Fight Global Warming This Earth Day

We must all take whatever action we can immediately.

Before we moved to our house, we both lived in a variety of (Chicago) apartments. Many of these did not even separate the City-provided blue bags from the regular garbage. We feel it is everyone's responsibility to live in as planet-friendly a way as possible and to urge our elected officials to promote such policies.

We installed a 4KW PV system to supply our home and home office electrictiy - and to charge our Toyota Rav4 all-electric vehicle. The PV system is providing a return that covers the cost. We have driven 45K miles on the sun over 5 years - no CO2, no exhaust, no gas or foreign oil. We don't commute to work and carpool kids to school. We try to appreciate the influence of the outdoors on our inside spaces instead of having the perfect temperature. No meat period. Local produce and food sources, etc. etc. We also support TWS and other organizations to carry forth our views with action - on a larger scale. We are thankfull for the efforts of TWS to stand up for our priorities!

Is this enough? - afraid not! The ice continues to melt.

I have a question: Is it better to turn off light switches whn you are back in that room within half an hour? Please answer. Thanks Ruth

I have been recycling faithfully on a weekly basis since 1994 - plastics, paper, glass. Clothes I no longer use, I donate to the Salvation Army or take them to a thrift store. I drive a 1990 Volvo with a fuel saver on it and get about 30 m/p gallon. I don't use any pharmaceuticals because I hate chemical;s in my body and realize how much they pollute groundwater. I only buy cruelty-free products - I even get great buys on no-phosphates detergents (only $1.35 at Sunflower Farmers Market in Albuquerque). I always pick up my dog's poop when I walk her daily, and have grunginly picked up a huge shopping bag full of other irresponsible dog owner's poop on two ocassions. Don't they realize the potential e-coli problem? I try only to buy organic food. I recycle all my tea and coffee grinds into our garden and flower pots so that the earth is rich and loamy. I only use organic supplements and organic herbs. I don't wear make-up pr buy into that look. Clean skin is the best.

I recognize that it probably isn't as good looking, but think of the paper we can save by doing a full line of commentary in your e-mail messages rather than half pages! Every e-mail provider should rethink their layout. Get rid of so many 1 -2 sentence paragraphs, use photos only when they really!!! contribute to the understanding of the subject matter, and edit their messages to what is critical, not just what some staff member wants to get in to prove how effective they are. I know this would save me many sheets of paper, and lots of ink.

John H. Humphey

We here could write the book!! I moved to raw land off the grid six years ago where I get my power from the SUN. Building a new sustainable life from the ground up has been my new life's passion!! AND ACTIVISM!! I echo an earlier comment: CALL YOUR SENATORS....CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN.........go to congress.org for all contact info..please call - then email - then write a letter - then CALL AGAIN. Tell them you want them to support the environmental legislation in congress NOW. Tell them we MUST support a cap on carbon emissions. Tell them that life on earth REQUIRES WE PLACE A MONETARY PENALTY ON CARBON EMISSIONS because otherwise - profit driven industry has no incentive to change to cleaner alternatives. I believe that we the people must also express OUR ACCEPTANCE of the possible (reasonable) rise in energy costs that the fiscal conservatives fear will be unacceptable. Talk about these very real issues that may block the carbon cap iniative. Thank you all for all you do.

Mother Earth is like a boat. We are all aboard.......why would anybody want to poke holes in Her? We will all go down with Her. HUMAN.......BEING.........Amused

Eating no meat and no dairy has been very easy. One slaughterhouse uses over one million gallons of fresh water every day, just for washing down bloody carcasses and cleaning up. That is just one tiny part of the waste of water and energy that goes into meat. Meat contributes more to global warming than all transport combined (see "Livestock's Long Shadow", a UN/FAO report).
I wish people would eat at least less meat and dairy. 2,600 gallons of water go into one pound of meat. Most of the grain grown goes to feed dairy cows and chickens and all the other 'food animals'. Land is degraded by cattle. And in the end, the animals kill us by giving us heart disease and cancer. It makes not much sense.

I've been environmentally aware and responsible for many years, starting out recycling and picking up trash at the beach or a park when I was a teenager. From my teen years until today I read everything I can about living a responsible, creative "green" life. The list of things I do is too long to print here, and I enjoy reading what other people do to be responsible stewards of our planet. I care deeply about people, animals, nature...every living thing is vulnerable and needs protection. I am a vegetarian and buy and eat only organic, drive a hybrid, use energy saving appliances, unplug electronics when not in use, my groceries come home in reusable canvas bags, light bulbs are eco friendly, all of my cleaning supplies are environmentally safe...personal care items are certified organic, I wash clothes in cold water and hang most things to dry and don't use the clothes dryer too often. I take my lunch to work in a resuable tote, make my own coffee and carry it and filtered water in stainless steel thermoses..the list goes on and on. I am happy to do my part for the environment and eager to learn more ways in which to do MORE of everything! I love talking to like-minded people. When someone asks me how they get started living a greener life, I suggest they start small...recyle, use eco-friendly light bulbs, take shorter showers, etc. I love talking, sharing and learning.

