Global WarmingThis is a featured page


Global Warming. Well, what is it? A cruel and unusual way for parents to convince their kids to play less video games? A threat made by political leaders to gain support for unrelated campaigns? Or is it just a totally real and destructive thing that is happening to us right now?


You decide.


It's a big phrase. The big phrase. It's everyone's worst nightmare, but hey, - let me tell you something. We're living it! And if we don't wake up soon that's all we're going to be. A dream. A nightmare. A civilization that had it all but gave it away- well, guess what! I doubt they let you have forty minute showers in Heaven either!
We need to do something! Something big! But first- we need to understand what powers the Forces that Be hold and for that - it's necessary for me to explain: What is Global Warming?

Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the Earth's atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise dramatically.
The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real and the result of our own activities- don't go pinning ths on nature! We're already seeing changes but it only gets worse from here.
Go here for more information on Global Warming: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming


Here's what is already happening:
- Glaciers are melting
- Plants and animals are being forced from their habitat (and)
- The number of severe storms and droughts is increasing


An Inconvenient Truth:
http://www.aninconvenienttruth.com.au/truth/
(it may take a long time to load, but it's worth the wait)


Here's the -EVIL!!!- facts:
- The number of Category 4 and 5 (mega bad) hurricanes has almost doubledin the last 30 years - Before it devestated New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina was a Category 1 hurricane at southern Florida. But when it passed through warmer waters due to global warming it, overnight, transformed into a Category 5 storm.
- Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7000 feet about sea level- This because air temperature is also rising so bearers of malaria can climb to higher heights and destroy animals like mountain goats etc.
- The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.

- At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.

If the EVIL continues, we can expect catastrophic consequences!!!
-Deaths, from global warming will double in just 25 years - - - to 300,000 people a year!!!

- Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet, with the loss of ice shelf in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide - that means landmark bodies of water will be flooded with water, including Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Vietnam Canals would double in depth, Shanghai Bay, the shores around the Suez Canal, New Zealand, the great lakes in Canada, mid - America and many more!
- Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense- Help a girl out! We're already dying here in Australia!
- Droughts and wildfires will occur more often

-The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050- that would mean the extinction of cute and fluffy POLAR BEARS!!!

- More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050- I'll still be alive! I don't wanna see Polar Bears and bunnies die!!!

There is no doubt that we can solve this problem. In fact, any person with half the moral sense of a goldfish would want to help! Well here's how!

1. REDUCE YOUR IMPACT AT HOME

- Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb (CFL)
CFL's use 60% less energy than a regular light bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of Carbon Dioxide a year. If every person in the U.S. alone made the change, they'd reduce carbo dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds! You can purchase CFLs online from the Energy Federation.

- Move your thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer -

Almost half the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has more tips for saving energy on heating and cooling.
- Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner-
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.


-Install a programmable thermostat-
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or airconditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.
- Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases-
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most efficient models. If each house in the U.S. replaced its existing appliances with the most efficient models available, they could eliminate 175 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year!

- Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket-
You'll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save a further 550 pounds per year by setting your thermostat no higher than 120 degrees Farenheit.
- Use less hot water-

It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (saves 350 pounds of carbon dioxide per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (saves 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year) instead of hot.
- Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible-
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months a year.

- Turn off electronic devices you're not using-
Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo and computer when you're not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

- Unplug electronic from the wall when you're not using them-
Even when turned off, things like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy. In fact, the energy used to keep display clocks lit and memory chips working accounts for 5 percent of total domestic energy consumption and spews 18 millions tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.

- Only run your dishwasher when there's a full load and use the energy-saving setting-
You can save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
- Insulate and weatherize your home-
Properly insultating your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home heating bill and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Caulking and weather-stripping can save another 1,700 pounds per year. The Consumer Federation of America has more information on how to better insulate your home.
- Be sure you're recycling at home-
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates. Earth 911 can help you find recycling resources in your area.
- Buy recycled paper proucts-
It takes 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.
- Plant a tree-
A single tree will absorb one tonne of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your airconditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation had information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.
- Get a home energy audit-
Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient. You can take up to 30% off your energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Energy Star can help you find an energy specialist.
- Switch to green power-
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. The Green Power Network is a good place to start to figure out what's available in your area.
- Buy locally grown and produced goods-
The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to a plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community.

- Buy fresh foods instead of frozen-
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
- Seek out and support local farmers markets-
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to you by one fifth. You can find a farmer's market in your area at the USDA website.

- Buy organic foods as much as possible-
Organic soils help capture and store carbon dioxide at much high levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we'd remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Avoid heavily packaged products-
You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.


-Eat less meat-
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.


Go here and see a short film:
http://www.climatecrisis.net/



2. REDUCE YOUR IMPACT ON THE MOVE

Almost ond third of the carbon dioxide produced in the United States comes from our cars, trucks and airplanes. Here are some simple, practical things you can do to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide you produce while on the move.
- Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible-
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emmisions a year.
- Start a carpool with you co-workers or classmates-
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. eRideShare.comruns a free national service connecting commuters and travellers.
-Keep your car tuned up-
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.

-Check your tires weekly to make sure they're properly inflated-
Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel effiency makes a difference!
- When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel effient vehicle-
You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid!





Pic. A: In 20 Years Time Pic. B: In Fifty Years time
(sections in orange indicates that these parts of the world will be underwater)


a) b)
Global Warming - A Share of Moonlight



YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE


Your actions to reduce global warming can extend beyond how you personally reduce your own emissions. We all have influence on our schools, workplaces, businesses and on society through how we make purchases, invest, take action and vote.
Spread this around your community and help stop global warming! You don't have to be a superhero to save the world - just start with shorter showers :P


Encourage your school or business to reduce emissions
You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond your home by actively encouraging other to take action. Download toolkits for schools and businesses to take action outside of your home.


Join the virtual march
The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a non-political effort to bring all Americans concerned about global warming together in one place. Add your voice to the hundreds of thousands of other Americans urging action on this issue.

Encourage the switch to renewable energy
Successfully combating global warming requires a national transition to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. These technologies are ready to be deployed more widely but there are regulatory barriers impeding them. Take action to break down those barriers with Vote Solar.

Protect and conserve forest worldwide
Forests play a critical role in global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere -- deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Conservation International has more information on forests and global warming.

Consider the impact of your investments
If you invest your money, you should consider the impact that your investments and savings will have on global warming. You can learn more about how to ensure your money is being invested in companies, products and projects that address issues related to climate change here and here.

Make your city cool
Cities and states around the country have taken action to stop global warming by passing innovative transportation and energy saving legislation. 194 cities nationwide representing over 40 million people have made this pledge as part of the Climate Protection Agreement. Find out how to make your city a cool city.

Tell Congress to act
The McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act would set a firm limit on carbon dioxide emissions and then use free market incentives to lower costs, promote efficiency and spur innovation. Tell your representative to support it.

Make sure your voice is heard!
We must have a stronger commitment from our government in order to stop global warming and implement solutions and such a commitment won't come without a dramatic increase in citizen lobbying for new laws with teeth. Get the facts about politicians and candidates at Project Vote Smart and The League of Conservation Voters. Make sure your voice is heard by voting!


-Becky-
-Beatrice-


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