I totally recognize that I've done almost nothing on this blog for ages, and I'm super depressed about that, but I'll see what I can do to make that change. So since I don't have very much time to talk, I'm going to make a few comments really quickly.
1. I finally decided what I want to do with my life. I'm taking another year of high school, then I'm looking at applying to the Environmental Studies program at York University in Toronto, Ontario. After that, I'm thinking about taking a year of Broadcast Journalism at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, just so that I have a broad range of knowledge and experience. Has anyone taken either of these programs? I'm not entirely positive that I'm going to make it into the programs, but I think that if I can step it up again this year then I'll do better.
2. Live Earth was AWESOME. I just caught bits and pieces of it because I had some other stuff to do on Saturday, but I'm amazed at how well everything came together in the end. However, there was so much negativity toward it that I really don't know how much good it did. Even if nothing happens, how many times have we had live music from all seven continents at the same time, on the same TV channel? (MuchMusic broadcasted in 7-part picture-in-picture for a while)
3. I found this cute little email about "Why Global Warming Isn't So Bad". It's totally ridiculous but it makes a good point about what could happen to us.
The Ten Best Things About Global Warming:
10) Why pay for tattoos when melanoma's free?
9) No more pesky weeds. In fact, no more pesky plants.
8) Nile Encephalitis: not just for Egyptians anymore.
7) Furnaces convert easily into tornado shelters.
6) Helsinki: the new Riviera.
5) Middle East oil producers feel right at home— everywhere.
4) Golfers only need a putter and a sand wedge.
3) For those who can't get enough of global warming. One word: Venus.
2) Steaks, medium rare, on the hoof.
1) Three thongs and you're dressed!
4. This site gives 50 ways to stop global warming.
That's it for now, but I will for sure be back at a later date to keep you updated!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
SFMwha?
Sustainable Forestry Management is given the [working] definition from the United Nations Forum on Forests as:
In layman's terms, this means "don't be an idiot and cut down all the trees." Trees are more than just trees: they also provide homes for animals.
Just as a reference, here’s a map of Ontario's forested land.
Now, trees don't exactly grow quickly, so it's not exactly like people can just say "Oh, well we can cut down all the trees and then plant some new ones and come back next year for more!" It's not like they grow on trees, you know (although apparently cell phones, money, laptops, funk and shrimp do).
According to this report, entitled "Sustainable Forest Management in Canada: Clear Policy -- Questionable Practice", Canada is making a
P.S. This site has a lot of great articles about climate change. It's from CBC News, so you're probably guaranteed accurate information.
P. P. S. If you want to visit a great Ontario National Park, I highly recommend the Bruce Peninsula -- I visited this cliff last summer, and it is amazing.
“...the stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national, and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.”
In layman's terms, this means "don't be an idiot and cut down all the trees." Trees are more than just trees: they also provide homes for animals.
Just as a reference, here’s a map of Ontario's forested land.
Now, trees don't exactly grow quickly, so it's not exactly like people can just say "Oh, well we can cut down all the trees and then plant some new ones and come back next year for more!" It's not like they grow on trees, you know (although apparently cell phones, money, laptops, funk and shrimp do).
According to this report, entitled "Sustainable Forest Management in Canada: Clear Policy -- Questionable Practice", Canada is making a
P.S. This site has a lot of great articles about climate change. It's from CBC News, so you're probably guaranteed accurate information.
P. P. S. If you want to visit a great Ontario National Park, I highly recommend the Bruce Peninsula -- I visited this cliff last summer, and it is amazing.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Introducing... Robbie!
I realized the other day that I’ve done almost no posting in the last few weeks, so I decided to actually get my butt into motion. But first I wanted to drop a quick note introducing everyone to my new best friend, Robbie!
Robbie is a sugar maple tree. He was donated to our “green space” (more about that in a minute) by Angelina Pickering, but because he’s so tiny, he’s staying with me for a while until he’s big enough to hold his own against the lawnmowers and snowmobiles. He likes Dasani bottled water and car rides with the radio blaring. I’m not helping myself in the “I’m-not-insane” thing, am I? No, I didn’t think so. That’s okay; I love trees, and I'm apparently not afraid to broadcast it to the world.
