a quick word from bill mckibben

hope everyone watched the debates tonight. both of the candidates touched briefly on climate change, though the issue has taken a back seat w/r/t the recent financial meltdown. if only the sort of urgency shown that crisis (if you're scoring at home that's simply the latest in a terribly, terribly long string) were also afforded to solutions for a dangerously warming planet. environmental writer and activist bill mckibben, co-founder of the excellent group 350.org and author of the scary & prescient book the end of nature, seems to agree, and in fact he has a request for all us that, who knows, just might help do the trick:

Hey everybody,

Can you help me invite Obama and McCain to a party? I'm not kidding.

It's called "The Conference of the Parties," and it's the first chance for the candidates to reverse the disasterous climate policies of the Bush administration. But don't let the name fool you--it's not all fun and games. It's the huge UN Meeting coming up in December, when the nations of the world come together to work on a global deal to control the climate crisis.

If Obama or McCain, whoever becomes president, goes to this UN meeting and commits the US to responsible leadership on climate change, it will be a major turning point. It would be the President-elect's first foreign trip after the election—even before he's inaugurated—and his presence would send a huge jolt of optimism into the meeting.

But they won't go if no one asks them to--that's where you come in.

Can you send an invitation to Obama and McCain right now?

It's impossible to escape the sense that the current U.S. election is one of the most important in the planet's history. It's vital that you, no matter where you live, play a part—especially in reminding the candidates of their monumental challenge to restore America's image in the world. The best way to do that is to encourage real participation in these UN Climate Negotiations--click here to send your invitation right now.

The United States is the only developed country that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, the world's first draft of a global climate deal. For the last seven years the Bush Administration has tried to block global progress on climate change and derail international negotiations from the sidelines. The time has come to put that era of obstructionism behind us--the USA must get back in the game.

Please send your invitation today.

Thanks for all you do,

-Bill McKibben and the 350.org team: Govind, Jamie, Jeremy,Jon, Judit, Kelly, May, Phil, and Will

sending out an invite to the candidates will take less than thirty seconds. which seems to us a small sacrifice in light of the potential benefits.

ben harper - engraved invitation