On Oct. 24, tens of thousands of people will be peacefully demonstrating around the world in an International Day of Climate Action, calling for  action to reduce CO2 emissions to 350 parts per million (ppm), the measure of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is known to be the mimimum point to safely sustain life on Earth. 350.org, a small (seven staffers) organization based in Berkeley, Calif., started by writer--and now activist--Bill McKibben,  is coordinating the international day of action. There are more than 4000 events registered in 170 countries, with multiple events planned in Oakland and the East Bay. 

"As an east bay native working on the 350 campaign from Berkeley, I'm thrilled by the support we've been getting in the Bay. On Saturday the Bay will rep 350 for the world, with the world.," says Matt Fitzgerald,  a community organizer for 350.org who is frantically coordinating both East Bay events and a larger scene. 

Among the events Matt--and others--are working on are there:

Piedmont-Gathering of concerned citizens, musicians, poets, artists - EVERYONE!

11:00 am-12:20 pm, Piedmont Avenue and 41st Street Small plaza, just west of Piedmont Avenue on 41st
Oakland, CA, 94611

We'll celebrate our home planet and share our hope for its health and survival.
Bring music, poems, other art forms and ideas for ways we can overcome the climate change crisis that threatens human and natural communities. Folks who just want to share your enthusiasm, concern and presence - welcome!

OAKLAND

Dimond Park, Dimond 350, 12:00-12:15 PM
Dimond Park Meet at Fruitvale and Lyman
Oakland, CA, 94602
Bring friends and family for a group picture to form "350."
We can meet at the steps near the Tennis courts at Dimond Park.
Note that the map is wrong:
Come from Fruitvale side of the park just past the library. 
Use the intersection of Fruitvale Ave and Lyman Rd for your map search.

350 Climate Action Movie Festival, 5:00pm - 11:55pm
4006 Suter Street
Oakland, CA, 94619

This will be a climate action movie night for friends, families, and concerned folks. We will be watching movies such as "Fresh," "Flow," and other sustainability-related documentaries. Please bring an organic dish or drink to share.

BERKELEY

350:WORKS! -- a LIVE works on paper art show + benefit promoting Global Climate awareness and rescue aid relief, 3-7 PM
Gallery Extraña is located at 2912 Telegraph Avenue (1 Block North of Ashby) in Berkeley, California. We are a 10-15 minute walk from Ashby BART station.
Calling all glue-schticks, writers, pencilinas, paper DIYers!

350:WORKS! is an exhibition and happening of LIVE art + craft-making taking place at Gallery Extraña. On Saturday, from 3-7 pm artists, poets, musicians and individuals ready to ACT / MAKE / SHARE will gather at Gallery Extrana. The afternoon will include live art & crafts on paper, live music and other acts of participation on the theme of climate change & its global impact. Proceeds from artwork sold on the 24th will benefit Philippine Rescue Aid through Migrante International.

Counting Party: bring your kids to count to 387 and back to 350
201 Euclid Ave Codornices Park
Berkeley, CA, 94708

Bring your kids to count up to 387 and back down to 350.
Climate crisis + kids + camera = ?!?!
The playground alone is worth it! Meanwhile the grown-ups can make sure that we keep things peachy green for the ones we love the most!
Juice and snacks provided.

Film Screening of Garbage Dreams & Dinner, 5 PM

2230 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley, AL, 94704

Join GAIA and friends for a film screening of Garbage Dreams & no-host dinner.

Garbage Dreams is a powerful documentary that follows three teenage boys into the grassroots recycling trade and growing up in the world's largest garbage village, on the outskirts of Cairo. Far ahead of any modern "Green" initiatives, the 60,000 Zaballeen (Arabic for "garbage people") survive by recycling 80% of the garbage they collect. When their community is suddenly faced with the globalization of its trade, each of the teenage boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community.

After the film we invite you to join us for a no-host dinner and informal discussion and comments by Neil Tangri, GAIA's Climate Change Campaign Director and Martin Bourque, Executive Director of the Ecology Center. They will speak about how this film relates to the broader concerns of recyclers globally, and to climate action strategies.

When & Where: 5pm Saturday, October 24th at Shattuck Cinemas, no-host dinner to follow at Mel's The Original, which is connected to the theater.

Tickets for the film are $12, please note that it is playing at Shattuck Cinemas as part of the Arab Film Festival, buying tickets prior to the event is advised at www.aff.org.

Green Sangha Inspiring Awakened Action, 11:00am - 2:00pm
Sixth Street and University Avenue
Berkeley, CA, 94702

Join our group, Green Sangha, for a peaceful meditation at the West Berkeley Senior Center and then venture out to University Ave. and Sixth Street to engage with lively sign-waving and smiles to help drivers "awaken" to driving alternatives, the connection to climate change and importance of the Copenhagen climate talks.

