Today, millions of people in thousands of locations in more than 160 countries are celebrating the International Day of Climate Action. The purpose is a global grassroots effort to influence the climate talks which will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December (go to 350.org for pictures, etc).

As you read this, I should be at Cherokee Lake with, hopefully, many others in our own little celebration of this momentous occasion.

The symbol of the action is 350 ppm. That is, 350 parts per million is the safe level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. We stand currently at 390 ppm, rising about 2 ppm each year.

When world leaders meet in Copenhagen, we want them to make their decisions with the best science available and with the interests of every human being in mind. Some of the most vulnerable among us are the people of small island nations like The Maldives in the Indian Ocean or the many island nations of the south Pacific. Their vulnerability is sea level rise.

Developing countries around the world are vulnerable to more frequent and severe droughts or flooding, and increased insect-borne disease. The carbon contribution from these people is miniscule and yet they are the “canary in the coal mine.” They will be the first to experience the most devastating effects of too much carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases, GHG) added to our atmosphere.

That’s not fair.

But we can do something about it.

We, the people, of the United States are, by far, the largest emitters of carbon dioxide per capita in the world. Yes, China nearly surpasses us in total emissions because their population is so many times ours, but per person, we are number one by a large margin!

Notwithstanding the current financial crisis, the USA is the biggest and strongest, wealthiest and most generous nation on Earth.

It is our obligation to lead.

No matter what you think of the current administration or the one before it, this issue is non-partisan. It is about our grandchildren’s children and beyond.

It is not about me or you. It is about them and the Earth we will leave to them.

Learn the science. Don’t take my word. Research it from all sides. Do your part.



Candee Henderson

Thomasville