On October 24th, I went with fellow Bishop O’Dowd High School students to the International Day of Climate Action event atop Mt. Diablo called “Tell It on the Mountain.” When we got there, we were each given a big piece of bright floral cloth that would allow us to be connected together as “human beads” on a giant “necklace” wrapped around the mountain’s summit. As a group we were escorted to a spot along the trail where a large banner was hung that read: “Mount Diablo, California: 350 ppm CO2.” Linking ourselves to each other by holding the pieces of cloth strung between us, we formed our human necklace as a helicopter flew overhead to take pictures of us. It looped around several times as we continued to jump up and down excitedly for the camera. We then finished our walk around the mountain and returned to the parking lot to listen to several speakers and enjoy the free (and delicious) sandwiches offered to all of the high school groups. When we left we felt informed and empowered, learning about a serious issue and helping to try and solve it.

This event was one of over 5,200 events happening all over the world on this same day. The main message that was communicated to all the participants was summarized by Ron Brown, the executive director of Save Mount Diablo, who told us to “think globally, act locally.” People in 180 different countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history -- to educate others and call for action on the climate crisis. 350 parts per million is the level of CO2 that scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for our atmosphere. Our current CO2 level is 390 ppm and climbing. There needs to be a change. These 5200 events were all pushing for that change. We were all trying to create publicity and raise awareness in order to influence world leaders who will be meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark this December to draft a new global treaty on cutting CO2 emissions. We need our leaders to agree to lower our CO2 emission levels to the sustainable level of 350 ppm. Hopefully, with the publicity spread by this climate action event, that change will be made.