A creative grassroots campaign promoting awareness of global climate change took place last weekend throughout the Islands.

Students and climate activists joined thousands globally on the International Day of Climate Action, participating in rallies, demonstrations and creative picture-taking featuring the number 350, "the most important number in the world," according to the movement's founder, Bill McKibben.

According to the movement's Web site, 350.org, climate scientists say that the Earth's safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 currently measures 390 ppm.

At 18 locations on Kauai, Molokai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii Island, 1,500 students and activists from 30 schools gathered with blue chalk to delineate Hawaii's projected coastline within the next 50 to 100 years in the event CO2 levels are not regulated.

"When we talk abut climate issues, we're talking about half a century to a century timeline, and if it does take place, we could be facing a situation," said Francois Rogers, communications director for The Blue Planet Foundation, which organized the project in conjunction with the Sierra Club and 350.org.

Maps for The Blue Line Project were created by University of Hawaii-Mänoa geology professor Chip Fletcher, who predicted the new coastline based on a 1 meter rise in sea level.

"Getting the students involved was really rewarding for us," said Rogers, who traveled with other Blue Planet Foundation representatives to give 50 climate change presentations at schools throughout the state. "Whether they came to the line on that day or not, we were still able to get the message out."

A second group, led by 350 Honolulu organizer Keith Rose, rallied at the state Capitol on Oct. 24. More than 200 community members and students, joined by Ed Case and state Sen. Gary Hooser, waved signs and formed a human 350 in the Capitol rotunda.

"I'm a strong believer that we need to do something about climate change," said Rose. "No matter how much we debate and how much politicians speak, we're still subject to the laws of physics and chemistry."

Another group of Ahahui Mälama I Ka Lokahi and Hawaii Interfaith Power and Light members collaborated with about 40 students from Kailua area schools to make a human 350, wearing red shirts at Kawai Nui Marsh.

"From a Hawaiian cultural perspective and also an interfaith perspective, this is another means of bringing attention and awareness to people here in Hawaii and nationally because there are people who still believe global warming isn't happening, or don't believe it's produced by man's actions," said Chuck Burrows, president of Ahahui Mälama I Ka Lokahi and board member of Hawaii Interfaith Power and Light.

The day of action came as United Nations representatives prepared to meet next month in Copenhagen for a large international climate conference. www.350.org plans to publicize photos taken during last Saturday's events from Hawaii and throughout the world in an effort to pressure delegates to take action.

"We really need a bottom-up drive to get the political will to do this. We have to let our politicians know that we stand behind them," said Rose. "I'm not very optimistic of Copenhagen coming out with a 350 initiative, being a realist, but we have to do our best."

"They (youths) need to realize they're building a foundation for their children and their grandchildren," said Rogers. "They can set a great path for the generations to come."