10/15/09: Take Action TODAY!

You know you love it. So work harder to save it.

What is Blog Action Day?

Blog Action Day is a cheesy title for an important event: one day in which the online world dedicates itself to fighting climate change. Today, the B.A.D. team at Change.org is rallying Web writers—and thusly our readers—to get involved.

Air pollution – photo by pfala

Climate change is more than just a cause celebre; it’s a very real threat, and each of us must take real action toward a healthier world. And although the issue is bigger than any one of us can tackle alone, by rallying our forces and working together with world leaders we might just be able to change things.

Today, bloggers around the world are united, spreading the world to our eleven million readers and exhorting them—no, exhorting YOU—to take action.

Why Should I Act Now?

This is a crucial moment in our planet’s history. On December 7, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Copenhagen to hash out an international agreement on environmental policy. That gives us less than two months to make sure our leaders know that we demand a fair, ambitious, and binding agreement.

The United States is a leader in clean technology, but it’s also one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases. President Obama has asserted that climate change is an urgent threat—but words and actions are two different things. We must make sure that our leadership knows how strongly we feel about this issue, so that strong action will be taken at an international level. In short, we have to stand up and fight for change.

How Can I Take Action?

Easy! You won’t even have to move your butt from your cushy chair. Here are a few ways to make your voice heard:

• TckTckTck offers tons of information on climate change and what it could mean, as well as a petition directed at our international leadership in Copenhagen.
• 350.org is involved with the International Day of Climate Action on October 24th. Sign up now to join the petition, and to plan what you’ll do for the Earth. Also, discover the significance of the number 350.
• The Nature Conservancy offers a list of recommended Twitter and Facebook status updates that you can use to remind your friends about the importance of climate awareness.
• BlogActionDay.org has a petition to President Obama. Sign up to tell him you want decisive action on environmental issues.

More Information

Not convinced? Really? Check out these links for a little kick in the pants:

• Explore climate change in Google Earth

• Explore the Climate Orb on TckTckTck.org to see true, human stories of climate change.
• Read the Pew Center’s Facts and Figures on Global Warming to get scientific clues about the seriousness of the issue.
• Calculate your environmental impact with the top 10 carbon footprint calculators.
• Don’t despair! Explore 350.org to find out what people all over the world are doing to fight climate change.