Media Advisory

October 20, 2009

Contact: Jeff Napolitano, jnapolitano@afsc.org, (413) 584-8975 [Office], (413) 320-6099 [Cell], AFSC, 140 Pine Street, Florence MA 01062; Anne Perkins, APerkins350@comcast.net; 413-231-2133; http://amherst350.org/

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

THE AMHERST AREA JOINS THE MOST WIDESPREAD DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION IN HISTORY

4000+ EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD IN 169 COUNTRIES

On October 24, people from the Amherst area will gather to form a giant 350 with maple leaves as part of the largest global day of climate action ever. The event—one of more than 4,000 rallies in more than 169 nations—is coordinated by 350.org to urge world leaders to take fast and effective action on global warming. This is the first global campaign ever organized around a scientific data point: 350 parts per million CO2 is the safe upper limit for the atmosphere according to the latest scientific data.

WHO: Hundreds of community members; musicians Molly Scott, the Elusives from Amherst High, The Madrigals from Amherst College, the Raging Grannies, and Anne Louise White; Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, climate activist and associate priest Grace Church.

WHAT: A climate theater centered on one of our most vulnerable and precious resources, sugar maple trees. The stage event will include the musicians, a keynote speech, and a new 350 song written by Fred Small for these events. Off stage there will be church bells ringing, drummers, children’s games, climate posters, roving musicians, maple syrup producers selling their product, and more.

Simultaneously, people in every corner of the world will be taking similar action, from climbers with 350 banners high on the melting slopes of Mount Everest to government officials in the Maldive Islands holding an underwater cabinet meeting to demand action on climate change before their nation disappears.

WHEN: October 24, 2009 beginning at 11:30 and ending about 1:00. Rain or shine!

WHERE: Amherst Common

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Photos from the Amherst event will be available at: http://amherst350.org/
Photos from events happening all over the world will be available for free use at: http://350.org/media.

Look for a video of the event on Amherst Community Television (ACTV).

ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN!