1 May 2012

Connect the Dots about Climate Change

As one of the first to see the sunrise on May 5, 350 Aotearoa will launch a worldwide day of action “Connect the Dots” in New Zealand, highlighting extreme weather events and impacts of climate change, using dots to make the connection on a global scale.

Connect the Dots recognises the record-breaking heat waves in Russia, wildfires in Australia, and floods in Thailand cannot be looked at in isolation. With every new record-breaking natural disaster, it becomes increasingly clear that climate change is not a future problem — it is happening right now. It’s time to connect the dots.

“We can no longer ignore these severe and increasing weather events happening not only in other places in the world but here in our own backyard,” says 350 Aotearoa Regional Coordinator, Justin Ford-Robertson.

From “dots” fighting off sea level rise in our major cities using metaphoric human and umbrella seawalls to dots recognising destruction from a ‘1 in 500 year flooding’, New Zealand dots will be among the first of thousands across the globe and we are set to lead the way.

With New Zealand’s close proximity and relationships with Islands across the Pacific, we are close enough to know they too, possibly more than most, are feeling the brunt of climate change – and seeing it too. From the erosion of beaches, the bleaching of coral reefs, sinking islands becoming more vulnerable to rising sea levels, extreme events including hurricanes, and floods, their environments are changing.

“We have had our share of extreme weather events too including shoreline and river erosion, flooding and slips and increasingly severe storms, even tornados. It is likely these events will happen more often especially considering the impacts of sea level rise,” says Ford-Robertson.

“So, we are all standing together, with our dots, along with people across New Zealand, the Pacific and across the world.”

“We will be first to launch Connect the Dots, so let’s be among the first to make the link between extreme weather events and climate changes, since in this our Pacific and home region, the connection is obvious.”

“We owe it not only to our children, but to ourselves as well.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• All events across the globe on www.climatedots.org
• 350 org Connect the Dots video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s5a5O2p0s5A
• Recent NIWA article on Stuff: http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/6832750/Extreme-floods-could-be-annual

Events happening in NZ and Pacific: NZ Top 5 Connect the Dots events

Auckland, NZ: Connect Auckland
In Mission Bay a group of people will build a Human Wall of Dots roughly to the height of the Tamaki Drive Seawall representing the protection Auckland will need over the next 90 years if we continue to burn fossil fuels: the necessary height of protection from sea level rise and coastal storms.

Wellington, NZ: Connect the Dots to Sea Level Rise
Combined with research about the likely sea level rise over the next 90 years, a “warning” line will represent the possible and likely new waterfront. Fending off the impending water with umbrellas will provide a metaphoric seawall necessary to maintain our city.

Rotorua, NZ: Rotorua Goes Dotty!
Displays using old painted 33 LPs marked with local or global extreme weather events will join the dots around Rotorua Lakefront! Some local information about the lake temperatures and alternatives to fossil fuels will be provided. Schools and the public are invited to join in making and connecting the dots at a fun filled event for a very serious issue affecting us all.

Golden Bay, NZ: 'One in 500 Year' Rain Event - Connect the Dots
Connect the dots between climate change and the buried house that resulted due to a landslide from a 'One in 500 Year' rain event. Recognising the effects from this rain event with the resulting numerous landslides in this region, the record breaking flooding of the Aorere River and the dramatically changed landscape is Connecting the Dots of extreme weather and climate change.

Nelson, NZ: Connect the Dots Treasure Hunt and Art Exhibition
The public is invited to "treasure hunt" at various Nelson businesses that will display different topics about climate change where a clue can be found. The Treasure Hunt will be launched on May 5 and include topics such as Sustainable Transport in Nelson; how Sea Level Rise affects our neighbours in the Pacific; what Climate Change Will Mean for our Native Fauna, such as the tuatara; and Clean Energy Solutions. Plus, check out Kush Cafe for a 350 Photo Exhibition.

Top 5 Connect the Dots Events in the Pacific

Palau: 'Ridge to Reef' – In Palau they'll be showing the impacts of
climate change across the their land and ocean. They will start out
holding up dots at the ridge of the local hills to highlight the
impact of climate change in their landscape. Then they will travel
down to a taro patch, which is suffering from saltwater inundation due
to sea-level rise. They'll be holding the dots up high there. Then
lastly, they will take their dots down to the coral reef, which is
suffering from both the warming and acidification of the oceans.
Event URL: http://act.climatedots.org/event/impacts_en/2887

Nauru: Nauru's desalination plant will hang a big dot on its storage
facilities because during draught, the plant lacks the capacity to
supply enough to meet the national water demand. As well as that, the
local power generator will turn off the generator for 350 minutes
starting at 3.50pm on May 5th.
Event URL: http://act.climatedots.org/event/impacts_en/2578

Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands: As one of the first nations to see the
sunrise on May 5th, and as one of the most vulnerable countries to
climate change, the 350group in Majuro will be meeting at sunrise to
launch the global day of action, Climate Impacts Day. They also have a
team of divers who are heading out to a bleached coral reef, where
they will hold dots underwater to connect coral bleaching with climate
change.
Event URL:http://act.climatedots.org/event/impacts_en/2399

American Samoa: The 350 Environment Club of American Samoa is running
a billboard design competition across every high school in American
Samoa to the theme of Connect the Dots. The young and local artists
will incorporate their ideas using their artistic ideas about how
climate change will change our lives. There will be five winners and
their work will be displayed on billboards erected in five areas of
the island.

ENDS

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