Southall 350.org Climate Change event ‘a great success’

26 October 2009

On Saturday 24 October 2009, from 10.00-12.00 Southall Park saw an awareness-raising event marking the ‘International Day of Climate Action’. This was one of more than 5,200 events in 181 countries around the world, drawing attention to the need to reduce Carbon emissions to 350 parts per million (350.org).

“Southall 350.org” was a fast-moving event, with speakers and performances each limited to 350 seconds (5 minutes, 50 seconds). It was held outdoors in Southall Park , with a small marquee for speakers, but most people sat in the open. Despite heavy rain beforehand and the odd shower during the event, there was an audience of over 60 people throughout – varying from community leaders and environmental activists to dog-walkers who stopped to see what was happening and were hooked.

Speakers included local leaders from the five main religions in Southall – Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist. Each explained how their faith tradition values the environment and encourages people to care for it. Between the speeches, entertainment included colourful Sri Lankan dancers dressed as horses and a tiger, a 350 second exercise routine, and a short drama about biofuels from Ealing Friends of the Earth. The whole event was organised by Kailean Khongsai , Faith-based Communities Officer for A Rocha UK – the Christian environmental charity based in Southall (arocha.org.uk).

The day began with Rev Dave Bookless, Founder of A Rocha UK, speaking on why the world needs to know about ‘350’. He explained how Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere is vital for life to exist on Planet Earth and how it has been stable at 280 parts per million (ppm) throughout human history. However, since we have been burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – the CO2 produced has raised levels to almost 390ppm. The latest science reveals that this is already dangerous – leading to melting ice-caps, unstable weather patterns, and the melting of the Arctic permafrost. We need to cut right back to 350 ppm if we are to return to a stable and liveable climate for all. NASA Chief Scientist James Hansen states: “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted,CO2 will need to be reduced to at most 350 ppm."

Event organiser Kailean Khongsai said afterwards: “I was so encouraged! When it rained I thought, maybe nobody will come, but to have senior leaders from all the local religions all speaking about their commitment to tackling Climate Change was wonderful.”

In his closing speech, Rev Dave Bookless of A Rocha UK said “This is just the beginning – we must see today as a springboard to get people of all faiths and cultures in Southall working to create a more sustainable community".

View photos of the event on facebook and a video on youtube.