Exeter, NH (October 21, 2009)—Educating the public about current levels of unsafe carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, students of Phillips Exeter Academy and leaders of Repower America and Project Laundry List will co-host a rally on Sunday, October 25, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., on the lawn of the Academy Building, located on Front Street. The rally will be held in honor of the International Day of Climate Action, organized by 350.org, and will address the current science of global warming and efforts to advocate for progressive climate change legislation. The event is free and open to the public.

More than 350 PEA students, employees and community members will gather with red shirts in formation of the Academy’s mascot Red Lion, with a large banner reading “350.org,” for an aerial photo to promote the cause of calling for progressive climate change legislation. According to scientists, 350 parts per million (PPM) in the world is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Currently, environmental levels closer to 390 (PPM) are pushing the Earth into a danger zone with too much carbon, resulting in calls for international treaties and critical, immediate action.

“Already, signs of climate change have been documented: melting icecaps, an increasing number of drought events, and increased global temperature#all of these disturbing trends in the natural world are indicators that urgent action must be taken everywhere,” says PEA Sustainability Education Coordinator Jennifer Wilhelm.

The rally will include guest speakers: David Anderson, New Hampshire Seacoast organizer for Repower New Hampshire, a division of Repower America that collectively advocates for the investment in energy efficiency, clean renewable energy sources, a unified smart energy national grid and clean car technology; and Alexander Lee ’93, founder and executive director of Project Laundry List, an organization working to make air-drying and cold-water washing laundry an acceptable, desirable, and simple and effective way to save energy; thus reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to a warming planet.

For further information, call the Academy’s Sustainability Education Coordinator Jennifer Wilhelm at 603-777-3765. A complete list of upcoming events is available on the Phillips Exeter Academy public events line at 603-777-4309 and on our website at www.exeter.edu. For directions to Phillips Exeter Academy, call 603-777-4330.  For more information about the Academy’s sustainability efforts, visit www.exeter.edu/sustainability.