For our final ISP project, our class was asked to choose an issue we think is important and then attempt to make a change in the school and community. Our group chose to plant trees at the back of the school in order to create a sitting are type "haven" for seniors wanting to get away from the terrors that are the grade nines and tens at our school. We've already put aside a crabapple tree and a red maple, but those are both well-established and able to go into the ground. Robbie, however, is about 25 cm tall, 3mm around and has some sort of disease that I'm not able to identify, but his leaves are yellowing and full of holes. He's getting plenty of water (yes, tap water too) and sunlight, so I really am stumped as to what I'm doing wrong.
Robbie is a sugar maple tree. He was donated to our “green space” (more about that in a minute) by Angelina Pickering, but because he’s so tiny, he’s staying with me for a while until he’s big enough to hold his own against the lawnmowers and snowmobiles. He likes Dasani bottled water and car rides with the radio blaring. I’m not helping myself in the “I’m-not-insane” thing, am I? No, I didn’t think so. That’s okay; I love trees, and I'm apparently not afraid to broadcast it to the world.
For our final ISP project, our class was asked to choose an issue we think is important and then attempt to make a change in the school and community. Our group chose to plant trees at the back of the school in order to create a sitting are type "haven" for seniors wanting to get away from the terrors that are the grade nines and tens at our school. We've already put aside a crabapple tree and a red maple, but those are both well-established and able to go into the ground. Robbie, however, is about 25 cm tall, 3mm around and has some sort of disease that I'm not able to identify, but his leaves are yellowing and full of holes. He's getting plenty of water (yes, tap water too) and sunlight, so I really am stumped as to what I'm doing wrong.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Post # 4: My Ecological Footprint
Hi again!
The blog for this week is about calculating your Ecological Footprint. Click the link and check out how you did!
CATEGORY GLOBAL HECTARES
FOOD 3.1
MOBILITY 0.1
SHELTER 0.5
GOODS/SERVICES 0.5
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 4.2
IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 8.8 GLOBAL HECTARES PER PERSON.
WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 1.8 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL HECTARES PER PERSON.
IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 2.3 PLANETS.
-------------------------------
Okay, so I took the Ecological Footprint test. I think I did okay -- check out my other classmates' blogs (side bar on the left) to see how I compare!
Next, I checked out my Lifestyle Footprint!
Footprint summary results
This totals up your future lifestyle choices and their footprint scores. The implication is a 'scenario' or FUTURE VISION for the region - a glimpse into what may lie ahead.
F2: Low Growth
Everything goes wrong that can go wrong, in this future of risk and paranoia. Total ecological footprint is halved, but for the wrong reasons - economic stagnation and social malaise. The rich consume avariciously while others tighten their belts, amidst a host of problems - climate change, urban unrest, toxic waste, mutant organisms, and international terrorism.
Here are the "potential scenarios" for my F2 Footprint...
2005: LOW GROWTH -- NOW!
STAYING SANE
How can the best of intentions go horrendously wrong? Take a modernizing centrist government, and place in a world which is increasingly dysfunctional and chaotic. The result? Water shortages, floods, droughts and storms: toxic bio-accumulation, trace carcinogens, genotoxic food contamination, genetically modified insects and bacteria, radioactive storage, tropospheric ozone, heat stress, tropical disease, soil erosion, invasions of weeds and rodents. It seems tragic that a golden age of prosperity could be destroyed by such obvious physical problems.
Mental aid at the mind-bank
With record numbers of people suffering from stress, paranoia, depression and psychosis, there is now a solution in sight. While picking up the groceries at your local hyper-mall, why not drop into the mind-bank, plug into your personalized alpha wave generator and breath some really cool fresh air imported from the Swiss Alps. In fact you can even don the VR gear and go skiing for an hour in our cyber-surround simulator. Much more ecologically sound, and safer, than the real thing!
------------------------------
2010: LOW GROWTH -- SOON
RISK SOCIETY
In the cities there is a sudden increase in morbidity, which are now hot and fetid for most of the summer, when temperatures are regularly over 400. This accelerates the exodus of the wealthy to remoter rural areas, where house prices rocket upwards. These incoming ‘nouveaus’ build self-contained communities with jobs, schools, services and entertainment, venturing out occasionally in semi-armoured cars. In the cities, organized crime spreads rapidly, aided by a corrupted and demoralized public sector, in an atmosphere of fear and paranoia.
Risk-u-tainment
With airfares rising fast and the outdoor environment getting nastier by the day, why not get some real quality leisure time on the risk-u-tainment system. This takes extreme sports and other extreme experiences to extreme lengths, in a highly addictive system of multi-sensory stimulation, which substitutes for material consumption. This kind of thing used to be called computer gaming, or just getting stoned. Now you have a choice of chemical, digital, sexual, or mystical pathways. You can also adjust the levels of risk and aggression for that optimum balance of adrenaline buzz and ecstatic relief. While you may experience death and after-life many times in a session, the real danger is that you will not want to stop playing!
-----------------
2020: LOW GROWTH -- CHILDREN'S WORLD
REGIONAL DEFENCE
Consumption and production in such a world becomes increasingly difficult. Economic growth stagnates, due to the disruption of climate change, international terrorism, almost daily cyber-attacks with bugs and worms, and the political tension between the USA, EU and East Asia power blocs.While the rich grow richer on the gangster capitalism model, for most the loss of trust and confidence means a dramatic fall in material affluence. Meanwhile the problems of mental health and racial or ethnic tension multiply.
The enemy without and within
The next stage in the regional defence system was opened to the public. This is a multi-purpose series of physical an electronic barriers which protects the region from unauthorized migrants and asylum seekers. It also protects the high value areas from those with low or negative value. Most of Surrey is fenced and gated off with the latest infra-red surveillance and ID technology, together with private security firms who mount a network of road-blocks. Meanwhile some of the most deprived urban areas are fenced in, not only with physical barriers, but by the combination of discretionary employment, security and insurance systems.
-------------
2050: LOW GROWTH -- GRANDCHILDREN'S WORLD
I should hope that I'm still alive then, too, but you never know...
NATURE BITES BACK
Each year now shows a more wildly uncertain weather pattern, as the sudden melting of the arctic ice creates chaos which baffles climate scientists. The SE sees its first real water shortages for 100 years, as a year-long drought is then followed by catastrophic flooding. The next year sees a malaria epidemic, for which the health service is quite unprepared, followed by an invasion of semi-lethal super-wasps. In some areas there is a spirit of pulling together against adversity, but in most areas economy stagnates as vital infrastructure fails, and fear and paranoia multiply. Ironically such economic and social problems cause a rapid fall in consumption and climate emissions.
Mother of all floods hits region
Last week saw the worst flooding ever recorded in the UK. Sea levels were at a 500-year high, with unstability in the Atlantic thermo-haline, a high tide and a hurricane-force westerly. A wall of water about 10 meters high in places hit what was left of Lewes, Eastbourne and other former resorts. The result is that about half of all coastal areas in the South East are now under water.With a full military evacuation the loss of life was kept to a minimum, but it is thought that fatalities could exceed 30 000, and that the homes severely damaged or destroyed could be over ½ million. In the chaos shops in Brighton and Portsmouth are being looted, there are arson attacks and violent demonstrations against global capitalism.
The blog for this week is about calculating your Ecological Footprint. Click the link and check out how you did!
CATEGORY GLOBAL HECTARES
FOOD 3.1
MOBILITY 0.1
SHELTER 0.5
GOODS/SERVICES 0.5
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 4.2
IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 8.8 GLOBAL HECTARES PER PERSON.
WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 1.8 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL HECTARES PER PERSON.
IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 2.3 PLANETS.
-------------------------------
Okay, so I took the Ecological Footprint test. I think I did okay -- check out my other classmates' blogs (side bar on the left) to see how I compare!
Next, I checked out my Lifestyle Footprint!
Footprint summary results
This totals up your future lifestyle choices and their footprint scores. The implication is a 'scenario' or FUTURE VISION for the region - a glimpse into what may lie ahead.
F2: Low Growth
Everything goes wrong that can go wrong, in this future of risk and paranoia. Total ecological footprint is halved, but for the wrong reasons - economic stagnation and social malaise. The rich consume avariciously while others tighten their belts, amidst a host of problems - climate change, urban unrest, toxic waste, mutant organisms, and international terrorism.
Here are the "potential scenarios" for my F2 Footprint...
2005: LOW GROWTH -- NOW!
STAYING SANE
How can the best of intentions go horrendously wrong? Take a modernizing centrist government, and place in a world which is increasingly dysfunctional and chaotic. The result? Water shortages, floods, droughts and storms: toxic bio-accumulation, trace carcinogens, genotoxic food contamination, genetically modified insects and bacteria, radioactive storage, tropospheric ozone, heat stress, tropical disease, soil erosion, invasions of weeds and rodents. It seems tragic that a golden age of prosperity could be destroyed by such obvious physical problems.
Mental aid at the mind-bank
With record numbers of people suffering from stress, paranoia, depression and psychosis, there is now a solution in sight. While picking up the groceries at your local hyper-mall, why not drop into the mind-bank, plug into your personalized alpha wave generator and breath some really cool fresh air imported from the Swiss Alps. In fact you can even don the VR gear and go skiing for an hour in our cyber-surround simulator. Much more ecologically sound, and safer, than the real thing!
------------------------------
2010: LOW GROWTH -- SOON
RISK SOCIETY
In the cities there is a sudden increase in morbidity, which are now hot and fetid for most of the summer, when temperatures are regularly over 400. This accelerates the exodus of the wealthy to remoter rural areas, where house prices rocket upwards. These incoming ‘nouveaus’ build self-contained communities with jobs, schools, services and entertainment, venturing out occasionally in semi-armoured cars. In the cities, organized crime spreads rapidly, aided by a corrupted and demoralized public sector, in an atmosphere of fear and paranoia.
Risk-u-tainment
With airfares rising fast and the outdoor environment getting nastier by the day, why not get some real quality leisure time on the risk-u-tainment system. This takes extreme sports and other extreme experiences to extreme lengths, in a highly addictive system of multi-sensory stimulation, which substitutes for material consumption. This kind of thing used to be called computer gaming, or just getting stoned. Now you have a choice of chemical, digital, sexual, or mystical pathways. You can also adjust the levels of risk and aggression for that optimum balance of adrenaline buzz and ecstatic relief. While you may experience death and after-life many times in a session, the real danger is that you will not want to stop playing!
-----------------
2020: LOW GROWTH -- CHILDREN'S WORLD
REGIONAL DEFENCE
Consumption and production in such a world becomes increasingly difficult. Economic growth stagnates, due to the disruption of climate change, international terrorism, almost daily cyber-attacks with bugs and worms, and the political tension between the USA, EU and East Asia power blocs.While the rich grow richer on the gangster capitalism model, for most the loss of trust and confidence means a dramatic fall in material affluence. Meanwhile the problems of mental health and racial or ethnic tension multiply.
The enemy without and within
The next stage in the regional defence system was opened to the public. This is a multi-purpose series of physical an electronic barriers which protects the region from unauthorized migrants and asylum seekers. It also protects the high value areas from those with low or negative value. Most of Surrey is fenced and gated off with the latest infra-red surveillance and ID technology, together with private security firms who mount a network of road-blocks. Meanwhile some of the most deprived urban areas are fenced in, not only with physical barriers, but by the combination of discretionary employment, security and insurance systems.
-------------
2050: LOW GROWTH -- GRANDCHILDREN'S WORLD
I should hope that I'm still alive then, too, but you never know...
NATURE BITES BACK
Each year now shows a more wildly uncertain weather pattern, as the sudden melting of the arctic ice creates chaos which baffles climate scientists. The SE sees its first real water shortages for 100 years, as a year-long drought is then followed by catastrophic flooding. The next year sees a malaria epidemic, for which the health service is quite unprepared, followed by an invasion of semi-lethal super-wasps. In some areas there is a spirit of pulling together against adversity, but in most areas economy stagnates as vital infrastructure fails, and fear and paranoia multiply. Ironically such economic and social problems cause a rapid fall in consumption and climate emissions.
