Maybe It's Too Late?

Or maybe that's just an excuse.

It's hard not to think that Mother Nature/Gaia/The Earth has had enough of us when one looks at the devastation that occured over the weekend in Joplin, MO (a tornado bifurcated the town in a half mile wide path of devastation) while considering the recent Earthquake in Japan. Add to this the over 1,100 tornados just this year attributing to over 420 deaths in April and May alone. The largest outbreak of violent tornados ever occurred in three days between April 25th and 28th; now labled the 2011 Super Outbreak. CNN reported that 2011 could shape up to be the deadiest tornado season ever, and include a graph of increased tornado activity since 1950 that exactly matches the "hockey stick" graph of global warming. Video of the Joplin, MO tornado can show just how deadly they can be

As for Earth quakes, records show that there has beeen a 30% increase of magnitude six earth quakes between 2000 and 2010. Already in 2011 (not even half over) the number earthquakes is almost 2/3rds the number of earthquakes in 2010. At that rate there will be 30% more earthquakes this year than next year. Maybe it's too late to stop what has been set in motion.

Maybe Lovelock is right?

...when he said, "climate change will reduce the human population to a few breeding pairs surviving near the Arctic." The Norwegian seem to think so with the Svarlbad Seed Vault project, collecting seeds and storing them in the arctic should natural disasters ( or war) destroy agricultural resources. Lovelock is the climatologist who put forthe The Gaia Hypothesis that we and the earth are a "single, self-regulating orgnamism." Perhaps, the planet is self-regulating itself.

So does that mitigate our sense of convenience?

Allowing us to continue with our current carbon footprint contributions to the accelorating carbon cycle by, driving everywhere, as often as we want, purchasing and disposing of disposable products rather than reusing, How many disposable cups did you you this week? Bags? Paper towels? I know that washing dishes and carrying your cups and canvas to the coffee shop and grocery store is inconvenient and washing rags is way inconvenient compared to buying disposable paper products. But they are require carbon emissions to manufacture, transport to the store and again to the land fill or recycle center and b e recycled.

Somebody should fix this.

But it should be somebody else? Right? Somebody ought to create cars with no carbon footprint, (not that we can buy enough to replace what is on the road) and disposable packages so that we don't have to be inconvenienced.

Yin & Yang of Green Awareness

This past weekend I went to La Vida Verde, sponsored by Greenheart a child of The Center for Cultural Exchange who really planned the the event. It kicked off with a plethora of volunteers (kudos to Greenheart for reaching so many people) "cleaning up Wicker Park (the actual park not the neighborhood). My initial reaction was, isn't raking up leaves and mulch sort of an antithesis to being green. After all, aren't leaves and twigs part of the environment and also, isn't the decomposition of leaves and twigs a part of the ecological system? Isn't this "cleaning up" part of the way humans try to order nature. Further, as I joined in, I wondered, aren't we taking work away from potential city workers in an economy where jobs are desperately needed? After seeing, the poundage of disposable bags and eatery packaging as well as bowls, I also wondered how green can this be, all this trash?

However....

...(and it's a big "however") The workshops were tremendous and because of CCI/Greenheart's approach, very well attended. The room was full to standing room for every workshop and all those in attendance went away being all the more greener for having attended.

The first was ostensibly how to make veggie chili in a very green way by Chef David Reyes, representing the Green Chicago Restaurant Coop, but the conversations and question turned toward issues of food purchase that is environmentally more sustainable and less intrusive as well as being healthier. Those in attendance went away discovering how much more invasive meat production is to the environment not only in the excessive amount of carbon emissions (generally around 3,000 grams per burger), but also the tremendous amount of water required to put meat on the table (1 pound requires 1800 gallons of water). From there the discussion went to the reduced carbon output of purchasing local vegetables (or growing one's own as many restaurants do) and saving the extra emissions required to transport food from places like California, the major supplier of food to the country. Included in the discussion was the health benefit of not eating genetically modified fruits and vegetables as can only be purchased in most grocery outlets. From there the discussion turned toward cleaning products, since being clean is regulated by health code, that are green. Most people didn't realize that vinegar can suffice for a surface cleaning product and reduce the invasive chemical impact on the environment.

