Don't let anyone mislead you; global warming is happening. It gets worse every day and it is up to us as individual inhabitants of this planet to reduce and hopefully reverse it's effects. Here are some facts about global warming that we all need to be aware of:
The greenhouse effect is a good thing. It is a natural system that keeps the Earth warm enough to promote and sustain life. Global warming is an intensification of the greenhouse effect. When there is an overabundance of greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere, the result is that the planet heats up too much. The high temperatures cause a variety of problems all over the planet.
The Artic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. The sea ice melts earlier in the spring and freezes later in the fall. Polar bears have shorter hunting seasons and are venturing further and further south in order to survive.
11 of the last 12 years have been the hottest ever recorded in terms of global temperatures.
In the summer of 2003, record heat waves killed over 26000 people across Europe.
Record high temperatures are causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damages in the forms of forest fires, agricultural damage, droughts and health problems.
Ice shelves are breaking away from Antarctica. Some are the size of Rhode Island. Sea levels are continually rising around the globe. Booming coastal communities are being flattened and the residents are scared to stay.
Average global temperatures have climbed over 1.8 degrees since 1880 - the majority of that in the past 3 decades.
The last 2 centuries of the 20th century were the hottest in 400 years and perhaps for several thousand.
In 1910, Montana's Glacier National Park had 150 glaciers. Now there are less than 30.
Coral reefs are very sensitive to temperature changes. The coral reefs are dying off due to stress (bleaching) at record levels. They may soon be gone altogether.
Deforestation, heavy dependence on fossil fuels; irresponsible and non-caring individual attitudes towards conservation; reliance on paper products; meat-gorging food intake patterns and massive shipping increases are some of the most prevalent causes of global warming. The cycle continues to devastate ecosystems worldwide. Governments, manufacturers and individuals alike must all unite to combat the disastrous effects that are clearly increasing.
Going green is about more than just claiming to be concerned for our planetary environment. Each of us has to stand up and proactively take a stance for conservation. Here are a few good ways to begin your personal green campaign:
Recycle and use recycled products. Reduce your demand for paper products.
Explore green forms of alternative transportation like walking, jogging, bicycling, scootering or using mass transit systems.
Go meatless at least one or two days per week
Grow a garden.
Start a compost pile in your backyard.
Lower your thermostat 2 degrees in winter and raise it 2 degrees in summer.
Conserve water around your home and office.
Cut back on orders that require product shipping. Buy locally whenever possible.
Spread the word! Stop talking about the weather and bring up the topics of protecting and preserving our limited natural resources.
We can all join together - just a little here and there - to reduce global warming and help to restore our planet. The result of continued apathy will certainly lead to a very grim future. We can simply address environmental issues today by choice or be forced to address them in the near future with great difficulty.
Take your stance to reduce global warming today!
Phillip runs an awesome green website at http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org He wants to call attention to the impact of wasted natural resources and help to advocate the necessity of the Green movement. You are encouraged to check out the site's blog at http://ypggblog.com Please visit often! |