Mother of all floods hits region
Last week saw the worst flooding ever recorded in the UK. Sea levels were at a 500-year high, with unstability in the Atlantic thermo-haline, a high tide and a hurricane-force westerly. A wall of water about 10 meters high in places hit what was left of Lewes, Eastbourne and other former resorts. The result is that about half of all coastal areas in the South East are now under water.With a full military evacuation the loss of life was kept to a minimum, but it is thought that fatalities could exceed 30 000, and that the homes severely damaged or destroyed could be over ½ million. In the chaos shops in Brighton and Portsmouth are being looted, there are arson attacks and violent demonstrations against global capitalism.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Today's Hot Topic: Everything
Okay, this post is going to be:
1) Shorter than my last one. Thank you, thank you -- I can hear you applauding all the way over here;
2) About random things that caught my interest today; and
3) Sarcastic and satirical, as usual.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex County says, "Hello, Eco-Friendly Bandwagon!"
I picked up the mail today, and, among the usual flyers and bills, found this staring at me. Well -- that image is the title on the cover of a brochure advertising the new ideas of our riding's current (Conservative) MP, Bev Shipley. The brochure itself is actually decent: it outlines several ways to improve efficiency, mentions the new ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiative
Save the Environment! Oh... and buy a Lexus
The London Free Press today devoted half of page A5 and all but one column of Letters to the Editor on page A8 entirely to Global Warming today. Sandwiched between the two, on A7, is a three-quarter-page, colour Lexus ad. I know that journalism is supposed to be without bias, and that Lexus paid a pretty penny to get that ad, but readers are getting a mixed message from this. At least move your ad to another page?
Hats off to the LFPress today, though: I found three sources of amusement within its pages:
1. PM to announce $200M Afghan aid
Harper woke up the other day, rolled out of bed, opened a newspaper, and, looking at an article on the war in Afghanistan realized, "Oh crap! Canada promised to hand over $1B over the course of ten years to rebuild Afghanistan, but they haven't seen a cent!" Then, in a mad rush, ran around 24 Sussex Drive, wondering, "Where's my chequebook! Don't tell me I forgot it in Jean Charest's pocket again!" But all has been solved, and now $200M will be sent to Afghanistan. I'm actually happy about this, despite the fact that I'm sick of Canada cleaning up (literally, here!) after the United States. And I'm sure that Harper's happy too, seeing as he just bought the Afghan vote in the upcoming election.
2. Blogs not gospel, experts caution
I just had to laugh when I saw this. You mean to tell me that not everything I read is true? I sincerely hope that if you're reading a blog, you don't immediately assume that everything in it is true. Some try to stick to the truth, but I doubt that a lonely 12-year-old girl home alone on a Saturday night is going to cite her references when she posts "OmGz BrItNeY sPeArZ sHaVeD hEr HeAd!!!!!!!111111111111" onto her Livejournal. I try my best to keep my facts straight, hyperlinking everything so that you know I'm not just making all of this up. I encourage you to check my sources -- these are good sites (or at least amusing ones), and feel free to let me know if I'm wrong. I would just like to thank the London Free Press for pointing out the obvious and making my day.
3. This gem.
That's all for today, folks!
Stay tuned,
Lauren
P.S. Part two of the five-part Climate Change series in the London Free Press today is called "Buying Your Way Out" and is a look at carbon credits. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's "How Much are Canadians Willing to pay to Go Green?". Betting tables are now open: I'm at $35.
1) Shorter than my last one. Thank you, thank you -- I can hear you applauding all the way over here;
2) About random things that caught my interest today; and
3) Sarcastic and satirical, as usual.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex County says, "Hello, Eco-Friendly Bandwagon!"
I picked up the mail today, and, among the usual flyers and bills, found this staring at me. Well -- that image is the title on the cover of a brochure advertising the new ideas of our riding's current (Conservative) MP, Bev Shipley. The brochure itself is actually decent: it outlines several ways to improve efficiency, mentions the new ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiative
Save the Environment! Oh... and buy a Lexus
The London Free Press today devoted half of page A5 and all but one column of Letters to the Editor on page A8 entirely to Global Warming today. Sandwiched between the two, on A7, is a three-quarter-page, colour Lexus ad. I know that journalism is supposed to be without bias, and that Lexus paid a pretty penny to get that ad, but readers are getting a mixed message from this. At least move your ad to another page?