The next workshop conducted by GreenBox Chicago who showed everyone how to grow shallow rooted vegetables (spinach, chard, lettuce, etc...) and even a deep rooted tomato in containers on roofs and and porches. The side benefit was the knowledge folks picked up on reducing carbon emissions by reducing transportation of vegetables, the help given to the carbon cycle (turning carbon into oxygen) by having more green around and the health benefit of reducing one's intake of genetically modified vegetables. Plus, the health benefit to one's pocketbook. People were shown how they can take wine boxes or in the case of tomatoes, old buckets like the kind that kitty litter is sold in and turn them into micro-gardens from seeds or starter plants. Simple: Get a container, ventilate the bottom with a few holes, line with newspaper, add organic soil and plant. From that point on it's the usual ritual of sun, water and love. Attendees learned that composting was not only valuable toward the growth of plants but an aid in reducing disposed garbage to a landfill. Fundamentally, it's putting food that will rot in a place where it can do that and become something of value rather than just tossed away.

Next on the workshop roster came, Ken Dunne of the Resource Center, who in the gentlest manner explained how to stop disposing of our planet, but reusing and recycling the things that most people assume can be disposed of. Beyond the obvious of reusing packaging containers, how many people thing that perishable food can be reused? At the commercial level, The Resource Center aids restaurants in getting food that would be disposed of to those at risk who need it. On the personal level, perishable can be used for composting.

After that it was to the Greenhouse shop for a bit of soiree including music. Here is where the yin and yang of being green become most evident. The store was fundamentally started based on fare trade products. This often means transporting products from other countries, which translates to a higher carbon output, but I was glad to see that many of the products in the store were made locally by women in need of doing something to create income. Being green and helping people who are economically oppressed are equally noble causes and in this complicated world there will inevitably be noble conflict.

So in the effort to help people become aware enough to practice sustainable and long term green practices, a certain amount of waste and carbon footprint had to be generated. I would like to think of this as collateral damage and would hope that what over 100 people came away with in return for this damage, was practices that overall will treat the planet with respect and nurture, less consumption and disregard.

Yin & Yang of Green

What's "On" At Your House?

Gorillas in the air:

Many of you are probably someplace other than your home as you read this. (No one ever messes around online during their own time). So, you'll have to think. What electrical "thingamadobobs" might still be sucking juice threw the ol' 'lectric meter?

Keep in mind that a single 100-watt bulb left on all night will require 500 lbs of coal be burned to keep it lit. That means a single 100-watt bulb left on all night will release 800 pounds of CO2 released into the air; roughtly the equivalent of having 2 gorillas floating above your head. If one third of the people in the U.S. left a light on nightthat would be 800,000,000 lbs of CO2 , or 1 million gorillas floating over your head.

Did you leave your computer on?

If you have a regular CRT monitor, at 240-watts, that would mean 1,200 pounds of coal, releasing 1,920 pounds of CO2, or the equivalent of four adult gorillas and one adolescent floating over you. The computer itself would require 2,460 pounds of CO2, about the equivalent of 7 gorillas.

If half the population of the U.S. were to leave their computers on all day with a regular monitor, that would mean 288 trillion pounds of CO2 in the air, or the equivalent of 720 million gorillas.

So, what's on?

A 25 watt nightlight that's always on in the bathroom would be the equivalent of five flying chimpanzees of CO2.

The stereo? Another five flying chimps. The DVD player? Another five flying chimps.

How about those nice 15 watt accent lights around the building or garden or along the walk. Nine of them would be the equivelant of ten adult gorillas and a teen gorilla.

So what's "on" at your house? Some sort of Flying Primate Circus?

Earth Rising: Lashing Back.....

....with volcanoes, earthquakes and tornadoes.

Earthquakes? Really?

Yup. As far back as 2007 scientists have considered the possibility of Earthquakes being tied to global warming More recently several papers including The Montreal Gazette spawned by the Japanese earthquake, tied the recent plethora of earthquakes to global warming.

How can this be?

Well, global warming not only impacts the atmosphere, but it impacts the Earth's crust, according to a report in Reuters (2009). In the simplest of explanations, it's due to a lot (billions of tons) of weight being lifted off of the tectonic plates, to huge sections of the Earth's crust that shift during what we call an earthquake. As the weight lifts, the plates will start shifting. This lifting of tremendous weight is caused by the melting of glaciers and the polar ice caps. Andrew Hynes, tectonics expert (plates expert) at McGill, indicates that Vancouver Island (part of Greenland) is "bowed", sticking up and if enough weight is released could cause a major quake.

