a half metres. If the oceans rise, it will disappear. Swaroop noted that his particular island has an elevation of one and a half feet! To have Swaroop attend brought the reality of man-made global warming into our awareness profoundly. Thank you, Swaroop. Much gratitude.

Swaroop's presence was via audio due to bandwidth constraints. Nonetheless, the impact of his offering to the group was potent, especially when he said these words:

"Please help us to help our generations to live."

I learned that increasing storm-activity which salinate arable land is a problem in the Maldives. Adding to this, there is fish stock disruption due to climate impact upon the oceans. Swaroop said that last year they were down to one month's supply of food for a period of time.

The Republic of Maldives has pledged carbon-neutrality by 2020. Canada, by comparison, has pledged a 17% of 2005 levels by 2020, aligned with the USA.

I look forward to working with Michael and the others in this workgroup, joining with others around the globe, in support of "climate health", a term I heard for the first time on 10-10-10.

Jason and Swaroop are on the two laptops on the left.




This great shot was taken by Michael's son.