Two Days 'til We Go Swimming!

Two more days ’til the big day! The latest weather reports call for a mostly sunny day with a high around 40 degrees in Annapolis. Whatever it ends up being, we’ll be there wearing our swimming suits starting at 10:30 AM!

There’s still time to join us on Saturday for CCAN’s Fifth Annual Polar Bear Plunge. You can take the plunge, or just show your support from the sidelines.

If you’re coming, here’s what you need to know:

Directions: The plunge is being held on the beach of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis and the program begins at 10:30 AM. The address is 6 Herndon Ave. You can view a map and get directions by going to http://bit.ly/plungemap.

Carpooling: We encourage people to carpool as much as possible. We’ve created a blog post on the keepwintercold.org website where people can offer spaces in your car and people who need a ride can ask for one. Access this service here.

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The Movement is Glowing

This just arrived in my inbox from May Boeve, policy coordinator at 350.org:

It’s been a wild day here inside the Bella Center–the tension and the drama are ratcheting up almost by the hour. The “350 language” has been in and out of the draft text of the agreement half a dozen times, and our allies are doing their best to keep it in. You should have seen President Nasheed this afternoon making the case in front of an auditorium packed with members of the global media.

As the policy coordinator for 350.org, I spend most of my time lobbying–waiting in the hallways for meetings to end so I can speak to delegates and ministers as they walk to their next session. And what I hear, over and over again, is “You’ve changed the mood of the meeting.” The relentless case you’ve made for the science of 350 has been extraordinarily effective–and it got a remarkable boost over the weekend from the thousands of vigils around the world.

In DC, Avaaz built a giant ark, which they called “Plan B.” The ark evokes the great flood with which billions around the world identify. It signifies the scale of calamity that climate change poses to communities across the globe and also represents hope for survival if world leaders take bold, ambitious, and immediate action. While hundreds of thousands of people were taking action across the world, activists gathered outside the Capitol to discuss the urgent need for “Plan A” – a fair, ambitious, and binding global climate treaty.

350.org just came out with another beautiful video from the worldwide vigils this Saturday. Take a look:

Picture(s) of the Week

This week, two pictures made it into most inspiring picture of the week category, although I can only show you one on this blog. The first is from Avaaz Climate Action Factory, which pulls together some of the most creative and timely actions in my opinion.

Tuesday evening, while President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, dozens of activists with Avaaz.org released a hundred Chinese flying lanterns and a floating balloon banner just south of the White House.

According to Morgan at Avaaz’s Climate Action Factory in DC:

Chinese flying lanterns are a symbol of hope traditionally released to celebrate the new year. The Avaaz action highlighted China’s proactive domestic climate commitments as a source of inspiration for the UN climate summit in Copenhagen this December.

The other picture I can’t find online unfortunately. But if you check out B2 of today’s Washington Post, you’ll see a picture of Matt Means and Ed Bush busy installing what will be the largest solar-energy system in the Washington area at Catholic University. More than 1,000 panels will be installed on four buildings this fall.

UPDATE: EPW Passes Boxer-Kerry

Sen. Baucus was the only Dem to vote against it. Republicans were not present.

According to Reuters:

The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday approved a Democratic climate change bill that would require industry to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases 20 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels.

With Republicans boycotting the committee’s work saying more analysis of the legislation was needed, 10 Democrats voted to approve the legislation and one Democrat, Senator Max Baucus, voted against it.

The bill will now become one of several initiatives aimed at attacking global warming. Senator John Kerry is leading an effort with some Republicans and the White House to craft a compromise bill, which likely would not be voted on by the full Senate until next year at the earliest. Read the full article

Vote Tomorrow!

The single most important thing you can do tomorrow is vote. Don’t know where your polling place is? See below for a nifty gadget to help you find your polling location and candidates.

Please, learn about the candidates and take some time to vote tomorrow!

Clean Coal Fail

Meet Anne. Anne is excited about cleaning coal. She has a basin, a washboard, and some soap. Here she goes…

Slideshow by Jay

Thanks to Kathy Selvage and Antigone Ambrose for the inspiration!

Obviously coal isn’t clean and we need your help to spread the word. Coal Country is a stunning new documentary that reveals the devastation of mountaintop removal coal mining to the forests, streams, and communities of Appalachia. We need to get this film in the hands of Americans nationwide. Help get the word out and end mountaintop removal coal mining by hosting a Coal Country House Party. Deadline is November 1st.