Global warming

[theprocon]

A comment in a another post sparked this thought, What do you think about Global Warming?

I personally understand mild climate shifts, and the global warming theory has been one of much research for me. We have had record breaking high temperatures.... .and record breaking low water levels. Is it just time....or is there really some backing to this theory? What can we do (as small as we are now) to help it in our area?

[Magic City Matt]

To me, I think that regardless of whether or not our current situation is caused by man or not, we do have enough evidence to support that we have the potential to cause ourselves problems in the future. So I think the biggest action we can take is to first go after government and business to become more carbon neutral. The footprint made on global warming by individuals is nowhere close to the massive amount of problems caused by big businesses and manufacturers. I believe that everyone has a responsibility here but if we don't make it hard on manufacturers and government officials then the likelihood is things simply will not change.

Rule #1 in manufacturing - Only build what makes money

Rule #1 in government - Only support what gets you elected

[theprocon]

That's a very good point Matt, but in this broken government we have locally and statewide, do you truly imagine they will give a hoot? If so......what can we get them to do? Fund research? Tougher restrictions? Who should they go after........I have my own opinion on these matter, but I'm trying to start the dialog here so that we may actual conjure up a plan to fix the problem.

For the last 9 years, the Central Alabama/Birmingham area has made the American Lung Association's top 10 worst cites for air pollution.

That fact alone makes me worry about my future and health in the area.

Any thoughts......?

[Slade]

Less cows more trees.

Vote Slade 2008

[Magic City Matt]

I agree Procon, The fact of the matter is that we need to raise enough awareness that it becomes a factor that could mean re-election for an official or the success or failure of a product. They don't care. It's up to us to make others care.

[Delynn]

Climate change happens.  Always has, and will until the end.  Is man significantly affecting global temps?  I don't know, and I don't think we are at a point where we can know.

I do know that we are polluting and poisoning our planet.  That is probably a better area to focus on.  If we are contributing to climate change that will have an over-all detrimental effect on humans, then reduction of pollution will help with multiple problems at once.

[fattire]

Just relax and enjoy the ride.

The earth is dynamic and it's going to change. Utah was once a jungle, it's now a desert. Man didn't cause it, nor could he have stopped it. 40 million years ago, the US was covered with ice. It's gone now, but one day the ice will be back (my guess is Jan 14, 40002008 AD). The earth has many, many different cycles that we as humans will probably never be able to collect data for.  We orbit our galaxy every 240 million years (basically 20 laps since earth's existence, less that 1% since humans existed). That said, we've only collected about 100 years worth of weather data.

Cycles are going to happen and change is inevitable and there is nothing that mankind can really do about it. Adapat and make the most of it or fade away into extinction. Now, pollution reduction, that is something we can and should control. Pick up your trash!

[theprocon]

I read all of your points, and agree somewhat with all of them. I guess my outlook is a combination of all of the above. What I don't agree with is the quick reaction by most to turn a shoulder to the idea that the planet is changing because of things we do. Not all products made by man are a result of something natural.....we use natural resources to create unnatural products. It's the process in which these are created and how we dispose of these that begins the discussion.

I agree the planet has changed drastically over time, much of which is beyond our understanding, but how do we as a small group help this situation? Or do we just sit back and watch?

[Suz]

The Procon,

Here are some ideas.  As someone who has taught environmental science for 10 years, and someone who has heard the arguments for the last 30 years,  I can say that the rapid changes in the last 10 years are most likely man made.  The changes in the climate have corresponded with the increase in greenhouse gases, deforestation, and over development.  Major extinctions have resulted with past global warmings and are predicted with this one.

Course of action?  Our leaders are there to make themselves rich, network, and get re-elected.  If they hear from us and they become educated, maybe they will affect a change. Contact representatives on local, state, and federal levels and demand some quick leadership and a shift in policy, one that favors and subsidizes development of solar power over coal, oil, and nuclear.   Push for the development of mass transit.  Push for government that favors conservation rather than consumption, and careful use of the state's natural resources. Write leaders and ask them to take away the ability of the public to poison the environment on a whim, i.e., the poisons on the shelves of any drug, grocery, or department store in America.
 
