Getting things done in the world of environmentalism is heavily reliant on grassroots efforts. These calls for change come from the individuals who dare to give a damn rather than from institutions in power.

Rallying people behind a cause takes finagling, especially for something like climate change. Effectively communicating why it is important, who it affects and how to take action requires ingenuity and persistence. This weekend a number of organizations will host opportunities to participate in a grassroots movement.

Defining the issue is critical. Climate change demands extensive public education because the causes are many and varied while the effects are not necessarily tangible in our everyday lives. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere are primarily products of the fossil fuels. The effects range from more intense storms to more frequent droughts and happen on a global scale. But, of course, eliminating fossil fuels would be an economic shift of epic proportions.

Grassroots movements also differ in their goals. Actions like rallies, petitions and media blitzes are intended to educate the public. With enough support, politicians and industry leaders take notice, potentially changing current practices. Other times, activists work toward achieving their ultimate goals themselves. For example, creating a bike-share program encourages people to travel without consuming fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gases.

On Saturday, there will be a whole lot of grassroots action happening in Syracuse. Moving Planet is an organization working toward reducing our collective dependency on fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions. On this date hundreds of events organized under Moving Planet’s umbrella by local groups will be happening simultaneously all over the world.

At 10 a.m. on the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry quad, participants will be forming a ‘human 350,’ led by the Environmental Studies Student Organization. The human 350 signifies the desired parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as opposed to the 392 parts per million that currently permeate our atmosphere. President Neil Murphy, Syracuse and Onondaga County officials, along with Samuel Gordon, communities coordinator for Central New York Energy $mart, will be speaking.

The Critical Mass Bike Ride led by the Syracuse Peace Council at 3 p.m. in Thorden Park, beginning at the swimming pools will specifically draw attention to the dangers of hydrofracking — a means of recovering natural gas in Central New York. Participants will be riding in a large, slow crowd through a set route that will meet back at the park at 5 p.m. Traffic will effectively be disrupted in a nonthreatening but highly visible way that is hoped to inspire onlookers to learn more about both hydrofracking and climate change.

Leanna Mulvihill is a senior forest engineering major and environmental writing and rhetoric minor. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at lpmulvih@syr.edu.

Published on September 19, 2011 at 12:00 pm