350.org vigils hope to raise awareness of climate change

MILLERTON — There will be candles aplenty for those willing to take a stand in support of climate control Friday, Dec. 11, at a candlelight vigil on Main Street in Millerton. The gathering is a part of the 350.org climate control movement, geared to increase awareness of climate change issues around the world. The vigil is also aiming  to shine a light on the international climate summit going on in Copenhagen from Dec. 7 to Dec. 18; President Obama is scheduled to address the 15,000 participants from the 192 nations at the conference on its final day.

“I think there is an uneasy feeling that nothing is going to happen in Copenhagen and I think we need to draw attention to the fact that the talks are being held and the status quo is not acceptable,†vigil organizer Dianne Engleke said.

The number 350 represents the 350 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is believed by scientists to be the safe level to exist in the atmosphere. Currently the world is at 390 ppm. Engleke said it gets worse.

“I’m reading at Copenhagen the number is at 450 ppm but those are old numbers and I think one of the topics there will be is what numbers are we going to use,†she said. “Back in 2007, when they noticed the increased melting of the Arctic ice, scientists looked at the number 450 and thought, no, and that number was revised to 350. But none of that happened overnight. Scientists have been looking at these numbers for well over 25 years.† 

The danger of carbon dioxide increasing beyond 350 ppm is that the rise in sea level could make “climate refugees†out of a “good number of people,†according to Engleke.

“A world of poor climate refugees would ultimately affect everyone,†she said. “And at 350 ppm we’ll have continued the melting of glaciers, including mountain glaciers, and a good population of the world depends on those glaciers for drinking water and for agriculture.â€

It was only a few years ago when the world thought the Arctic would be free of ice in the summertime of 2020; today that’s changed to the year 2012.

“So we’re looking at an accelerated rate of melting Arctic ice and glacier ice. We don’t know the extent of these changes but we see the changes going in one direction, not the other,†said Engleke, who shared that she got involved in the movement of 350.org because of her interest in the loss of biodiversity due to climate change.

“I didn’t think that all of the world’s species would be able to adapt,†she said. “There are only so many safe havens. I guess along with the loss of biodiversity is the loss of people’s cultures and the issue of climate justice, since the poorest people in the world pay the most and I don’t think the richest countries have a moral or ethical right to do that.â€

Oct. 24 was another day geared toward raising climate control awareness, when 350.org was the center of numerous events worldwide. It helped to bring the movement into people’s consciousness; locally an event was staged at McEnroe’s Organic Farmers Market.

Meanwhile, there is an energy bill that includes climate control legislation that has been passed in the House of Representatives; it’s now being circulated through the Senate. To learn more about that legislation, sign on to 350.org.

Engleke said until Congress passes such a bill, and the president signs it, climate change will continue to create problems.

“I think it destabilizes countries. It will at some point destabilize the world economy,†she said. “While there will be winners, like oil companies, which will be able to export to most countries, there will be losers, because countries will have to adapt to the changes in a time frame not of their choosing and without the resources to do it.

“I think the vigil makes you feel less helpless. That sort of involvement makes you feel like you’re making a statement and your voice will be heard,†Engleke said, adding it’s also a good time to exchange ideas with like-minded individuals. Engleke is also a cartoonist, whose drawings are often run in The Millerton News.

The Millerton vigil will be held on Main Street, across the street  from The Moviehouse, from 7 to 8 p.m., rain or shine. There is another vigil planned in the town of Amenia, at the same time, to be held at Fountain Square, located at the corner of routes 22 and 343. Tentative plans have also been made for vigils in Millbrook and Dover. For more information on any of the vigils, go to 350.org and enter Millerton’s zip code, 12546, or call 518-789-0608.