TODAY IS THE DAY: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION: OCT. 24

Via Vermont Interfaith Power & Light there are a number of events in our state for the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION: OCT. 24:

Many events will be happening across Vermont and the
world on this day of action which is sponsored by the
group 350.org. The aim is to get the
attention of world leaders, to send a message to them
before their meetings in Copenhagen in December, to
convey the urgency of signing a strong climate agree-
ment. The level of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere
is almost 390 parts per million. Leading scientists say
350 ppm is the safe upper limit for life on Earth.

In Vermont, here are some of the events happening on
10/24. For contacts and more info, go to: Vermont Interfaith Power & Light.

BARRE/MONTPELIER: Bike ride to raise funds for the
bike path (for less car dependence) starting at 1 pm;
public officials will speak about bike path plans.

BRATTLEBORO: Centre Congregational Church will
show the film "Renewal" on Fri., Oct. 23, 7 - 9 pm, with
potluck snacks & desserts, readings and music at 6:30.

On 10/24, there's a march & rally from 11 am - 1 pm.

BURLINGTON: The “Dear World Project Walk” and “Human 350 Aerial Photo” will begin at 2 p.m., meeting at the UVM Davis Center west entrance (lakeside). The silent walk (with walkers distributing original art and information) to City Hall Park will be starting at 3 p.m. from the photo shoot, when the bells from UVM’s Ira Allen Chapel and Burlington’s Firehouse Gallery begin tolling 350 times (for 50 minutes). Some of the downtown churches will also be ringing their bells. Walkers please wear black (or something dark). To find out more about the walks, contact Cami Davis cdavis@uvm.edu. A prayer vigil will begin at City Hall Park at 3 p.m. People may send prayers, even if they can’t attend the vigil, to Betsy Hardy info@vtipl.org and may contact her to find out more about the vigil. A reception and speakers at the Firehouse Gallery will follow. Everyone: Set your phone alarms to 3:50 p.m. when we “wake up” to the climate crisis.

CHARLOTTE: Charlotte Congregational Church will have prayers, readings, music and bell-ringing from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Contact: Bethany Myrick Buffie@madriver.com. From 7 – 10 pm, Transition Town will sponsor a dance at the church.

GREENSBORO/HARDWICK: Tour of homes using renew-
able energy start at 8:45 am, ending at Green Mountain
Monastery, Greensboro, with a lunch of soup and bread.

Later, 350 minutes of local music starts at 3:50 pm at
Hazen Union School.

LINCOLN: At Metta Earth, there will be 350 minutes of meditation and walks in the garden, tea and food, from 10 – 3:50, ending with a group photo. Contact: info@mettaearth.org

MANCHESTER: 350 people meditate on the town green
for 35 minutes.

MIDDLEBURY: Events will happen on the Middlebury Town Green, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. It begins with VISION 2020 – ideas for growing a sustainable future, followed by a 350 dish potluck at noon, collection of 350 non-perishable food items for the food shelf, 350 minutes of drumming and more. Contact: jcfv@madriver.com

NORTH POMFRET: Collection of 350 non-perishable
food Items by the Congregational Church, to be donated
to local food banks, and an evening program at 7 pm.

A tour of homes using renewable energy will begin at 8:45 am. The last stop on the tour will be the Green Mountain Monastery in Greensboro where a light lunch of soup and bread will be served (please bring your own cup, bowl, spoon). To register, contact Nancy Nottermann nancyn@together.net. After the tour, 350 minutes of local music will begin at 3:50 pm at Hazen Union School.

RUTLAND: Sustainable Rutland’s members have been planning a number of actions including 350 minutes of prayer, a light bulb exchange – to give away 350 CFL bulbs, a 350 clothespin give-away to encourage air drying, 350 minutes of environmentally-themed videos showing at a Rutland coffee shop, and more. Contact: info@sustainablerutland.org

SOUTH BURLINGTON: A dance party at Higher Ground will be simulcast to locations all over, with the music starting at about 9 pm. Two bands, Spiritual Rez and Barefoot Truth will play. For more information, go to: www.vt350dance.com. Kathryn Blume will be MC for the event. You can watch a video to find out more at: http://poliscifiradio.com/video/350%20dance%20promoForWeb.mov

Other events happening around the state on 10/24 include actions such as climbs of Mt. Abe, Camel’s Hump, and Snake Mt.; garden work parties in Putney and Burlington; climate action festivals in Waitsfield, Cavendish, and more. Go to 350.org to see a list of actions with names of contact people.

BELLS ACROSS VERMONT

Faith communities in eleven+ Vermont towns plan
to ring bells on Oct. 24th to sound an alarm about the
climate crisis and the urgent need for action to avert
it -- to save God's creation. To date, we know that bells
will ring in Barre, Bennington, Bethel, Burlington,
Charlotte, Greensboro, Killington, Montpelier, Northfield,
Randolph and Tunbridge. We encourage more churches
to join in so bells will ring throughout the state. People of
faith are called to care for creation. Here's a way to alert
people to the need to step up and take this responsibility.

In Burlington at 3:50PM St. Paul’s Cathedral, First United Methodist, College St. Congregational, and First Congregational, and the Firehouse Gallery will all ring bells for several minutes.

BURLINGTON PRAYER VIGIL - City Hall Park, 3 pm

People who want to participate in the prayer vigil in
Burlington on 10/24 but can't be there in person can
send prayers to VTIPL (info@vtipl.org) for inclusion.

Anyone may send a prayer and children's prayers are
especially welcome- on creation, animals, plants, climate,
landscape, people affected by the climate crisis, or any-
thing on this general theme. We invite houses of worship
to include this notice in their bulletins.