WASHINGTON - October 21 - Around the world on October 24th people will be holding events focusing attention on the number 350 - what the scientists say is the safe upper limit for parts per million of C02 in the atmosphere.  The 350 campaign will see people make a joint statement to policy makers preparing for the Copenhagen summit, calling for a bold and committed new deal that sets the world on a path to reaching the safe level of 350ppm.

The 350 day of action, founded by author Bill McKibben, is the major international action leading up to the UN Climate Talks in Copenhagen, these actions peak with the Global Day of Action on Climate Change midway through the talks on December 12^th - see here.

Bianca Jagger, founder of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation and champion for social and environmental justice, says "Tackling climate change is the overriding moral imperative of our time. Time is of the essence; we are close to the point of no return. 350ppm is the most important number on earth. We must reach it if we are to avert catastrophic climate change."

Andrew Simms, Policy Director and Head of the Climate Change Programme, nef (the new economics foundation) says: "Like the safe load-line on a boat, the global economy has an environmental water line created by climate change. We're already crossing it, raising the risk of sinking. But instead of lightening the load to get back to safe levels, we're still piling more stuff on board. Our overconsumption is turning the planet into one vast coffin ship. To travel safely, we must urgently return to 350ppm carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere."

The main UK 350 event will take place on London's South Bank under the London Eye. It will be linked with gatherings in other major cities including Sydney, Delhi, Copenhagen, Washington DC and Quito. Each gathering will take place next to an iconic landmark, with the people present forming one of the figures in the number 350 so that put together, the aerial photos show a global message of 350 solidarity. London will be forming a human ‘5' which when matched with the ‘3' and ‘0'  from other cities will highlight the need for concerted global action to deal with a global problem.

Campaign against Climate Change will be organising the Big 5 for 350 (www.350.org/big5) London photo and will be joined on the day by Bianca Jagger. The Big 5 for 350 is programmed as part of the new economics foundation's Bigger Picture Festival of Interdependence on Saturday 24^th October at the Bargehouse on London's Southbank.

When:             14h00 - 15h30, Saturday 24 October 2009