May 5: Connect the Dots Climate Impacts Day
Climate Impacts Day is not location specific and being coordinated through the web. There are a number of locations at which people are getting together to talk about climate change and the effect it's having.
"On that day, we will issue a wake-up call, and connect the dots between climate change and extreme weather," 350.org organizers say. "We will educate, protest, create, document, and volunteer along with thousands of people around the world."
At this point there are no events scheduled in the San Joaquin Valley. But there's still time. Think about starting a new event in your community.
Here's a list of nearby events:
Dana Glacier - I'm Melting!
Saturday, May 5, 10:00 AM, Mount Dana, Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lee Vining, CA 93541
"We'll be hiking in to the Dana Glacier (near Tioga Pass) and laying out a massive banner to connect the dots on climate change and glacial retreat. If you have some experience backpacking - you are welcome to join. We have 4 massive banners to deploy on the glacier, and need lots of hands to help. The trek will depend on the conditions. If Tioga Pass is open, we'll have a moderate 2 mile hike/scramble, leaving from near Tioga Lake. If the Pass is closed, we will have to park on the East side near Lee Vining, and face a hike closer to 9 miles (mostly on the closed road), which will require camping the night of the 4th near Tioga Lake."
Everything is Connected!
Saturday, May 5, 2:00 PM, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA 93920
"Residents and Guests of the Esalen Institute will gather together at 2pm on the front lawn and engage in a 'Spinning the Community Web' exercise. Followed by discussion and info sharing on how we can act at Esalen and here in the wild Big Sur within Monterey County, California to responsibly and creatively respond to Climate Change."
Cinco de Mayo Climate-Change Awareness Day
Saturday, May 5, 10:00 AM, San Lorenzo River Park, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
"We have Earth Day each year at this park, and everyone knows how to do that here, except this will be a 350.org Day of Action to stop Keystone XL, as well as local environmental issues with petitions to Government Brown, speakers, music by local bands, booths to disseminate information, sign petitions, join with our community in all the ways we can personally act, as well as ways we can join with actions in our community. We have an active Occupy movement here, so I'm sure many others are wanting to participate, plan and make a difference."
Transition San Lorenzo Valley Potluck
Saturday, May 5, 4:00 PM, Covered Bridge Park, Felton, CA 95018
"We would like to extend an invitation to our quarterly potluck on May 5th, 4-6pm, which will be a great opportunity for people to meet one another and generate some ideas for how to create a more vibrant, interdependent and sustainable community. We ask that attendees bring their own dishes and silverware. RSVP if you can make it -- we hope that you can! http://transitionslv.ning.com/events/potluck-quarterly-gathering-1 The mission of Transition San Lorenzo Valley is to increase our communities’ resilience and self-reliance and help strengthen our local economy in preparation for the effects of climate change, dwindling fossil fuels, and economic instability."
Connect the Dots in Fremont
Saturday, May 5, 1:00 PM, Corner of Mowry and Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536
"This is a public awareness event that will demonstrate that Global Warming is having a profound effect on peoples lives, and recognizing a problem is the first step in solving a problem. Please bring a sign in one of four categories ( one for each corner ): 1. Human activities are causing => 2. More carbon in the atmosphere, causing => 3. Freaky weather which is => 4. All part of climate change ( your solution here )."
The AtheniaN School Eco tour
Monday, May 21, 2:00 PM, The Athenian School, Danville, CA 94506
"A tour of Athenian's 75 acres at the foot of Mount Diablo. A guide to Athenian's student projects including the electric car conversion and the bio-swales. Also a tour of the Solar "A", other solar installations (70% off the grid), the compost (all food waste) and garden, the irrigation system, perma-culture garden, waterless urinals and other water saving actions taken, and an explanation how natural gas used to heat water for dorms, kitchen and bathrooms was reduced 60%."
Climate Wars Talk Screening
Saturday, May 5, 8:30 PM, Outdoor Movie of a Talk by Gwynne Dyer, Palo Alto, CA 94306
"Outdoor video screening of a recent talk given by Academy Award nominated journalist Gwynne Dyer on the topic of "Climate Wars", a book he authored on climate change and the potential geopolitical conflicts likely to ensue. Dyer is one of the world's experts on the history of war and a few of his accomplishments are listed on the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwynne_Dyer . Bring a lawn chair for the screening, and join us for live music / jam session after the screening."
Flower Mobs
Saturday, May 5, 11:00 AM, College Terrace, Palo Alto, CA 94306
"Join the College Terrace Green Team and help to beautify our neighborhood by planting flowers, fruit, veggies, and succulents. More info: www.flowermobs.blogspot.com."
Rising San Francisco Bay
Saturday, May 5, 1:00 PM, A Pocket Park overlooking San Francisco Bay, Hayward, CA 94545
"The event location is at Eden Shores Park, just west of the Costco at the intersection of Hesperian at Industrial in Hayward. Take Hesperian South and turn west onto Eden Shores Blvd. Drive to its end at this park, which overlooks the Bay. Look for us at the elevated blue gazebo. The site provides an amazingly clear view of how little sea level rise it will take to make BIG problems for vast tracts of Bay side housing and commerce. A speaker or two will present concise information about the pace of climate change and how it drives sea level rise in San Francisco Bay, the steps local and state agencies are taking as they plan for it, and the enormous costs of moving, protecting and abandoning infrastructure and development year by year. We'll also do a short skit, and anyone bringing along a diving mask and / or a snorkel is welcome to join the cast. Wearing clothes with a fish or waterfowl motif, or even dressing up as a tornado or storm cloud is also a way to add to the fun. Attendees also may pick from our selection of dot shaped signs tying in with the world wide theme of the event . Start time is 1:00 PM and we'll be done by 2:00 or 2:15 at the very latest. We will have informational Rising San Francisco Bay leaflets to pass out to Costco customers for anyone wishing to do so on your way home."
Desertification? No thanks!
Saturday, May 5, 9:00 AM, Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, CA 92328
"We'll be spending a few days riding our bicycles around Death Valley, CA. We love deserts, but don't think the whole world needs to be one."