Conejo Valley residents concerned about the effects of global warming will rally at 10 a.m., Sat., April 14 at the Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

The purpose of the rally is to urge Congress to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent by 2050 as part of the Step It Up 2007 Campaign.

Event participants will be photographed displaying their message: "Step It Up Congress! Cut Carbon 80 percent by 2050!" The photo will be sent to members of Congress in Washington D.C., along with photos from the more than 1,000 other similar events expected across the country.

"Individual citizens don't have the chance to vote directly on legislation to take action on global warming," said Oak Park resident David Ettinger, one of the event organizers. "Instead, we'll be voting with our presence at this event."

According to some scientists, global warming's impact will be felt greatest that part of the world's population that is most vulnerable. Severe droughts, strong storms and rising sea levels caused by global warming will dramatically affect the already scarce resources relied upon by hundreds of millions of people for the basics of life.

"Stopping global warming will catalyze a new cleanenergy revolution which will benefit workers across the globe. We must, and we can, protect both their ability to provide for their families and also for the long-term health of the environment," said Bill McKibben, a Step It Up spokesperson.

Not so fast

Other experts say the effects of global warming have been overstated, and that while carbon dioxide levels have increased substantially in recent years, the effect on the environment is benign. Greenhouse gases spur plant growth, which indirectly helps animals. Certain experts say increases in greenhouse gases are not causing catastrophic changes in global weather.