Church bell to signal global warming - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News

Seeking to draw attention to the dangers of global warming, the bell at First Congregational Church will be rung 350 times over a five-day period starting Saturday.

The number was chosen because of www.350.org, a campaign publicizing data from a NASA scientist showing that humanity will be affected if atmospheric carbon levels are not kept at or below 350 parts per million. The measurement has already hit 385 parts per million, with projections that it is headed toward 450 parts per million under current emissions.

The bell ringing will begin with 180 rings from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, the day of Holliston's annual Holiday Stroll. The number of rings will then be scaled back until Dec. 3, the date of the church's 280th anniversary.

Church spokesman Bob Newhook says he has scheduled breaks during the ringing to allow the historic bell to cool down.

"It's an old, old bell," Newhook says. "I hate to be the one that breaks it."

Area Weather forecast for Saturday--3 degrees below average and 24 degrees below the 1990 record

Max Temperature 43 °F / 6 °C 46 °F / 7 °C 67 °F / 19 °C (1990)