350.org Events: Poems for the Planet

This Saturday, October 24 is 350.org’s International Day of Climate Action. Artfulchange will be hosting a carbon neutral online concert fundraiser all day on our website and an after-party that night at the Box! We hope you can all come. Many other Bay Area organizations are doing great events that day as well and we are doing a series this week to highlight those projects.

I had the chance to interview Phyllis Meshulam, who is organizing “Poems for the Planet,” a group meeting at the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday to hand out poetry in support of the 350.org Day of Climate Action.


    1. What is the mission of your organization?
Well, this is not really an organization's activity. I am part of the Network of Spiritual Progressives which seeks to find a new bottom line in our culture, a way of evaluating our actions based on love, caring for each other and the planet, rather than just individual material success. But I generated the idea for this action out of my love for poetry and its ability to take us right to the heart of the matter in a handful of words.

    2. How did you get involved in the 350.org International Day of Climate Action?
It was the Sonoma County Network of Spiritual Progressives that alerted me to Bill McKibben and his acrivities.

    3. Tell us about your Climate Action Project.
I have obtained permission from several stellar poets: a former US poet laureate, the current US poet laureate and several other northern California poets to use their poems on a leaflet that also includes information about the significance of the number 350 and the day of action. I and a core group of people will meet at the Golden Gate Bridge on 10/24 and hand out leaflets to people walking over the bridge.

    4. What do you need people to do to help make a difference?
I hope more people show up for the event and will pose for a big picture. I hope people who receive our leaflets will write postcard poems to the president and request that he use all the power of his office and personality to make strong, meaningful policy in Copenhagen.

    5. Where can people learn more about your organization and project?
350.org is the best place. Look for the orange dot at the north end of the golden gate bridge, or for "Poems for the Planet." Also, www.spiritualprogressives.org is a great place to learn more about the Network of Spiritual Progressives.