This article appears on page 4 of the September 16 Ace Best of Lexington print edition.
350.org: Moving Planet, Moving Kentucky
A Day to Move Kentucky Beyond Fossil Fuels
by Brooke Smith
During the second annual Now What? Lexington event, hosted by ProgressLex and The Carnegie Center, a group of Lexingtonians concerned about the environmental health of our city came together and decided to make a move. Inspired by the 350.org’s global movement to make impact in local communities, the concerned citizens gathered to initiate the event MOVING KY: A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels. MOVING KY is Lexington’s contribution to a worldwide rally on September 24th, 2011 called Moving Planet. This rally, initiated by 350.org will shine a light on solutions to the climate crisis, direct those who desire further education to the 350.org website, and offer our concerned community an opportunity to gather. It will be a single day to move away from fossil fuels and bring our collective attention to the challenge.
“This event is the first of what we hope will be an on-going presence for 350.org in Lexington,” said Clive Pohl, Moving KY Event Coordinator and Principal Architect at Pohl Rosa Pohl. “It is not offered as a provocation but as a gesture to remind our community of the many viable alternatives to fossil fuel powered transportation.”
Those concerned with the climate crisis and learning more about Lexington’s carbon footprint and what we can do to shrink it are invited to join the festivities on September 24 from noon to 6 pm in downtown Lexington.
“This year is going to be about movement in every sense of the word,” said Bill McKibben, Founder of 350.org. “Not just the big shoulder-to-shoulder campaign we’ve built together across the world these last two years, but also actual, powerful, fun dramatic movement in the streets putting into action our demand for a future free from fossil fuels and dangerous climate change.”
Itinerary:
“Alley Cat” bike ride (noon to 2pm):
Part scavenger hunt, part tour and part rally it will include stops at sites that exemplify the best and worst of Lexington’s carbon heritage. Kiosks will offer information about these climate “hotspots” and suggest ways to effect positive change. Participants will evaluate Lexington’s ride-ability and offer suggestions for improving it.
Pedestrian Walk (2 to 3pm):
Alley Cat riders will join with walkers (target number: 100) to march from the intersection of Avenue of Champions and South Limestone to Phoenix Park in downtown Lexington holding 350.org banners and placards.
The “Human 3-5-0” photo shoot (3 to 4pm):
After arriving at Phoenix Park all participants (wearing green t-shirts that can be ordered from this site) will form a “Human 3-5-0” and a photo will be taken from the top floor of the Main Library parking structure. After the event we will submit the photo to the 350.org site for inclusion in their online collection of images from around the world. The aim is to decrease Lexington’s reliance on fossil fuels, to bring attention to the informative 350.org site, and to provide a kick start for future actions of the 350.org Lexington Chapter.
A screening of the movie “Carbon Nation” (4 to 5pm):
Directed by Louisville native Peter Byck this film will be shown immediately after the photo shoot. The location is yet to be finalized but it will be indoors and within comfortable walking distance from Phoenix Park.
350.org is a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis through online campaigns, grassroots organizing and mass public actions led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in more than 188 countries. The movement takes its name from the parts per million of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth’s atmosphere considered to safe. Currently our atmospheric level of CO2 is 392 parts per million, and that number needs to drop at or below 350 parts per million. 350 is more than a number—it’s a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.
Info, http://movingky.eventbrite.com or contact Clive Pohl at 859-268-1720. To learn more about climate change and similar events across the globe visit www.350.org.
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