Hats off to the LFPress today, though: I found three sources of amusement within its pages:
1. PM to announce $200M Afghan aid
Harper woke up the other day, rolled out of bed, opened a newspaper, and, looking at an article on the war in Afghanistan realized, "Oh crap! Canada promised to hand over $1B over the course of ten years to rebuild Afghanistan, but they haven't seen a cent!" Then, in a mad rush, ran around 24 Sussex Drive, wondering, "Where's my chequebook! Don't tell me I forgot it in Jean Charest's pocket again!" But all has been solved, and now $200M will be sent to Afghanistan. I'm actually happy about this, despite the fact that I'm sick of Canada cleaning up (literally, here!) after the United States. And I'm sure that Harper's happy too, seeing as he just bought the Afghan vote in the upcoming election.
2. Blogs not gospel, experts caution
I just had to laugh when I saw this. You mean to tell me that not everything I read is true? I sincerely hope that if you're reading a blog, you don't immediately assume that everything in it is true. Some try to stick to the truth, but I doubt that a lonely 12-year-old girl home alone on a Saturday night is going to cite her references when she posts "OmGz BrItNeY sPeArZ sHaVeD hEr HeAd!!!!!!!111111111111" onto her Livejournal. I try my best to keep my facts straight, hyperlinking everything so that you know I'm not just making all of this up. I encourage you to check my sources -- these are good sites (or at least amusing ones), and feel free to let me know if I'm wrong. I would just like to thank the London Free Press for pointing out the obvious and making my day.
3. This gem.
That's all for today, folks!
Stay tuned,
Lauren
P.S. Part two of the five-part Climate Change series in the London Free Press today is called "Buying Your Way Out" and is a look at carbon credits. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's "How Much are Canadians Willing to pay to Go Green?". Betting tables are now open: I'm at $35.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Post #3: Global Warming
Hello again:
Before I begin what is bound to be a long-winded and increasingly insane blog post, I should maybe give you some background information. For those of you who are apparently living under a rock, global warming is, in a nutshell, “An increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect.” (http://www.dictionary.reference.com) Essentially, the ”Greenhouse Effect” is the “what” and global warming is the “how much” – for a more cynical approach, try Junk Science for a very complicated (Allergy Alert: Contains Logarithms) description of what I just said. Or check out the American Heritage Science Dictionary definition (scroll down a bit on the page to find the right one).
Okay, to begin (somewhat): My grandparents have gone to Florida for two weeks. I know, I know, this seems terribly irrelevant, considering this post is supposed to be about Global Warming. Fear not, I have a point. When a subscriber to the London Free Press goes on vacation or is away for any reason, rather than cancel the subscription for however long, the LFPress will simply redirect your paper’s delivery. This means that as long as my grandparents are living it up in Senior City, which is pretty much what Florida has become, we get their LFPress every morning. I don’t usually get the opportunity to read any newspapers, unless I specifically buy them or take a chunk out of my lunch break to read the school’s, and then steal articles out of it that I want to peruse further (yeah, sue me). Now I get them delivered to the door, and I don’t have to sneak it around my house, like I do at school. Seeing as Global Warming seems to be the new pink, it’s always the main feature in the paper – along with the daily Justin Trudeau and Prince Harry updates. My mom said to me this morning, "There's a good global warming article on page 4," to which I replied, "There's a global warming article on EVERY page!" I’ve been trying to read all of these articles*, and when one catches my eye, I’ll rip it out and keep it. A couple of notable titles lately include Young, Urban and Green (part one of a five-part series) and “Let ‘em Live Like Commoners”. I’ll address “Let ‘em Live Like Commoners” at a later date – it’s a very well-written piece, and I think it deserves a lot of my attention. Today, however, I am going to draw from Y, U & G periodically.
