Kiwis punching above their weight for International Day of Climate Action

For immediate release October 11, 2009

Kiwis are pulling together with the highest rate of registrations per capita for the 350 International Day of Climate Action on October 24, the most extensive international climate campaign the world has seen.

75 actions are currently registered in NZ, including opportunities to cycle with world champion mountain biker Kashi Leuchs, a relay over Auckland’s volcanoes, a mass choir in Christchurch’s Victoria Square, harbour bike rides in Wellington, and family picnics and festivals being planned all over the country for October 24, the 350 International Day of Climate Action.

New Zealanders’ events will kick off the action on the international campaign, commencing over 2000 events across 148 countries.

350 Aotearoa is co-ordinating the day of action in NZ. 350 Aotearoa is an arm of 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide in the atmosphere below 350 parts per million.

"New Zealand's 75 registered actions represent one of the highest per capita commitments to the safe 350 ppm level and solving the climate crisis. We take our hats off to the mouse that roared!" says Jon Warnow, Global Co-ordinator for 350.org.

In Dunedin, world champion mountain bike rider Kashi Leuchs is leading a ride from the Octagon at 10am after taking part in the great Dunedin Spring Festival at the Otago Farmers’ Market. On the other side of Dunedin, the world’s steepest street will become a scale showing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Over at St Clair Beach, 350 surfers will ride the waves – all on October 24th.

In Christchurch, a massed choir will assemble in Victoria Square to sing for the day.

Cantabrians will also see the launch of ‘Frocks on Bikes’, a glamorous movement promoting getting around the city in a low-carbon fashion.

In Nelson, one million bottle tops collected by local school groups will be assembled in Trafalgar Street, at the bottom of the Cathedral steps to form a giant 350.

Wellingtonians have the chance to join a massive bike ride around the harbour from Eastbourne to the central city, leading to a joyful celebratory climate festival on the waterfront.

On the 24th, Aucklanders will hear the calling of conch shells, drumming and music between three volcanoes: Maungawhau | Mt Eden, Owairaka | Mt Albert and Tatua o Riukiuta | Big King. Auckland cyclists will travel from Britomart Square and will make a party at the base of Mt Eden from 3.30pm. All are welcome.

New Zealand and the Pacific will be in the international spotlight as the events unfold first in the world. 350.org has booked two screens in New York’s Times Square to show images of actions as they eventuate.

It is not too late to join the fun and register an event at www.350.org.

ABOUT 350.ORG Founded by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben, 350.org is the first large-scale grassroots global campaign against climate change. Its supporters include leading scientists, the governments of 89 countries and a huge variety of environmental, health, development and religious NGOs. All agree that current atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide – around 389 parts per million – are causing damage to the planet and to its most vulnerable people, and that government action at the Copenhagen climate conference is required to bring the earth’s carbon dioxide level swiftly down.

Thousands of school children are also taking part in a schools day of action on the 23rd.

More details to come.

Photos from events happening all over the world will be available for free use at: http://350.org/media

For more information on the global 350 campaign, please visit www.350.org or contact

ENDS