He also talks about the more complicated aspect of this weight shifting is the pressure changes within the crust. As the weight changes so does the change of fluid (molten rock and water) within the crust. This is like having huge wedges inserted and released into the rocks, causing cracking and collapse. He cites the possibility of volcanoes.

Volcanoes? Oh, no.

Yeah. Afraid so, but since volcanoes haven't recently caused mass death, lets stick to the issue and take that up on another day. It's all related. Course. Gaia - Earth, a single self-regulating organism. However, note that as volcanoes erupt, more carbon emissions will be released into the air and the more the Greenhouse Effect could contribute to global warming; and so on and so on.

Can it get worse?

Probably. In 2003 NASA Reported that the melting of Polar Caps would have "great impact on ocean processes." And I couldn't say it better than they have: "Less ice means more open water. More open water means greater absorption of solar energy. More absorption of solar energy means increased rates of warming in the ocean, which naturally tends to yield faster rates of ice loss."

Worse, yet?

In 2006, Time Magazine portrayed polar cap melting as "the tipping point". Not only will the Earth warm as the oceans increase in volume by absorbing more heat, as the ice melts, exposing the permafrost, the newly exposed soil will decompose releasing methane, a carbon emission, and adding to global warming.

And so it goes and so it goes, eh?

"Nature, it seems has had a bellyful of us" (Kluger, Time, 2006). Whether or not you believe that global warming is caused by us (humans) may be a moot issue. Whether one finds it inconvenient or not The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which includes over 500 independent scientists as well as NASA have reported for over twenty years the impact that humans have had on global warming. Seems the only dissent comes from politicians who pander to the economics of those who might contribute to global warming. The Norwegians are taking this very seriously. They have been packing away every kind of seed known in the advent of global catastrophe and everyone is forced to live in the Arctic. You know, just in case civilization has to start over. So?

You wanna take a chance?

That this is either a bunch of hooey, or that it's too late? Hmmm? Or do you want to do something -- just to be safe. You don't have to become an activist, just simply do what you can to reduce your personal carbon footprint. After all, there are 300 million of us here in the U.S. Here are simple things you can do yourself

Would You Give Up Tupperware To Save The Planet?

If you could do some small thing, that might help ensure that your children had a habitable planet, would you do it?

Let's say that a small thing was as simple as not buying plastic resealable containers is an effective strategy toward reducing your carbon footprint which is an effective way of reducing global warming that is threatening the quality of life for your children.

How can this be?

Well, it's simple. For every ounce of plastic manufactured to create a container, 0.6 ounces of carbon is released into the atmosphere. Each container weighs about 2 ounces, so if you go count your resealable containers, you can calculate your carbon footprint. Let's say you have 12 resealable storage containers, your carbon footprint is 14.4 ounces (12 x 2 x 0.6). Given that there are 114.5 million households in the U.S. each of which likely has resealable plastic containors, that makes for over 4.6 trillion ounces of carbon released into the air. That's over 304 million pounds or the equivalent of over 50,700 Hummers (the heaviest consumer vehicle). For us folks who are not Hummer types, that the same as 89,000 Toyota Camrys. Now the idea of cabon emissions floating in the air, over your head is obscure and hard to relate to, but think in terms of 50,000 Hummers floating over your head.

Does that mean you can't send lunch to school?

Not at all. Just use what you already have for containers. You have plenty of containers to send food in to work or school. Ever notice how a cottage cheese container looks a lot Tupperware? We acquire so many reusable containers as packaging. You probably throw the stuff out. How about those containers you get a restaurants to send home leftovers?

Speaking of packaging....
Now that you know that over half the equivalent weight of plastic packaging is floating over your heads like so many Hummers and Camrys, any way you think you can reduce your footprint by reducing the emissions creating packaging you bring home? I know you are conscious of your footprint and bring your reusable bag, but that's only half the issue. Ever think of reducing the amount of packaged goods you purchase? I don't mean go with less, just purchase things not requiring packaging (e.g. fresh veggies instead of canned or fozen); or, fresh meats for that matter. Here's something that can not only reduce your packaging, but spare you consuming MSG, Benzoate and a plethora of other chemicals. Ever buy salad dressing or oil? Well, try this. Buy olive oil and vinegar as well as fresh basil, garlic and rosemary. Mix it all together in one of the containers you have saved, such as an empty honey-bear. Shake it up and dispense it from the saved packaging.

