Alana Kenagy, a Goshen College student from Albany, Ore., has been organizing the Goshen activities since McKibben spoke in Goshen March 11.

"Right then and there I volunteered to help head up organizing the event," she said. "I think Oct. 24 and the 350 movement is important because it shows people on a global scale that they can make a difference."

She coordinates 25 to 30 other organizers, all Goshen College students, and maintains their Web site: www.350.org/goshenindiana.

The 350 movement is based around a report by NASA climate scientist James Hansen, that said the safe limit to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million. Current carbon dioxide levels stands at 390.

Saturday's campaign aims to bring that number down.

Dave Shenk, the organizer in charge of media relations, stressed that this issue is broader than global warming.

"Climate change is controversial," he said, noting that people argue about the truth of the idea that the Earth is heating up due to human activity. "To me, what you can't argue about is pollution, contamination and other environmental issues."

To Shenk, the need to find ways to live sustainably without damaging the Earth is "the heart of the issue."

Andrea Kraybill, a volunteer from Elkhart, said that her religious beliefs are central to her participation.

"I do it because of my faith and because I believe it's a justice issue," she said. "People in the poorest regions of the world are feeling the greatest effects of climate change."

She's looking forward to another of the day's activities, a "trash audit." Students will collect all the garbage generated by the college over three days in order to see how much is recyclable. Then, they will use the garbage to spell out "350" and take a picture.

"It could be kind of gross, but if gross-ness is what it takes to wake people up," Kraybill said, "I think the state of our climate is pretty gross."

The organizers are also looking beyond Oct. 24. The global day of action comes six weeks before the UN climate conference is slated to open Dec. 7 in Copenhagen. One of the day's main goals is to influence the involved politicians.

They also hope that the day will generate interest and excitement for environmental causes.

"I think that some of that energy will stay there when we finish the 350 event," Kenagy said.

350.ORG EVENTS

FRIDAY

1 to 5 p.m. -- Letter writing,

AD 21, Goshen College

4:15 p.m. -- Presentation by The Bee Hive Collective: "The Cost of Coal," Music Center 110, Goshen College

SATURDAY

9 a.m. -- Trash audit of three days worth of garbage created by Goshen College,

Church-Chapel parking lot, Goshen College

Noon -- Community Lunch with local food,

Union Gym East, Goshen College

1:15 p.m. -- Raffle,

Union Gym East, Goshen College

1:30 p.m. -- Bike/walk to the courthouse

2 p.m. -- Rally, including music by Wilma Harder,

Courthouse

8 p.m. -- Environmental and Social Justice Coffee House,

Newcomer 19, Goshen College