I sold my two cars, a 1948 Dodge sedan and a 1975 Mercedes diesel, two years ago. I live in Eureka, Ca. and take public transportation and/or walk everywhere I go. As I am "retired" (whatever that means), I don't have a daily commute and the cars were just a luxury that the planet can no longer afford to keep me in.

I use energy saving everything, recycle, live a minimalist lifestyle, don't consume what I don't need and shop at thrift stores whenever possible. This computer is a used Radio Shack point of sale terminal that I picked up for $50 about four years ago, as a matter of fact. I look for ways to trim my already low impact on Our Mother that I haven't heard of yet on a regular basis.

While I realize that this kind of lifestyle isn't for everyone, a good auditing of "what you are using and don't need" couldn't hurt. You'd be amazed how well you can enjoy life by trimming off some of your more wasteful habits. It'll clear your conscience a bit too, I might add.

Best to all,
-Doc

Earth day is to remind us that we are the custodians of our planet.And our main role is to preserve and conserve our environment from degradation,to protect our animals from abuse and neglect,to keep our natural resources from contamination and decline,and to share good ciiizenry to our fellow person.A happy Earthful day to all the people of this planet.

I've enjoyed all of your articles

I drank tap water for 70 years and I and others are fine.
End Plastic water bottles because they are causing too much plastic everywhere. Every corner, along the roads and ditches are discarded Plastic water bottles.
If a person wants to carry water all they need is one container to carry with them.
I lived all these years without a plastic bottle of water.
Just think how much wasted plastic we would save.
Aluminum containers could be used over and over or another kind of container.
Bottled soda would be better and you turn it in for .05 cents a bottle. I used to collect bottles at beach and get a few dollars.
This also helped homeless people get a dollar or two.

Leslie

I have been composting for years, gardening, use vinegar/baking soda for cleaning (NO chemicals), cold water wash/line dry, added insulation 2-3 times over the years to the attic, upgraded windows, added a rain barrel, drastically reduced watering, push mower for grass, planted over 300 trees in yard in 15 years, run evap cooler rather than a/c, power strip/cfl's (reduced carbon load), keep heat at 60/55 night, water savers in bathroom, air pressure car tires check/tune-up (better mpg), walk more, stay politically active on the green front with e-mails, calls and letters, pay bills on line (less paper/p.o. delivery gas), became a vegetarian several years ago, don't buy products with excessive plastic packaging, recycle 98% of used materials, encourage others to become greener and have had some good success. I want the great grandchildren of the world to see whales, tigers and polar bears too. And not have to live their life in a boat (unless they want to)

Every day for the last two weeks I have been talking to my students about what we humans have done to our planet. They understand that every one of us is responsible for what is happening and that we can, in many small ways, make the difference to restore our planet to health. Today I did not use the lights during classes nor the fans. It was not comfortable but they understood it was our way to help. Each student decided on one small thing he/she would do to specially help today:Earth Day. Most decided to pick up trash they encountered anywhere. They have also decided to use electric power and water more responsibly. I showed them a cloth bag I bought for shopping and explained about the reasons I decided to not use plastic bags. They said they would talk to their moms. So slowly in small ways we are making a difference. My students are 4th and 5th graders. Thus, I feel proud of them.

I use trees cut down from around our neighbohood to heat my house in the winter. I have been using flourescent bulbs for years. I am alo a major recycler. I have even got my coworkers to stop throwing away paper and put in a bag for me to take home to recycle. I have a composte pile, I also have found a use for unrecyclable plastic and styrofoam for my artwork. I have been recycling from my jobs for years. I also walk to the stores and eating establishments that are within a five mile radius. I have 2 rainbarrels to water my yard and garden with. I do laundry at night or early morning to save peak hour usage and I also have a clothesline.

I enjoy walking to places within walking distance--and, when where I want to go is too far away, I enjoy walking to bus stops and train stations.

