JHS students aim to make a difference

• 350

Students at Jefferson High School in Alexandria gathered to form the number 350 and bring awareness to climate change.

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The students in John Esbjornsson’s 3rd hour biology class at Jefferson High School (JHS) in Alexandria are learning about climate change and the carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere. As part of this, they recently took part in an event to bring awareness to the 350 movement.

The 350 movement is an international campaign to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. Its mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the crises and create a sense of urgency and of possibility for the planet.

The focus is on the number 350. Scientists say the Earth’s present carbon dioxide level is at 387 parts per million, which is considered high. The goal is to lower that number to 350. If the level doesn’t get below that, scientists say that the damage already being seen from global warming will continue and accelerate. (For information, visit the website www.350.org.)

To help educate the public about climate change, on October 10, 2010 (10/10/10), people in 7,347 events in 188 countries joined together to dig community gardens, install solar panels, plant trees and other activities that can help reduce the number.

Because there was no school on 10/10/10 as it was a Sunday, the JHS biology students gathered on Friday, October 8 and formed the number 350 on the school’s lawn. The purpose of the gathering was to make a statement that it is the students’ generation that will have to deal with the climate change and the adverse effects it is having on the Earth’s atmosphere, and that they want to help make a change.

Tags: life, features, school, 350, environment, climate