Moving Planet

Yesterday, September 24th, people in 175 countries came together to move the planet past fossil fuels as part of 350.org 's Moving Planet day. San Francisco had one of the biggest events, consisting of a march down Market Street and a rally at Civic Center Plaza with Bill McKibben and Michael Brune. Thousands of us filled the streets and I was empowered by the passion, energy, and defiance that went into each step of each marcher.

To really get a sense of what Moving Planet and 350.org are all about, you've got to check out the absolutely awe-inspiring slideshow of photos at Http://moving-planet.org The internet has brought us to an age where there can be something called a "global rally" or a "worldwide mobilization" - we can see what's happening in Cairo, or the Maldives, and we can see that we are not alone - we are pretty damn powerful, in fact.

Bill McKibben, director of 350.org

Not So Much of a Demon After All - Guest Post by Aaron Jacobson

Sijmon de Waal/Marine Photobank.

The interaction of humans and sharks began only a short time ago, from a shark’s perspective. Sharks evolved somewhere around 400 million years ago and have been thriving on Earth ever since. In their most recent chapter of history they have encountered a new competitor, humans, who have quickly developed as a formidable foe and efficient predator. The populations of nearly every known species of shark have declined heavily in the last few decades and are still decreasing. The fate of sharks depends on our ability to turn this predator/prey relationship into a co-existing relationship that will maintain the integrity of the ocean ecosystem.

Positive Patriotism

Today, on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, people all over the world are looking back, remembering, reflecting. September 11th brought us a solidarity as a nation that we seem to have lost sight of completely, at least in the political world. We were brought together on that fateful day because we were reminded of what we have in common, rather than what breaks us apart. I was only in the fourth grade, and I think that was the first time that I felt like an American - I watched the news; I stuck an American flag sticker onto my school binder,  proud of its symbolism. I listened to Enrique Iglesias' "Hero" over and over again.

Patriotism is a powerful force - for better or for worse. When friends  or family complain about the flaws of this country, I always comment that I do truly love the United States of America. If I didn't, why would I fight so hard to make it better? I love living in a country that boasts some of the most beautiful natural wildernesses on the planet. I love exploring and discovering the incredibly diverse array of people, cultures, traditions, neighborhoods, landscapes, languages. I stand by the core ideals upon which the country was built, although sometimes the way they are interpreted frustrates me.

So how can we find and cultivate positive patriotism without waiting for another attack to shock us into solidarity? I think patriotism and the sustainability movement have a lot they can learn from one another. Think of how patriotic we would feel if we declared energy independence, if our bodies were nourished by locally grown food. I, for one, would find it much easier to stand by my country if we as Americans started to account for our actions and worked to ease the climate change caused largely by ourselves.

Instead of waiting for another disaster, be it terrorism, fires, flooding, or economic collapse, let's get to work because we love our country. Rather than erect memorials and find ourselves stuck in the past, let's create a stronger, more resilient, more sustainable, more beautiful country that in itself is a memorial to the lives lost on 9/11.

Unlimited

Wow, what a week. My life here in Berkeley is quickly becoming a whirlwind of environmental activism, incredible and thought provoking classes, and mind-bending conversations. As I have begun working on the 350 campaign, I have gotten the opportunity to meet some really awesome global organizers. I am developing my own leadership skills as Earth Week co-coordinator and Focus the Nation coordinator under the Sustainability Team umbrella. I'm taking a big seminar-style class called "Edible Education: The Future of the Food Movement," facilitated/organized by Michael Pollan (!!!) and Nikki Henderson (!), and so far we have been fortunate enough to hear two incredible speakers: Carlo Petrini and Peter Sellars. Additionally, I was offered a research position in a forestry lab which looks at correlations between above ground and below ground biomass in redwoods and aspen. Last, I got to hear Bill McKibben's free talk at Berkeley the other night, and then hung out with him at a brewery in Oakland with the 350 team. I really, really love the Bay Area.
 
Now, after spending freshman year just kind of getting a feel for what everything's like out here (and hiking - A LOT), I now feel like I am delving into the very activities, classes, ideas, and passions that will define me at least during my college years if not beyond. So you can't blame me for being a little bit confused, a little bit lost, a little bit overwhelmed. There are literally unlimited options, unlimited causes, unlimited ways to act, unlimited ways to be an activist.