The real beginning (sorry for making you read the rest of that): At the end of every week, our class heads over to our teacher, Mr. Holmes’s blog, to find out the week’s blog topic. You may have noticed from my previous posts that Global Warming is a hot (haha) topic for me, and I was exceedingly pleased to see that it was this week’s required post. Mr. Holmes’s blog discussed the ridiculously warm temperatures Canada experienced in December: “A 'Green Christmas' was on everyone's lips, and you could argue that the unseasonably warm weather we experienced before holidays was part of the reason that the environment and global warming has 'suddenly' become a major concern to the public.” I have to say, if one more person had randomly sung the line “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” at me this past holiday ‘season’ I would have had to burn down the tree. Needless to say, I was getting pretty frustrated with many people’s ignorance to the problem that was tapping them on the heads and saying, “Hellooo? Anybody home?” Global Warming was drawing more attention to itself than Stephen Harper** with his littlebribe “donation” to Québec. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about – you all know that the $350M he just handed them for “environmental” reasons was just a little reminder of the election this spring, and how much he wants to be re-elected. Still feigning ignorance? Click here to see what I mean. Anyway… back on topic. Everybody was sooo upset that it looked like it was going to be a green Christmas: a few people thought, “Hmm, maybe there is something wrong here?” while most of the world whined. Personally, I was preaching Global Warming from the mountains, as my relatives grew exceedingly sick of me. I heard “Don’t worry; there was a warm spell in the ‘70s… the Earth goes through cycles…” pretty much every time I opened my mouth. Nobody wanted to ruin his or her holidays by facing the music: we are in trouble. Sure, the Earth goes through cycles, but these cycles have become increasingly warmer over the decades. But now that the holidays are over, and North America has hit the late-winter slump, people seem to be taking more notice of the fact that THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!!!!!(Clickity-click for another good global warming movie) Okay, maybe that’s a taaaad melodramatic, but it gets my point across, albeit less efficiently than handing out money, but hey – I’m not the one receiving taxpayers' dollars***, am I?
In Young, Urban and Green, journalist Vivian Song refers mostly to the TNS Canadian Facts Survey, which says, “…a majority of Canadians [specifically Quebecers -- wonder why?] are willing to make some simple changes in their daily lifestyle to limit greenhouse-gas emissions, but they are less prepared to take drastic action.” Well, duh… Nobody will ever be willing to “take drastic action” given the fact that everybody seems to assume that “drastic action” means getting back on the Mayflower and living in mud huts. I highly recommend looking at this survey: it proves exactly what I’ve always been afraid to face: Canadians are disgustingly greedy. Be sure to visit Y, U & G as well, and pay special attention to the facts at the bottom of the article. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s edition of the series, titled Carbon Offsets: Can we buy our way out of polluting?: it’s sure to be an interesting read!
The Goldilocks Effect is just like the story: Not too much, not too little, juuuuust right – of course, in this case we’re talking about the composition of the Earth: carbon, silicon, oxygen and iron. Also, according to my other classmates' blogs (see the left sidebar for links) Earth is like Baby Bear's porridge -- not too hot, not too cold. It's juust right. Mars is the "too cold" porridge, and Venus is the "too hot" porridge. And just like Goldilocks, humans said "It's juuust right!" and starting chowing down. We just have to wait until they finish the bowl and head upstairs to take a nap.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is part of the United States Department of Commerce. Its mission is “To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nation’s economic, social and environmental needs.” It focuses on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere, and credits itself on being:
1. A Supplier of Environmental Information Products
2. A Provider of Environmental Stewardship Services
3. A Leader in Applied Scientific Research in these areas “of national and global importance”: a. Ecosystems; b. Climate; c. Weather & Water; d. Commerce & Transportation.
For more information, check out these sites:
David Suzuki’s Inconvenient Truth
Canada Factbook
Environment Canada
Check out David Suzuki’s Site, and while you’re there, Vote for the Environment! (If Rick Mercer can do it, so can you).
Stop Global Warming I haven't taken a good look at this site, but from what I saw, it looks like a good resource for tips and information.
* Even though I can't make any sense out of some of these articles, like Troops Lose Cold Game of Go Fish ... Would anybody care to explain?
