To communicate concepts that can sometimes seem abstract – 350, parts per million, atmospheric carbon dioxide – we look to artists, the great communicators of the world, to help us convey their meaning. At the heart of the matter, 350 is simply a goal and a symbol that we’ve gone too far. To help communicate this message, we’ve reached out to artists of all kinds, from graffiti artists to dancers, and most recently, to writers. As you may know, 350.org director Bill McKibben is primarily a writer – he wrote the first book about climate change for a general audience back in 1989. Now he’s looking to his colleagues to see how they can use their craft to inspire and make a difference. Just a few days ago we got in our first submission, from the great Chilean poet Ariel Dorfman. Please read below for inspiration, and check back here for more pieces from 350 Writers! <\/p>\n
POEM FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN OF THREE FIVE 0<\/strong> Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear<\/p>\n What should I do?<\/p>\n The polar bears are dying out. <\/p>\n Oh dear Oh dear<\/p>\n The children cannot breathe.<\/p>\n What should I do?<\/p>\n The elephants have nowhere What should I Oh dear Oh The seventh extinction is on its way. Oh dear Not a tree not a tree Oh dear oh dear. The drought the plague the black dark And there’s nothing Much too big for you for him for her for me. <\/p>\n We’re melting the sea.<\/p>\n Oh dear <\/p>\n Oh. <\/p>\n Oh if I could only trust Oh if I could count all over again Maybe one plus one makes more than two to make that O the sign of birth Three Five O organizers bold we’ll come together<\/p>\n we’ll come together we have very little time we have very little time and time enough for us my dear oh my dear<\/p>\n there’s just love enough and time now and here<\/p>\n to act and then nothing To communicate concepts that can sometimes seem abstract – 350, parts per million, atmospheric carbon dioxide – we look to artists, the great communicators of the world, to help us convey their mea<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
by Ariel Dorfman<\/p>\n
to flee.
The elephants Oh dear it’s true. <\/p>\n
can I
must I do?<\/p>\n
Three Five O
Oh dear that scares me scares me so
Oh dear we won’t survive
Three Five O up in the sky
and no more birth
and it’s good-bye.<\/p>\n
Can the eighth extinction be far behind?<\/p>\n
It’s much too big for little me <\/p>\n
not even a shade of green.<\/p>\n
The cities all
vanished
wiped out.<\/p>\n
death.
Not even a bird
for our last breath.<\/p>\n
nothing
nothing
I can do.<\/p>\n
the hand that is close
the hand that is here<\/p>\n
but not with dread.<\/p>\n
maybe three can be three million strong
in fact
maybe five means five billion tall
ready to act<\/p>\n
and not the mark
of nightmares long
and lonely bread.<\/p>\n
Dot.Org
Three Five O<\/p>\n
bells that toll
climbers on the mountain
divers under the reef<\/p>\n
in every corner of the earth<\/p>\n
but we have each other<\/p>\n
but I have little you
and you have little me<\/p>\n
to act and be free
as long as we have each other
one hand in my hand
there can only be birth<\/p>\n
now and here<\/p>\n
nothing
nothing
to fear<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"