As we enjoy the cooler, crisper days that signal the approach of autumn here in the Mid-Atlantic we can't let our fight against climate change die down. While the phrase "global warming" loses some of its perceived gravity in the cooler days of the year, don't forget that our actions have consequences year round and the effort to keep our environment safe for all creatures inhabiting it continues. In fact, a recent Reuters article serves to shock us out of our end of summer complacence: Dutch scientists released information that the projected course of climate change has the world on its way to dangerously high temperatures by 2100. Peak temperatures and summer heat waves will become more severe, jumping even higher than the average temperature increases caused by climate change. This means that regions in India, the Middle East, Australia, and the equatorial parts of Africa and South America will see temperatures nearing 122 degrees Fahrenheit, 50 degrees Celsius, by 2100. While temperatures in the US and Mediterranean will experience slightly smaller peak increases, those heat waves will be far from comfortable, to say the least.
To view the full article, click here.
To convince more of your friends and family members to hop on the environmentally friendly bandwagon, click here.
28 August 2008
22 August 2008
Disturbing News
A crack seven miles long and a half-mile wide has emerged at the top of Greenland, scientists from NASA and Ohio State University announced yesterday. Floating as far north as possible, this region of Greenland was previously thought to be resistant to the effects of global warming- yesterday's announcement is clear evidence to the contrary and disintegration of the glacier is now expected to occur this year.
Not yet convinced that global warming is a real threat? Take an end-of-summer vacation to Nuuk and ask the locals.
Source: http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20080821/SCI.Greenland.Glaciers/
Not yet convinced that global warming is a real threat? Take an end-of-summer vacation to Nuuk and ask the locals.
Source: http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20080821/SCI.Greenland.Glaciers/
17 August 2008
Say NO to Offshore Drilling
Even though gas prices have dropped noticeably during the last few weeks, don't let yourself be lulled into a state of complacence where oil dependence is concerned. The fact that $3.65 per gallon of regular-grade gasoline is considered a "good" price shows that we've grown accustomed to shelling out way too much money for an increasingly scarce commodity whose hidden cost packs a far greater punch for the planet than it does for our wallets.
The Environmental Defense Fund, an organization that seeks solutions to environmental problems by partnering with businesses and government agencies, has drafted a petition to tell members of Congress not to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling:
"The era of cheap oil is over and opening up environmentally sensitive areas to oil drilling will not bring it back.
Offshore oil exploration is slow and costly. The Energy Information Administration estimates that opening the coasts to offshore drilling would have no significant impact on oil prices before 2030.
The EIA also estimates that opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would reduce the cost of gas by only a few pennies per gallon, and not until 2027.
The only way to free ourselves from expensive oil is to get off oil. And the best way to do that is to support market-based policies that create economic incentives to unleash clean energy innovation and create the clean economy of the 21st century.
That's precisely what a cap on global warming pollution will do: cut our oil imports (by as much as $490 billion over the next two decades) and kick start the development of clean energy alternatives.
Washington has waited too long to develop a common sense national energy policy, and with gas at $4 per gallon, we're now paying the price. But we can respond to this energy crisis by adopting better, smarter energy policies that reward innovation and free us from oil.
I urge you to say NO to lifting the ban on offshore drilling and YES to clean energy innovation."
Tell your elected official to work for positive environmental change: http://action.edf.org/campaign/nooffshoredrilling
The Environmental Defense Fund, an organization that seeks solutions to environmental problems by partnering with businesses and government agencies, has drafted a petition to tell members of Congress not to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling:
"The era of cheap oil is over and opening up environmentally sensitive areas to oil drilling will not bring it back.
Offshore oil exploration is slow and costly. The Energy Information Administration estimates that opening the coasts to offshore drilling would have no significant impact on oil prices before 2030.
The EIA also estimates that opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would reduce the cost of gas by only a few pennies per gallon, and not until 2027.
The only way to free ourselves from expensive oil is to get off oil. And the best way to do that is to support market-based policies that create economic incentives to unleash clean energy innovation and create the clean economy of the 21st century.
That's precisely what a cap on global warming pollution will do: cut our oil imports (by as much as $490 billion over the next two decades) and kick start the development of clean energy alternatives.
Washington has waited too long to develop a common sense national energy policy, and with gas at $4 per gallon, we're now paying the price. But we can respond to this energy crisis by adopting better, smarter energy policies that reward innovation and free us from oil.
I urge you to say NO to lifting the ban on offshore drilling and YES to clean energy innovation."
Tell your elected official to work for positive environmental change: http://action.edf.org/campaign/nooffshoredrilling
11 August 2008
Bag Ladies Revisited
Contributed by M.P. Crawford
Since my last posting, I fortunately have positve news to report. The appearance of the environmentally friendly cloth reusable bags is definitely on the upswing. The checkers at the local grocery store report increased sales of these bags. Many stores, including Target at the lower end and Nordstrom on the higher end (with the price tag to prove it!) are selling stylish 100% "organically grown" bags; many that even guys would be comfortable hanging on a shoulder (so there's no excuse for the "paper or plastic?"mantra, men!)
One of the most heartening sights happened as recent as this morning. I was in the grocery check-out line behind a woman who had only purchased a salad. Per the still-unfortunate usual, the clerk placed it in one of those dreaded blue plastic bags. The woman turned to carefully survey the pile (yes, pile!) of cloth bags alongside my pending purchases upon the conveyor belt, then told the young woman to remove the salad from the bag as she did not need it and neither did the Earth.
I am pondering the possibility that on my next trip to this particular grocery of speaking to the management about reducing the cost of the cloth bags and/or giving a cash incentive to those customers who bring their reusable bags. Any step, albeit small and slow, is still a move in the right direction.
Since my last posting, I fortunately have positve news to report. The appearance of the environmentally friendly cloth reusable bags is definitely on the upswing. The checkers at the local grocery store report increased sales of these bags. Many stores, including Target at the lower end and Nordstrom on the higher end (with the price tag to prove it!) are selling stylish 100% "organically grown" bags; many that even guys would be comfortable hanging on a shoulder (so there's no excuse for the "paper or plastic?"mantra, men!)
One of the most heartening sights happened as recent as this morning. I was in the grocery check-out line behind a woman who had only purchased a salad. Per the still-unfortunate usual, the clerk placed it in one of those dreaded blue plastic bags. The woman turned to carefully survey the pile (yes, pile!) of cloth bags alongside my pending purchases upon the conveyor belt, then told the young woman to remove the salad from the bag as she did not need it and neither did the Earth.
I am pondering the possibility that on my next trip to this particular grocery of speaking to the management about reducing the cost of the cloth bags and/or giving a cash incentive to those customers who bring their reusable bags. Any step, albeit small and slow, is still a move in the right direction.
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