The cost for Propane in 2004-05 was $1.78 a Gallon not 41.78 in my comment below.
George

I bought a house that dates from 1870. Since owning it I have put in double paned windows, a solar collector system to offset the cost of hot water and in it's expansion, by adding two evacuated tube panels, to help offset the cost of heating my house.A high efficiency Heating System.I have blown in cellulose in the attic (immediate cost savings 30%) and foamed the baseboard in the basement including blown in insulation. Since I have Aluminum Siding no one will blow in cellulose into my walls. My cost of heating my house in 2004-05 winter was $1800 at a gallon cost of 41.78. this winter the cost was $1300 at a gallon cost of $3.16. I heat with propane. I use my enclosed front porch as a source of heat in the Fall and Spring, it really gets hot, and use a Fan to circulate the hot air.
I have planted over 30 trees and bushes on my half acre lot. I also have a garden for vegetables in summer.
Most of my bulbs are cfl's and my car is a Prius, (yearly average: summer winter is 49mpg)
If Photovoltaic were not so expensive I would have that installed too,I do get my electricity from Interfaith and have opted for the wind power generation, cost .13 cents Kw. If I had more money and more time to wait for payback I would do more.

George Muller

I am a PBS supporter and I never miss NOVA or Frontline when they come on. I was not surprised when last night's Frontline showed the incredible arrogance by the big company when it comes to clean their own mess. I am a vegetarian but if I wasn’t I would stop eating chicken immediately. What frontline showed was what happens to the waste (manure) created by the millions of chickens in their farms. UNBELIEVABLE!
Bush said that companies don’t need to be told by their government how to clean after themselves “….NO REGULATIONS is needed. They can do a better job without the government on their backs” And yet time after time they have shown to us that they don’t care about people’s health, animal’s health and the Environment’s health.
The time is now congress PASS legislation to cap CO2

The most important thing every person can do to help the Earth is to recognize that human beings have greatly over-populated the Earth, and take a pledge to only reproduce a maximum of 2 children with one other partner. Unless people stop being in denial about this, we will continue to ravage the earth's natural systems to the point of no return, if we have not already reached that point. Changing a few light bulbs feels nice and fuzzy, but it doesn't come close to cancelling out the carbon footprint of an additional person's lifetime! Change the light bulbs and get a Prius as well. But limit your offspring to
replacement of yourself and your partner only!

I retired to Guatemala last year. I need no heat. I grow vegetables with ease. Fruit trees have 2 crops per year. I fight leaf cutter ants and white flies with diatoms and nim oil. I eat less meat. I don't have a car; I travel by tuk tuk (small golf-cart like vehicles for 60 cents) or walk. I use energy-saving light bulbs. Laundry is done in cold water and hung outside. During the rainy season it's hung on the porch. I have hot water only for showers heated only when I use it. Trash is more difficult, as everything is put in plastic bags, but I recycle as many as possible. Jars and other containers are reused. Foods I don't grow come from the local indigenous market and are incredibly cheap.

However, the use of corn as biofuel is causing hunger in this already poor nation. I believe the use of any food products for biofuel is immoral and should be stopped immediately. There are hundreds if not thousands of other plants that can be used more efficiently without affecting the world food supplies. I urge everyone to protest the use of corn and other foods as fuels. Happy Earth Day.

I recently became aware of this inspirational event, similar to earth day yet with a slightly different angle, and thought it was a GREAT idea which I hope "catches on". This is their third year, and I greatly admire how they are FOR something rather than anti-something.
Berks Unity Solution Festival - Promoting Non-violence, Respect and Tolerance & "Blessed are the Peacemakers" Parade.
2 weeks "Random Acts of Kindness" Campaign prior to event!
FREE day of Fun - Live Bands & Local Youth Shows, Food Vendors, Costume Characters & Ponies,
Free Games, Free Art Activities, Flea Market, Free Professional Portraits.
www.BerksUnitySoloution.org Community = communication + unity

One of the best & quickest ways to help reverse global warming seems to be ignored by most politicians and regular people, namely planting more trees. If a major effort were advanced to plants thousands and thousands of new trees, including reforesting devastated areas, we could get some results. Also, the trees already there should be protected, and perhaps even tagged and inventorized! Does any one have any pros and cons opinions about this?

There are many important environmental issues, including some that receive considerable attention, like global warming and energy conservation, and others that receive far too little attention, like overpopulation and meat consumption. However, these issues are not why I joined The Wilderness Society. I joined it to help support the creation of additional, federally-designated, wilderness areas. The Society should focus its energy on identifying lands that qualify for wilderness protection and on gaining support for their designation. Please don't be distracted from this mission which is so uniquely part of your history.