Recycle whatever is locally recycled.  Push local governments to get more items recycled.  Roswell, GA has the best set-up I've seen, suggest the leaders investigate their program and model one after theirs.  Get canvas totes and reuse them.  Plastic bags kill wildlife.  Try to get them banned.  Much oil is used and carbon dioxide is produced in their production.   Reuse any thing you purchase and its packaging as much as possible.  Plan trips to use less gas.  Borrow or rent rather than buy.  Ride a bike, walk, carpool, or use mass transit whenever possible.  Insulate your homes.  Dress for the season, and leave the thermostats cooler in the winter 65-70, and warmer in the summer 78-80.  Compact fluorescents for your lights.  Turn off lights not used.  Carbon dioxide is a result of combustion, cut the combustion.  Use manpower as much as possible.  Plants use carbon dioxide to make foods.  Plant more plants.  cook at home.  Enormous garbage is generated with the fast food industry.  Mulch your plants to conserve water.  When there is a drought don't mow low.  Leave the grass high enough to shade the soil.  If dust is kicking up when you mow, its too close...

And for Life's sake, develop tolerance for other living things on the planet.  A little grass in the cracks in the driveway doesn't warrant the latest toxin from  Montsano.   Spiders and wasps actually eat bugs.  Bees of many kinds pollinate our food and flowers.  Most cats and dogs are more dangerous than bugs and snakes.  There are only two poisonous spiders, 4 poisonous snakes to fear.  The rest are harmless and beneficial.  Learn to recognize and avoid the bad ones and respect their right to exist.  Leave the others alone.   Build bat houses to combat mosquitoes and ask governments to stop the blanket spraying of our neighborhoods.  Landscape for food and energy rather than the current trends.    Stop vampire power.  Make sure your appliance turn completely off or get a switch that turns them off, or unplug them.  Don't leave the chargers plugged in, they pull power even when they aren't attached to a device.

Look at everything you do and consider its environmental consequences.  Only when we make it a priority and change our behavior and consumption will our "leaders" follow and take action.

A great link to stay informed about the environment is:  AboveTheFold Newsletter  [AboveTheFold@newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org]  It is a compilation of global news stories about the environment.  But I warn you, its rather depressing...
Suz

 

[Lesley]

Wow,

It's the past 25 years of my life composed in one letter.  Well done!

merles

[lawnmowwer]

I have been looking at the post here from the begining of the thread. I agree with most of the ideas put out here. Some I am not sure about, but I do think We should do our part. I own a lawncare service and can show you the lables on the chems. we use and some of the stuff is down right dangerous if use wrong. Not just to the enviroment but to you, your children, your pets, and to everyones water, trees, birds, bees, and everythingelse.

 Before I get jumped here let me state that in my buisness I do not use thing I don't have to. My customers have some weed in thier grass and thier natual areas. If you can call a bunch of hardwoods with pinestraw under them natural. If you keep the grass healthy it will control most weeds. The ideal height on most grass is between 2 and 3 in. in ideal conditions and heigher in drought conditions. If you don't water your lawn it will not die in fact it will do much better in the end. Because it will find water on its own. The same goes for all your plants. If you use green mulch (ie. grass and plant clippings) you are returning what was taken from the ground back. So don't bag your grass. Mulch or recycle it. As for your shrubs cut the clippings short and drop them on the ground when you prune. Keep them mulched with pinebark and the natural decaing will fert. them better than what you get at the store anyway. As mentioned above it will help save water.

Do you get sale catalogs at your house from your fav. outdoor store. Go online and ask for the company to stop sending them and start sending E-mail updates. This is a small step, but think of this. How much paper is in the 50 or so catalogs that would be sent to our members here. Then what polution was created to make the paper and the ink. Then how much polution to truck it to your house (every ounce of wieght in a truck takes more fuel to move). Last but not least how much landfill to get it gone and moved in another truck. You say recycle so how much polution to use the paper agian also another truck involved. What if this yellow snow ball never started rolling.

Think this way (and tell others to) and little small you and me might have an impact. Small but you have to start somewhere.