Meet at 11 am or 11:30 am for a 20-minute meditation
Location: West Berkeley Senior Center (inside), 1900 Sixth Street, Berkeley

Noon-2 pm
Join our group as we gather at the corner of University Ave. and Sixth Street, waving signs and passing out information to people in cars and those passing by about climate change.
Location: University Ave. and Sixth Street corners, Berkeley

At 3 pm
Mass Convergence
Meet in San Francisco to converge with other groups supporting 350.org and The International Day of Climate Action.
Location: Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco (Embarcadero BART) foot of Market Street

What to Bring
Signs (about climate change, alternatives to driving etc., if you feel like making one or use one of our signs), bring a smile and lots of friends and family!

Healing Urban Habitat - Planting the Ohlone Greenway, 10am-2 pm
1400 Peralta Street Peralta Community Garden
Berkeley, CA, 94702

Join volunteers from Peralta Community Garden and UC Berkeley for a day of healing our urban habitat by planting native California plants along the Ohlone Greenway bike path in north Berkeley. This restoration project is well underway and our work on the 24th will add another 100 feet to the beautiful coastal prairie being planted there.

Meet at Peralta Community Garden (1400 Peralta Street just north of Hopkins)

10 AM Gather and set up our big 350 made of 150 California native plants arranged into the shape of the numbers

10:30 Group Photo Shoot - volunteers surrounding the big 350

11:00 Get to work - planting the plants along the bike path, weeding the habitat restoration area and constructing a pedestrian path to go beside the bike path.

1:00 Pot luck picnic in the garden

Wear work clothes - we're going to get in touch with the earth! Bring gloves and a shovel or trowel if you have them, if you don't have them don't worry, we will share the ones at the garden. See You There!

I-80 Berkeley Overpass Climate Action Now, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
I-80/Berkeley Marina footbridge overpass
Berkeley, CA

2:00-4:00 pm rally on the I-80 overpass/footbridge to Berkeley Marina. Bring signs or make a sign there (I will bring cardboard and paint. You can, too!)

in the spirit of Francis, 11:00am - 11:30am
1712 Euclid Avenue
Berkeley, CA, 9470

Join us at the Franciscan School of Theology as we add our group picture and voice to the 350 movement, and continue in the spirit of St. Francis, the patron saint of the environment and animals. We will meet in front of the school (on Euclid at LeConte) and gather for a brief time of singing, sharing, sign-making, and blessing.

Jewish Commitment to Reduce Carbon Emission, 10:00am - 2:00pm
951 Cragmont ave.
Berkeley, CA, 9470

Arrive at 10 a.m. We will

a. carefully read and discuss the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel and of Noah, discuss how human arrogance leads to destruction, and

b. then make individual commitments to engage in joint action to challenge our law-makers in the Congress and the Administration's approach to Copenhagen negotiations in Dec. as they abrogate the Kyoto Treaty, as we

c. jointly insist on lowering carbon levels to below 350.

Entry cost: a main course vegetarian dish (not bread or cake) to share for the pot luck that follows, from 12:15-1:45.

We can be reached from the Berkeley central BART station, take the 67 bus up Spruce and get off at Santa Barbara, walk up the hill east one block to Cragmont, left on Cragmont to 951.


Public awareness event, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Downtown Berkeley BART station; Shattuck & Central at main BART plaza, in front of Tully's, Berkeley , CA

Demand climate justice in downtown Berkeley! We'll be doing a number of fun and visual activities at the downtown Berkeley BART station, from a short theater piece to passing out information handouts to asking people to sign a huge sign with 350 written on it, to make a commitment to reduce the greenhouse gases that they personally emit by 10% in the next year. Show your support - get there by 11:30 to help organize activities or by noon to participate in them. Some of us will also be joining a bigger rally in downtown SF later in the afternoon.

SAN FRANCISCO

The Big One, 3:00 pm on

Starting at 3:00pm on October 24th, gather at the Justin Herman Plaza/SF Ferry Bldg. (Embarcadero BART), near foot of Market St., San Francisco. The event will be a culmination for multiple morning events and will include a massive group photo at 3:50pm.
There will be a program including climate activists and local poets and performers.
The aerial photo will include a massive parachute banner and hundreds of homemade, hand-painted visuals.

The message will be calling on Obama for 350 and climate justice.
Justin Herman Plaza Across from the SF Ferry Bldg and near the Embarcadero BART

350* person bike ride
Walk Oakland Bike Oakland is part of a 350* person bike ride on the Global Day of Climate Action. Decorate your bike/yourself!

Awards given to best amphibious bikes! We will gather at 2 PM at Justin Herman Plaza, and aim to be decorated, riding, and back to the plaza by 3:20 PM to participate in a convergence.  Email bikesnotclimatechange@gmail.com to sign up for the bike ride and get updates.
 
More information on the day's actions, and on climate change and climate justice here.

If you have another event to add to the Oct 24th roster for the East Bay, add it in the comments here or email editor@oaklandlocal.com and we will add it to this list.