Our Future: A game of smoke and mirrors...
During the State of the Union Address last week President Bush focused on several notable domestic issues, among these was the overuse of oil in meeting our national needs and the environmental problems faced today nationally and world wide. It is not a joke...nor is it a Game of Smoke and Mirrors.
In recognizing these issues our President has agreed that we need to find real solutions, and he has laid out a long range projection for when we need to have solved these problems. But the President will not be in office in a decade, and history demonstrates that just because a President points to an issue does not mean that he intends to act on it. Just talking about it may be all that he plans to do...someone else will have to act...maybe.
Even if the government takes this on for more research, it is my observation that we don't have the time that he has suggested, and that we need to come to grips with these issues now, not in ten years...As a realist however I recognize that we will not correct these things instantly. Hell, we may not correct them at all, but we need to try...and not in ten years. The earth is absolutely counting on us to succeed...and we (more appropriately our Grandchildren) are too.
So it is important that each of us consider making our lives more green...so to speak...and that we act locally on real issues like pollution, over use of energy, recycling for improvements in both environment and conservation and the education of our society (young and old) in the important housekeeping chores that need to be done.
Please keep in mind that our government is not going to take steps to fix things if we are not willing to stand up and be counted on these issues. Let them know...use the address block on the side of this BLOG and write your Representatives and Senators...write Mr. Bush too. Tell them that you agree with the President and with others who are telling us that the time to act is now...and then go act...remember Green Peace's point...Think Globally...Act Locally...
Some more examples for Energy Conservation
1. Use a programmable thermostat with your air conditioner.
Or turn up the temperature setting on your standard thermostat while you are gone. Even a few hours can make a difference in your utility bill.
2. Replace all your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lighting.
If you live in a 2000 sq. ft. home, in a year’s time, you could save 1500 kWh and $200! These bulbs can last 3-5 years!
3. Inspect your duct system – cool your home not your attic.
Contact your local utility for information about inspection and duct repairs.
4. Check your attic insulation.
Adding some could help on cooling costs. Also check you door’s weather stripping.
5. Turn it off.
Whether it’s turning off lights, or shutting down your computer when it’s not in use, over time, these small efforts can save you big energy dollars.
Changing bulbs...
Often I am told that we are not able to individually help reduce pollution or even lower our overall use of electricity. To that I say 'bulb'!
If you spend a few dollars purchasing low energy florescent light bulbs for your lamps you will reduce your power use by more than half in each light fixture, lower the heat generated (saving on AC) and extend the life of your light bulb by more than 100%...in fact they will generally last five times longer or more.
Change your bulbs...save the earth.
Polar Bears and Ice Cubes
What do Polar Bears have to do with our worsening environmental conditions?
Simple...they are becoming a very real casualty of the problem. You see Polar Bears live on the pack ice of the Arctic region, wandering the ice in search of food and diving into the northern waters to fish and hunt.
They cover hundreds of miles of ice edge and swim for miles in their daily routine. But when the ice melts, or ice shelves sheer off they may be caught in the breach, finding themselves adrift on small bergs or separated from their cubs.
Some reports identify that thousands of these bears are dieing annually do to the reduced ice coverage of the Arctic and that at this rate they will be lost to us in less than 50 years. We need to act...and we need to do it now. A world without Glaciers, without Arctic Ice Shelves..., without Polar Bears...well, that world is not what we deserve. ACT NOW...Support the Cause.
Thanks for reading.
Labels: Save the Environment
The 10 worst-polluted places in the world are (in alphabetical order):
Chernobyl (Ukraine) Dzerzinsk (Russia) Haina (Dominican Republic) Kabwe (Zambia) La Oroya (Peru) Linfen (China) Mailuu-Suu (Kyrgyzstan) Norilsk (Russia) Ranipet (India) Rudnaya Pristan (Russia)
Although it has been 20 years since the nuclear melt down, Chernobyl (as seen in the picture here), is one of the top-ten. Still, most of the most-polluted places are little-known, even in their own countries. Most of the people affected are exceedingly poor.
Russia leads the list of eight nations, having itself three of the 10 worst polluted sites. Other sites were chosen because they served as examples for problems found all around the globe. Haina, Dominican Republic has severe lead contamination as the result of battery recycling - a problem common throughout poorer countries. Linfen, China exemplifies many Chinese cities choking on their industrial air pollution. India is represented by a nasty example of serious groundwater pollution by heavy metals.
