So, yesterday, on 10/10/2010, thousands upon thousands of people at over 7,000 locations around the world got to work on behalf of the planet. People did everything from planting trees to fixing bikes to installing solar panels.
This international action, organized by 350.org (follow the link for photos of actions around the world), will hopefully show leaders that people around the world are ready to work to reverse climate change and that the leaders should, too.
For my part, I joined volunteers from the No Impact Project, Sustainable South Bronx, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Hazon and the New York City Housing Authority to paint white a tar black roof.
Painting the roof white means that the building is cooler for the residents, that the building will radiant less heat into the surrounding area and reduce the urban heat island affect, and that solar radiation will be reflected back into space to make a small contribution to reducing global warming.
But perhaps more importantly, members of so many completely different communities came together on that roof to do what they could for the planet. If these communities can come together as people to stop global warming, why can't the Republicans and the Democrats?
If thousands upon thousands of people at 7,000 locations in 188 countries can join together at one time to reverse climate change, why can't the leaders of our world?