I consider global warming is a very serious problem, and it is up to everyone to do whatever they can no matter how small, if everybody do just alittle bit everyday, it all adds up to quite a bit for the only planet we live on, it's not like we can just pack up and move to another planet, this is all we have, therefore we might as well take care of the only home we have.

We need to reduce greenhouse gases to help our economy and create long lasting jobs. Roy Malcom- Wichita, KS

"The power of One to act against global warming, the decline of animal habitat and abuse, wanton destruction of the environment is the power to change an entire world. So for this auspicious Earth day, Let's make our voices heard for our planet, our own survival and the voiceless- for we are the only HOPE...."

We should take care of our planet. Gas up your cars after 7pm, don't litter (Earth is not a trash can-even cigarette buds do not disintegrate), plant a tree. Recycle is a plus+++. Leave wildlife alone, this is not just a people planet (ex: those seal slaying in Canada is so stupid, plus fur. Who needs a fur coat? Do you know that China skins the animals alive because the fur is more fresh & if they squirm after being hung up they take they down & pound them on the ground just to knock them out a little, but still conscious, hang them up again and they just scream until they can't hold on no more)...there are so many ways too keep this world a safe, clean, beautiful place. One question? When you go on vacation do you want too see a trashy, smoggy, wildlife-free environment? NO. We want to experience the beauty of this planet. So when you act you are saving this planet for your kids & their kids, so forth. Don't say, well the next person will do it. Do what Nike says, "Just Do It!"
Peace-out!

Wilderness exists now as a managed approximation of what scientists, politicians, bureaucrats, and activists of many
and varied persuasions, collectively attempt to conserve and restore. Dr. Jerry Franklin has brought, to academic
consciousness at least, the concept that the landscape matrix surrounding Wilderness is even more important than any
attempt we make to establish an manage wildlife reserves of any sort. Individual life style changes to mitigate global
warming are the valid, but extreme, manifestation of this new consiousness. In between the extremes of urban life
styles and trailless Wilderness are landscapes sometimes referred to as "buffers." They consist of everything from
agricultural lands and commercially managed forests, to roadless areas currently in political limbo. Managing these
buffer landscapes is my primary concern as a retired National Park and Forest Wilderness ranger/naturalist and
professional skier. My book: Ski Trails and Wildlife - Toward Snow Country Restoration, explores the boreal forest,
our planet's largest forest ecosystem, and the human influences on the winter half of this crucial contributer to our life
support system. Skiing is perhaps such an obvious, and locally often detrimental, influence on the boreal - both montane
and northern, that it has been the object of denial by a substantial portion of the environmental commuinity. Ski Trail
and Wildlife's first two and 1/2 chapters are accessible through Google. Eric Burr- Mazama, Washington

No where near enough is being done about Global Climate Change. I know that the people in this blog are vastly more conscious of the issues involved than is the average citizen, but we must try much harder to get our point across. Here is a simple way to make a point. Take 2 identical clear water glasses; add water to the first up to around 2/3 or 3/4 full; put in a couple of ice cubes. Add water to the second glass up to exactly the same water level as the first one is right now. Put some sort (1" - 2") of white writeable-on tape, label or similar thing, vertically, with the water levels in each glass at about the middle of the tape/label. Now mark the water levels in each glass - try to make the levels exactly the same. Now add a couple of ice cubes to the second glass. The first glass represents the ocean level now, with SEA ice on it; the second glass represents the ocean level with LAND ice sliding and melting into it. As the ice cubes in the first glass melt, they do not raise the water level (sea level) at all. The second glass, representing the planet's future, will have a HIGHER sea level WHETHER OR NOT the ice has melted. The point is that Global Climate Change is not a slow, regular process that we can easily remedy any time we want. Land ice (Greenland, the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet, glaciers world-wide) is not only melting, but also SLIDING into the ocean at a very dangerous and increasing rate. Melting ice lubricates the bottom of the ice sheet or glacier making it slide into the ocean at rates unforeseen by climatologists. We should be very afraid. At the height of the last Ice Age, about 20,000 years ago, the sea level was 120 meters lower than it is today. In other words, the land ice that has melted since 20,000 years ago has raised sea level by over 400 feet. Just think what would happen should sea level rise 10 feet, 20 feet, and more. We must make all people, especially our representatives in Washington, aware of the extreme danger the world is facing. Fees for CO2 emissions and other measures more of a tax burden on people? Just wait till they see the costs of devastating rises in sea level world-wide.

There are hundreds of little ways to save big on energy and further destruction of our planet. If anyone is interested, I will be glad to mail the small booklet out to them free, just pay the 84 cents for postage. Thank you.

