In the words of Bill McKibben, “the time has come to get mad, and then to get busy."

On October 10th 2010 the planet is getting to work on climate change with over 2800 events in 150 countries. 350.org, founded by renowned author and environmentalist Bill McKibben, is calling for a 10/10/10 “Global Work Party” with emphasis on both 'work' and 'party'. “In Auckland, New Zealand, they’re having a giant bike fix-up day, to get every bicycle in the city back on the road. In the Maldives, they’re putting up solar panels on the President’s office. In Kampala, Uganda, they're going to plant thousands of trees, and in Bolivia they’re installing solar stoves for a massive carbon neutral picnic.” (350.org)

Geoengineering has emerged in recent years as a highly controversial solution for dealing climate change. Andrew Revkin recently discussed this on his blog in more detail, and Yale 360 has a great article posted today, A Hard Look at the Perils and Potential of Geoengineering.  Essentially geoengineering focuses on finding human made methods to use technology to change the earth's environment, and in the case of climate change ways of using technology to mitigate the effects of climate change. The following video gives a humorous, but clear and basic introduction to some of the ideas that have emerged in the geoengineering field.

Regardless of the controversy that surrounds geoengineering, it presents a great opportunity to use climate change as a platform to discuss climate change and possible solutions. In our home state of Minnesota, as in many states, engineering has become a part of the science standards that must be addressed in the classroom. Some of the standards a classroom discussion and student research about geoengineering might address include:

-Engineers create, develop and manufacture machines, structures, processes and systems that impact society and may make humans more productive.

-Engineering design is the process of devising products, processes and systems that address a need, capitalize on an opportunity, or solve a specific problem.

- Engineering is a way of addressing human needs by applying science concepts and mathematical techniques to develop new products, tools, processes and systems.

-Engineering design is an analytical and creative process of devising a solution to meet a need or solve a specific problem.

-Science and engineering operate in the context of society and both influence and are influenced by this context.

-Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics rely on each other to enhance knowledge and understanding.

(Minnesota Department of Education Science Standards 6-8, 9-12 )

Today's podcast from Point of Inquiry features yesterday's blog topic (pure coincidence of course!) on the importance of science communication and the challenges the professional science communicators face. Some important points from the podcast, which features an interview with Andrew Revkin, include:

• "We face science centered risks: climate and energy crises, biological and nuclear terror threats, mega-disasters and global pandemics."
• Despite this, "If you watch 5 hours of cable news today, expect to see just 1 minute devoted to science and technology. From 1989-2005, meanwhile, the number of major newspapers featuring weekly science sections shrank from 95 to 34."  (Point of Inquiry )

To listen to the podcast click below and look for: Andrew Revkin - The Death of Science Writing, and the Future of Catastrophe

So many things are happening at the U.N. Climate Change Summit - it will make your head spin! Bringing awareness and attention to an issue or group can be done in many ways. "Actions" are a large part of the Climate Change Summit and in making statements worldwide. Particular planned "actions" with different organizations and groups must be planned, requested and approved by U.N. with certain regulations and guidelines for all. I just wanted to share some amazing action photos with you here.

These are just some of the incredibly inspiring youth actions that took place at the U.N. Climate Summit.

Today the Bella Center was bursting at the seems as hordes of observers tried to get into the conference for the first time. This week, things are going to heat up as we try to turn down the heat. Starting tomorrow, presidents and national leaders will begin to arrive, and fewer and fewer youth delegates will be able to get into the conference. On Friday, President Barack Obama will arrive. As the head of the Norwegian Labor Party told me on Friday, "We are skeptical of President Obama after the weak proposal that the United States has put forward, but it is a hopeful sign that he is coming on Friday instead of last week, because that is when there will be the greatest chance of a treaty being forged."

Today, I caught part of a side event about artists and scientists collaborating together to create climate solutions, and then I ran to a meeting with youth delegates from China and India to try to come up with ways of working together, of collaborating together on events and meetings with our representatives here at COP.

Then, I caught the rail to the Danish Film Institute where Chris and I got tickets for four people to go to the observation room while Al Gore spoke tonight.

Tonight, I went with Will, Nicole, and Jerry to see Al Gore speak about the negotiations. Gore asked, "Is there any message that you'd like me to bring with me to my meeting with the negotiators tomorrow?" This is my chance, I thought to myself. He called on me and time stopped for a second as I realized that I was about to ask Vice President Al Gore a question, but what would I ask? I started out by explaining that I am here in Copenhagen at COP-15 with Expedition Copenhagen and a United States youth delegation of 500, and that he needs to bring up the fact that this is our lives we are talking about, this not just a theory, but something that will impact us and future generations personally.

I hit the train running (again!). This time I had to be back at my apartment in time to do a video conference with my HECUA class back in Minnesota. I swept open the door and flipped on my laptop Skype just in time to get the call from Julia. It was so wonderful to see all of their beautiful faces back in the heartland, doing the important work that needs to be done back at home before we've taken our last stand here at the COP15.