Over 7,000 events are being planned in more than 180 countries for the 10/10/10 Global Work Party that is shaping up to be the largest day of carbon-cutting action in the planet’s history. From Kosovo to Iceland and from Russia to Portugal, Europe has more than 45 countries participating, including all EU member states.
From Berlin, where there will be an energy switch party at The Brandenburg Gate, to the Philippines, where students will plant thousands of mangrove trees to protect their coastline from typhoons, people around the world are getting to work on climate solutions and challenging their leaders to do the same.
The Global Work Party is being coordinated by 350 org, an international climate campaign founded by American writer and environmentalist Bill McKibben. The day has been organised through websites, social networks, and blogs.
Highlights of the day will include:
* In Reykjavik, Iceland, concerned citizens will get to work drawing attention to transportation solutions–by riding them in their underwear.
* In Russia and Croatia, organisers have signed up nearly 10,000 schools to plant trees on 10/10/10.
* In Barcelona, Spain, hundreds of people are expected to take part in a bicycle powered music festival.
* Youths planting 500 walnut trees in Moldova, which will also indirectly increase health in this region affected by the Chernobyl explosion.
* Sumo wrestlers cycling to practice in downtown Tokyo.
* President Nasheed of the Maldives installing solar panels on his roof.
* The cities of Lisbon and Mexico City committing to cut their emissions 10% in 2010
The 10/10/10 events will start at sunrise on remote Pacific Islands and continue throughout the day until sunset off the coast of Hawaii in the US.