Not as convenient as purchasing pre-made, but look up. You can't see them, but all those Hummers and Camrys are up there waiting to crash down on your head

Another "Earth Day" And....

What?

Where have we come since the first Earth Day? Is care for the planet more grassroots; or more forgotten?

Back in 1970, Earth Day drew huge gatherings all across the country, the kind of gatherings that now happen every weekend -- at the mall.

Oh yeah, there were rallies for Earth Day 2010, sporadic and much smaller in size. The biggest "event" to take place was the explosion of the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that nearly destroyed the Gulf. Today in Fukushima, Japan, citizens will be celebrating Earth Day with a visit limited to 2 hours to gather personal things in the after math of the nuclear power plant explosion over a month ago.

Three years ago, I went to "The Green Festival" here in Chicago and was astounded at the appalling show of carbon emissions-generating consumerism. Booth after booth of organic products (cause everyone know "organic" is green), shipped in from hundreds of miles away in plastic containers hawked their greenness.

Next weekend, I will go to a local park to "revitalize the park" (pick up trash). The event is sponsored by an organization that is fronted by a local store which sells green products. However, when you look at their web site you will see that their specialty is "fair trade" products which they "purchase from over "60 other countries" Other countries means "shipments, means transportation that contributes greatly to the carbon foot print. Still, I feel, having written a novel to save the planet over 16 years ago before "Global Warming Became a buzz word, that I should do something and this is close and convenient and I really don't know what else to do. After all, doing what what can to mitigate carbon emissions and global warming is reliant on daily practices.

So, I will go to mitigate my guilt.

And I will hang out with others who will pontificate about awareness to others who are already aware. And when those who are younger than I (the informed hipsters) will gather at some local caravansary and possibly go off to "hook up" and revel in their "greenness", I will go home and make sure the lights are off and the computer isn't running and the heat is as far down as it should go and not feel a sense of hopelessness.

Awareness is good, but....

What is the point of awareness if it doesn't create change? Where have we come since the first Earth Day? Well, ironically, 1970 is when carbon emissions started to really take off, despite an Oil Crisis and Embargo; according to NASA. This is counter intuitive to what should result from awareness. Also, noted by NASA is that given Earth's 100,000 year cycle we should be entering a cooling phase. Maybe we're not so aware as we think.

Maybe not so ironically, consumer spending increased dramatically until 2008 and tied to this is the increase of disposable plastic packaging creating a huge increase in green house emissions. Personal use of automobiles has increased. I won't make the obvious observation of the impact for that. More homes have air conditioning, which creates a demand on electrical energy production. Again, no obvious observation needed here.

So what is our awareness? Do we not know that our personal lifestyles directly or indirectly attribute to the problems of global warming? Or do we know and just don't care for the inconveniences it may mean?

Will the last person on the planet, please shut off the lights.

Hoisted On Their Own Pitard

Wake Up Call

At least for the GOP. The study they commissioned to show that human influence over Global Warming was a myth backfired on them when it showed that in fact humans are most likely the reason the reason that the current average temperature of the earth is defying previous climate cycles by getting warmer; not cooler. (Click here for Krugman's Story)

Still, for most the interest in reversing the climate and the implications of a heating up climate engine, is to read about it, and point fingers. That is despite the fact that the U.S. has 3% of the global population it still contributes to over 25% of the carbon footprint. We realize that, yet, continue to demand cars with less emissions output, but few think about driving less. Few will take a reusable bag to shop, preferring the convenience of one of the greatest contributors to carbon emissions (disposable plastic bags). And who weighs the options for carbon footprint when purchasing food? The production of meat contributes more than four times the carbon footprint of vegetables. Buying goods that require shipment of more than 100 miles requires more carbon output. Bananas are the worst and no one considers that you can get more potassium from locally grown avocados, tomatoes or sweet potatoes. How many people remember to turn off lights when they leave a room? A hundred watt bulb left on all night requires 500 lbs of coal. How many use low power fluorescent lights?

No, we prefer convenience, reading about Global Warming and demanding that someone else do something about it.

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