350 Event

This weekend I went to a candlelight vigil at the Roman Amphitheater in downtown Amman for a 350 event.

"350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand. The number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet." (350.org)

I had not yet been inside the Amphitheater and boy was it beautiful at night, esp with the candles and the giant portrait of King Hussein shining down on us.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the event and the chance to think and talk about 'green issues' here in Jordan, I gotta say that for a 'green' event....it was pretty black.

The whole point was to spread the word about climate change and ways we as individuals can make positive change in our communities and insha'allah in the world. So why then did we use an estimated 3,000 and 3,000 tea lights (both one-time-use products) to illuminate the amphitheater? Why were there we have 25 2x2 posters, half in color none-the-less? Why were there a bunch of handout materials (again printed in color) and not even double-sided!

All we did was create a larger footprint on this planet. The "green wave" recently hit Jordan, so I am pleased to see events of this nature taking place in this country, but in order to make a measurable impact we really need to practice what we preach.

On a lovely side note, some amazing pictures resulted and fun was had.