"More than 1600 actions against climate change have been registered at the website of the non governmental initiative 350.org for 24 October, 2009, thus creating the largest movement on Earth ever. Several million people are going to demonstrate simultaneously their desire for a safer future and the fact that they are willing to do anything to counter climate change. We are organising a large-scale event designed to find its well-deserved place in global media.With the aid of Messzelátó Association and numerous other Hungarian NGOs, international anti-climate change movement 350.org is going to organize Global Climate Change day on 24th October 2009 in the framework of a night bath and movie shooting at the historical Széchenyi Spa.
The message
One of the objectives of 350.org is to present decision-makers globally with the photographs and movies documenting the series of actions from all around the world as heralds of a safer future. For 2009 is a crucial year indeed.
Representatives of UN member states are going to sign the new international treaty on climate change in Copenhagen that will replace the Kyoto protocol, and thus will pave the way for the countries adhering to it for decades: whether they will move towards the reduction of their CO2 emissions or keep on destroying their environment, deteriorating the negative impact of climate change that we can experience in all countries today: in the form of heat waves, floods, rise of sea levels, drought, and sudden, violent storms.
(The number 350 marks the safe levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, which still enables us to avoid the large climate-related catastrophes.) This value has in fact already reached 390 ppm (parts per million). Global co-operation is the only way to take us back to the levels of 350 ppm, if endorsed by the coming UN treaty. Thus the number 350 symbolizes the key to our future. Based on scientific research, it should be the guiding figure in the talks of politicians when trying to define the safe ppm values to be agreed on.
What will happen on the 24th of October?
Among the venues of the international series of events scheduled for 24 October, such emblematic locations are to be found which deserves the interest of the global media. Among others, divers will go underwater at tropical coral reefs facing impending doom, there will be an action at Taj Mahal, mountaineers will perform on the peak of Mt. Everest, and the number 350 will be showcased in front of the Sydney Opera.
Budapest can find its place among the iconic locations, and consequently on the map of the world. As a kind contribution of Budapest Health and Thermal Spas Inc., (Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévizei Rt), Széchenyi Spa will become a spectacular and typically Hungarian venue for the event, also highlighting the fact that the protection of natural water reserves – thermal or other – shall be an integral part of climate change programmes all around the world.
The Budapest event
The Climate Bath Party (Global Day of Action) will start with the shooting of a movie in Széchenyi Spa. Gábor Herendi, the director of A Kind of America (Valami Amerika) has accepted to direct the film pro bono, which will be a guarantee for high quality and international attention. Our climate action movie will feature the flow of people invading the spa, forming the number 350 as a symbol of the solution.
This series of images is symbolic on multiple levels: on the one hand, it represents the rise in sea levels, the increasingly frequent floods in Hungary and the climate refugees whose numbers will reach 200 Million by 2040. At the same time, it represents the number of people who agree and want to combat climate change. The afterlife of the film: it will be played in Copenhagen at the UN climate experience, while many people will have the chance to see it on Youtube.
The movie shoot will be among the 10 most greatest events of 350.org. It will also be feature in domestic climate events, such as the meetings of Climate-Friendly Municipalities, Climate Call movie projections, Car-free days etc, while it will also reach a number of further locations thanks to the influence of the movie makers.
Short programme of the Climate Spa:
10.00 pm - gate opening
11.00 pm to 01.00 am climate action movie shoot with Gábor Herendi and his crew
01.00 am to 3.45 bathing, party (concerts, DJ)
in the meanwhile:
01.00 am - synchronized swimmer
01.30 am - ppm measuring
02.00 am - raffle
03.00 am - buying the CO2 quotes
04.00 am closing the gates
We wish to create a tradition by organizing this event.
Tickets to the event cost 1500 HUF.
You can order them by sending your name and email address on the main page using the form or by sending an email.
You can buy the tickets in our office or from our volunteers (to be arranged by email). If you decide to use bank transfer, please write your name and the word "Klimafurdo" in the Comments field.
Bank information:
Bank name: AXA Bank
Account holder: Messzelátó Egyesület
Account number: 17000019-11561190
On the spot the tickets will have a bit higher price; 2000 HUF."
Source: klimafurdo.com
15.10.2009