Climate Ch-ch-changes
"It was so hot this summer," said one of my Alaskan relatives.
"It snowed here in Mass. It rarely if ever snowed here before and never this early," said a former college classmate.
"Our vineyards are drying up," said a Sonoma Valley winery.
For each of these expressed woes, there is an inverse of praise.
"It was so warm this summer," said a second-year Alaskan resident.
"It snowed here in Massachusetts. I even got to build a snow person," said a long-time Boston resident on CNN.
"Our vineyards do better every year," said an Rogue Valley, Oregon, winery.
The
only constant in life is change, and the climate is no exception. Where
some regions are experiencing the adverse effects of climate change,
others benefit from it.
Climate change is indeed cyclical, as
many global warming naysayers claim. However, the rate at which the
world's climate is changing is not normal.
Too many of the signs
point to the sad fact that it's too late to stop this accelerated
period of climate change. That doesn't mean we can't do our utmost to
slow it down, though.
Here are some things you can do to combat climate change:
Park the car! This
is a huge one. Vehicle emissions account for the single largest factor
in creating the pollution responsible for global warming. If you can
walk to your destination in 15 minutes, then leave your rig in the
driveway. Walk or bike instead.
Resist Gadget Glut! Whether
it's the latest iPhone to come out, the newest version of Amazon
Kindle, a brand spanking new GPS, or a margarita making machine, all
these cool gadgets are created in factories. Most often, these
factories are located in countries with almost no pollutant
restrictions.
Boycott Excess Packaging! Ever
get a Lunchable for your kid or sibling? Every single item is sealed in
its own little piece of cellophane. And what about that nifty little
container? All of these items eventually wind up in a landfill, where
they remain for decades. The result is massive piles of trash producing
an excess of toxic methane gases. Don't Be a Green Sheeple! Too
many people trust that the products they purchase are better for the
environment. All because the packaging says the product is ecofriendly.
People buying organic cotton, for instance, believe that they are doing
the right thing for the earth. What they don't know is that it takes 4
times as much land to produce organic cotton, which represents a
tremendous drain on already meager water resources. A better
alternative is to purchase used clothing from a thrift store or
clothing produced from recycled fibers, or even better, hemp!
Consider
your options. Put them into play. Fight climate change by changing your
habits. As for that wacky weather and its effects on your environment,
I say, "Roll with it and embrace the change."
Comment (2)
Sun, Oct 12th - 11:28AM
Mother's Stops Making Cookies
Since 1914, pink and white frosted
circus animal cookies have delighted the world. As of Monday, 13
October 2008, the world will lose these whimsical tasty treats. Citing
steep increases in raw material costs, Mother's Cookies will cease production of their signature brand.
Queen Latifah to Star as Ella Fitzgerald
Twentieth Century Fox announced the cast of "Bewitched, Bothered &
Bewildered," a movie based on the life of Jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald.
Slated to play the starring role? None other than Queen Latifah.
"Ella's always been a huge inspiration to me," said Latifah. "She's the reason I've switched from Hip-hop to Jazz."
Production of "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered" is set to begin November 2008. This post is false, but wouldn't Queen Latifah make the perfect Ella?
Is Michelle More Inspiring than Barack?
I ran across a very interesting article about a new sculpture to hit New York. Sculptor Daniel Edwards has released his nude bust entitled "Michelle Obama's Makeover for America."
The sculpture, a tasteful and respectful nude, was created with the idea that Michelle Obama is the embodiment of America's future. The sculpture makes her look like a Nubian Queen, though, so I wonder what the artist is trying to say here about America's future.
Also, he emblazoned a waving American flag across her chest. What's confusing about the flag is that Edwards has splashed the flag over the right side of her chest, not over her heart. Maybe the images I saw are just mirrored, but if they aren't, what was the artist trying to say by not placing the flag across her heart?
Just some things to consider. Maybe Lilith eZine will weigh in, as our most prevalent art gallery presnce here on the WebRing blogs?
Whatever You Do This November, Don't Vote!
Sarah Silverman and Jonah Hill are masters of irony. Remember, October 4 is your last day to register to vote in many states. Go register, then vote this November.