October 10, 2010 or 10/10/10 was a remarkable date, and many, attracted to the beauty of its symmetry, have already had wedding arrangements from months before. 10/10/10 was a day to remember for climate activists either, as international 350.org movement organized a Global Work Party, calling politicians to act.

On 10/10/10, people at 7347 events in 188 countries got to work on the climate crisis. The goal of the day was to send a political message to the world leaders: if we can get to work, you can get to work too, on the legislation and the treaties. 2010 has been a discouraging year for climate activists from the beginning, as governments fail to sign a binding treaty at COP15 meeting in Copenhagen, business sector and local governments' highly motivated attempts being decelerated, accompanied with numberless disaster news from all over world, related with extreme climate conditions.

Although combat against climate change has lost momentum, climate change itself accelerated as greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase with CO2 level in the atmosphere has risen to 388 ppm (parts-per-million) and year 2010 has been breaking monthly records for average temperatures since January in a row. Yet upcoming COP16 meeting shows no signs of an agreement, as the debate between developed and developing countries has not reached a conclusive state.

Bearing these in mind, initiated by 350.org, 10/10/10 Global Work Party was a refreshing boost for climate activists from all over the world. 350.org is an international campaign that's building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis, with the mission "to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis - to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet." Founded by Bill McKibben, 350.org started with a group of six recent university graduates in 2008. The campaign takes its name from the goal of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from its current level of 388 parts per million to below 350 ppm, the safe upper limit according to leading scientists.

Global Work Party emphasizes two words "work" and "party" where thousands of people around the world gathered and rolled their sleeves up: in Istanbul, 7000 marched on Istiklal Street for climate action; in Afghanistan, groups of students planted trees in a valley outside Kabul; in South Africa, a local business installed solar panels on the roof of an orphanage; and in Maldives, President Mohamed Nasheed installed solar panels on his presidential home roof.

Along with these highlighted events, 350 activists in Ankara, starting with the motto '10 Cities, 350 Bikes' organized a 10/10/10 work party in 10 cities simultaneously: Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Edirne, Eskisehir, Izmir, Samsun, Trabzon and Yalova. A bike lane opening and bicycle tour was held in Ankara, with attendance of more than 200 cyclists, along with a press release. Similarly press announcements and bicycle tours were held in other cities as well with a cheerful attendance of citizens.

Climate crisis is not a dead end; there are many possible and plausible solutions. It is only a matter of priority and allocation of resources. While tens of billions of dollars are kept ready for a third bridge on Bosphorus, or a nuclear power plant in Mersin, many sustainable solutions are postponed for ambiguous reasons. On the other hand, it is promising to see that public awareness is ever increasing and will not let politicians shrug their way out of climate crisis. Turkey resides on a geography where abrupt effects of climate change will dramatically risk social security and economy. Therefore public demand for tangible moves towards a climate solution is seen as indispensable for Turkey.

For more information please follow http://350ankara.blogspot.com