AMERICANS SEEM TO NEVER BE SATISIFIED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE; THIS IS A HARD LESSON TO LEARN AND WE BETTER START 50 YEARS AGO!

Although they are beyond our normal range of affordability, my husband and I decided to support the development of LED lightbulbs for home use by buying several. They use only a fraction of the energy that incandescent or even CFL bulbs use, so we are looking at it as investing in the new technology, and prices will certainly come down as they become more widespread in use.
It is a great feeling to be doing something concrete to save energy and walk more gently on the Earth!
Brynn Schmitt

Overpopulation is an important issue to consider on Earth Day. Why is not mentioned? It affects every issue from land to food to water to health to quality of life. I think it is time we look at this issue.

We cannot keep quiet just for fear of offending beliefs which do not match the circumstances.

It is worthwhile to remember that the first Earth Day, like the environmental movement itself, was regarded by the government as subversive and a threat right up there with antiwar protesters. The Vietnam War was in full swing and environmental groups were being infiltrated by government agents. As a faculty speaker on my college campus that day in 1970, we were well aware that there was a potential risk associated with participation. It is heartening to see how Earth Day has been embraced and expanded, but the resistance to changing the issues threatening the planet has not disappeared. After 39 years, and despite some notable progress, most of the threats are the same, only worse, and industry and government have worked hard to prevent or limit effective solutions.

Most of us that come to sites like this, do what we can for the Earth - every day should be Earth Day. The struggle is to keep the pressure on the destroyers of the world - the corporate maggots to the irresponsible and ignorant small town city councils that make decisions that leave scars and destruction in their path. Rage against the Machine!! Anna

I so often feel I cannot possibly do enough to make a difference in healing this beautiful planet. I know though, each small thing we can do does help.....just as I often feel the futility in one small vote, but would never stop voting!
I am an artist and on Earth Day last year I taught an outdoors group at a county park; using found objects i.e. leaves, broken tree limbs, moss etc. We learned to look really closely at nature's beauty, made some art objects of these things and left them in their environment, without destroying the environment.

In our home and small shop in town we are replacing lighting with LED lights; it is expensive but in the longer haul, they will save so much energy and lso, money. Keeping a garden going in the heat of summer in the South isn't easy but my Earth Boxes will continue producing tomatoes, peppers, herbs. I only recently realized that those dimmer wall switches are still using energy unless pushed, not turned, completely off. Even turning the frig lite off during the day helps.

GMW
Dunedin, FL

I'm buying environmentally friendly household products that pollute less. I also have cloth napkins, and have done away with paper napkins. I also seldom use paper towels, and use old rags instead. I am careful not to run the faucet when I'm not directly using the water. I recycle, and buy recycled products. I'm careful about turning off lights, and I've also gone vegan vegetarian. I buy local and/or organic whenever possible. I have an energy efficient car, and hope my next car will be a hybrid. I still have a long commute to work, and hope to eventually have a job closer to home. Either that or I'll leave Florida and move back to Boston where I can take the T to work!

Greenhouse gases aren't the problem, they're just a symptom of the real problem.....overpopulation! Jeanneadele

More has to be done to promote to make transportation of goods more energy efficient. Railroads have to compete against subsidized roads and trucking. We need to support the expansion of our railroads so that a high % of goods are shipped by rail. (1/4 the fuel to ship by rail).
There are several ways we could encourage rail shipments one would be stopping subsidizes for trucking but a better way might be to add infracture to railroads by adding track and other facilities. If the government owned rails like we own roads rail Co's could be charged for use allowing different carries to compete on rail corridors.
Bob

Just a note: The first Earth Day was actually celebrated on March 21st in Boston. It followed hard on the heels of a political rally held March 4th of that year ["March 4th is a movement, not a day!"] and was an attempt to mobilize all of the energy, much of it anti-war, into a more positive outlet. It also helped to clean up the detritus, both emotional and physical, left behind on the Boston Common. March 21 was chosen as it is also the vernal equinox and a symbol of re-birth.

The date is irrelevant, the spirit lives on.

I think it's really important to make those small changes that really make a difference. Consuming less meat as this has a major impact on global warming. Switching to compact flourescent lightbulbs, turning off lights, shorter showers (turning off water while soaping), unplugging devices, using a reusable grocery bag, are all small changes that I've made.

However, I think it's also important to share the information with others. Contact Congressman, Senators, and local legislators to show that you care about these issues. Also, share with friends (even if you think there may be disagreement or confrontational:) you have to stand up for these issues and often you can have a strong influence. And of course, we need to educate our children and youth.