Portlanders rally for International Day of Climate Action

Tomorrow, Oct. 24—the International Day of Climate Action—people will rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square to raise awareness about climate change and the importance of the number 350, which scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

“350 is the most important number in the world,” said Brie Hilliard, a graduate business student at Portland State and volunteer for the International Day of Climate Action.

The current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 390 parts per million. The goal of the event is to get 350 into the new climate treaty that will be written in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December.

On the International Day of Climate Action, organized by www.350.org, many events will happen around Portland, culminating with a rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The rally will open with a performance of traditional Japanese drumming and dancing by Takohachi. Joining them will be the 350 Coastal Climate Crisis walkers, Julianne Johnson, Josh Damis, Will Hobbs, Women’s Spirit Drum, Portland State professor Julie Fry and a variety of local faith and community leaders.

Before the rally, there will be a faculty and student walk from the South Park Blocks and a bicycle ride. There will also be a group of canoeists, kayakers and paddle boaters forming a giant “350” in the Willamette River. A walk that started on the Oregon Coast on Sept. 20 will also be meeting up with new walkers at various places in Portland on Oct. 24.

Hilliard is organizing the walk, from Southwest Park Avenue and Montgomery Street, for Portland State students and faculty. She was inspired to get involved with www.350.org when she read books written by Bill McKibben, an environmentalist and the founder of the organization.

She is excited about www.350.org and the International Day of Climate Action “because it’s the biggest global, worldwide progress that’s been done. No one has ever attempted to do something like this before. We really have a chance to make a difference.”

The International Day of Climate Action is sponsored by Oregon Interfaith Power and Light—a project of the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon group—the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Climate Solutions, Portland Farmers Market, Bob’s Red Mill and other local businesses and nonprofits.

The involvement of Oregon Interfaith Power and Light shows that climate change is a spiritual issue for many.
Larry Shadbolt got involved through Oregon Interfaith Power and Light, and was at the meeting where the rally was conceived.

“It’s important to see the care of creation as central to my faith. Climate change is a critical issue of our time that transcends all faiths,” Shadbolt said.

He was involved in getting Portland City Council to pass a proclamation that will declare Oct. 24 to be “350 Day” in Portland, and it will be read at the rally. The proclamation recognizes the importance of lowering the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and declares Portland a “national leader” in reducing its carbon footprint.

The GreenVille Project, a company focused on sustainable development, partnered with Portland Farmers Market to challenge 350 businesses to rally with them in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

According to Jae Larsen, CEO of The GreenVille Project, businesses have a responsibility to work against climate change.

“As businesses, we have a further reach in terms of the things we can accomplish,” she said. “We have a lot more impact on a lot more people. It’s going to become the responsibility of businesses to take a look at their practices and priorities and think about doing it in a more responsible way.”

Larsen said they have had a positive response from the business community, in part because Portland is an environmentally minded city and “people really do passionately, passionately care here.”

Hilliard shares the view that Portland is “a little more mindful of climate issues,” but believes there is still a lot of work to be done.

“[Climate change] is more important than everything else. It’s bigger than war, it’s bigger than hunger, it’s bigger than equality issues, it’s bigger than everything,” Hilliard said. “If we don’t take care of the planet, we’re screwed. If we want a world for our grandchildren, we need to solve the climate change issue.”