Bill McKibben 350.org Founder to speak at Waitakere City Council Breakfast Seminar Monday 4th May

Waitakere Inform Challenge and Inspire  and 350 would like to invite you to hear Bill McKibben.

Waitakere is proud to host for a breakfast forum author and activist Bill McKibben on the final days of his whirlwind tour of Aotearoa.

We would like to invite you to join us

Date: 4th May 2009
Venue: Waitakere City Council Chambers
Time: 8.00 to 9.00am

A light breakfast will be served from 7.30am

Please RSVP to strategyadmin@waitakere.govt.nz

Background

McKibben’s first book The End of Nature proved hugely influential, putting climate change firmly at the top of the agenda for world leaders like Al Gore.

His recent book Deep Economy: The wealth of Communities and the durable future promotes the need to move to an economic model beyond growth as the primary economic ideal. He explores the opportunity to pursue prosperity in a more local direction, with cities, suburbs and regions producing more of their own food, generating more of their own energy and creating more of their own culture and entertainment. McKibben demonstrates that we need a shift in our thinking about economics. We need to think about a deep economy that takes human satisfaction and societal durability more seriously.

"More recently, McKibben founded 350.org. This rapidly growing global movement is working to raise awareness about, and action on, climate change issues. In only two years 350 has spread across the globe through actions in over 50 countries – from India, Belize, Chile, Antarctica, France, South Korea, Cameroon, Philippines, Lebanon and Canada to right here in Aotearoa. The movement has just entered a new phase, preparing for massive actions around the world on October 24th 2009 in the lead up to what many have called the most important international negotiations ever - the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. 350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet.

Climate science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million (ppmv), we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth. The current global concentration of carbon dioxide is 387ppmv and rising at about 2ppmv each year. What will it take to turn it around? During his New Zealand visit, McKibben will be spreading the word about what it means to genuinely deal with climate change, going beyond being more efficient or carbon neutral, because a target of 350ppmv means that we need to start absorbing more carbon than we release. McKibben will share his take on how the global 350 movement, and worldwide action of October 24th, could help us move towards this future. Bill will address the 350 movement, where it’s heading, and how people can be involved - the impotant role for citizens and / or New Zealand’s NGO’s in ensuring strong action on climate change issues, with specific reference to the global day of action on October 24th - the importance of December’s UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen, and of a united global movement to combat climate change - the importance of climate change planning and emissions reduction targets in both local and central government policy"

On tour with Bill McKibben is Jon Warnow, the 350.org Oceania representative, as well as Aaron Packard, a founding member and leader of 350 Aotearoa.

Bill McKibben’s website:  www.billmckibben.com.

350 movement, visit the global website: www.350.org, and for an overview of 350 Aotearoa, the local website: www.350.org.nz.

Bill is also speaking at the University of Auckand from 12:30-1:30pm the same day Monday 4th May, and touring the country For more information on this, see here.