** Note: This video is also worth a watch if you agree with me with regards to Harper's new "investment" -- votes from Quebec.
*** I'm curious to find out how London's "Green Plan" saved taxpayers $1.8M since 2001 , while Londoners' property taxes increase by 2.8% (on top of increased assessed values).
Stay tuned,
Lauren.
P.S. I know my birthday was more than a month ago, but if anybody wants to buy me a really late present, or just have a good laugh/reality check, click here.
P.P.S. Awww, some celebrities will be arriving in eco-friendly cars to tonight's Academy Awards. That's cute... Then they will each get on their private jets and fly out to one of their eight homes where they'll spend the night burning their money. But it's the award that counts, right? Winners tonight will be sure to thank their PR people who decided, "Global warming is so hot this year! Let's go green!"
Interestingly enough...
Just as I was checking my facts regarding the London property tax increase, I noticed this link, which pointed out something that should have been obvious: Mr. Kyoto, David Suzuki, is a "carbon-spewing beast" , saying that his diesel tour bus (seen here with the lovely but currently misguided Rick Mercer) is acceptable because he uses "carbon credits" while Al Gore is chauffeured around in a freaking limo! Oh, and here's Al Gore's personal jet! And his SUV! Okay, sorry, no picture: I looked for hours, but nobody bothered to keep proof. You'll have to use your imaginations (or just watch the film ) to see him being chauffeured though picturesque country villages and peering through the Presidental Tint on his windows at all of the wrongdoing, global warming-causing Americans. Here's an interesting video: although I won't guarantee its accuracy -- particularly on the "CO2 meter" -- it definitely sums up what I'm trying to say. Ohhh, now I'm angry...
Before I begin what is bound to be a long-winded and increasingly insane blog post, I should maybe give you some background information. For those of you who are apparently living under a rock, global warming is, in a nutshell, “An increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect.” (http://www.dictionary.reference.com) Essentially, the ”Greenhouse Effect” is the “what” and global warming is the “how much” – for a more cynical approach, try Junk Science for a very complicated (Allergy Alert: Contains Logarithms) description of what I just said. Or check out the American Heritage Science Dictionary definition (scroll down a bit on the page to find the right one).
Okay, to begin (somewhat): My grandparents have gone to Florida for two weeks. I know, I know, this seems terribly irrelevant, considering this post is supposed to be about Global Warming. Fear not, I have a point. When a subscriber to the London Free Press goes on vacation or is away for any reason, rather than cancel the subscription for however long, the LFPress will simply redirect your paper’s delivery. This means that as long as my grandparents are living it up in Senior City, which is pretty much what Florida has become, we get their LFPress every morning. I don’t usually get the opportunity to read any newspapers, unless I specifically buy them or take a chunk out of my lunch break to read the school’s, and then steal articles out of it that I want to peruse further (yeah, sue me). Now I get them delivered to the door, and I don’t have to sneak it around my house, like I do at school. Seeing as Global Warming seems to be the new pink, it’s always the main feature in the paper – along with the daily Justin Trudeau and Prince Harry updates. My mom said to me this morning, "There's a good global warming article on page 4," to which I replied, "There's a global warming article on EVERY page!" I’ve been trying to read all of these articles*, and when one catches my eye, I’ll rip it out and keep it. A couple of notable titles lately include Young, Urban and Green (part one of a five-part series) and “Let ‘em Live Like Commoners”. I’ll address “Let ‘em Live Like Commoners” at a later date – it’s a very well-written piece, and I think it deserves a lot of my attention. Today, however, I am going to draw from Y, U & G periodically.
The real beginning (sorry for making you read the rest of that): At the end of every week, our class heads over to our teacher, Mr. Holmes’s blog, to find out the week’s blog topic. You may have noticed from my previous posts that Global Warming is a hot (haha) topic for me, and I was exceedingly pleased to see that it was this week’s required post. Mr. Holmes’s blog discussed the ridiculously warm temperatures Canada experienced in December: “A 'Green Christmas' was on everyone's lips, and you could argue that the unseasonably warm weather we experienced before holidays was part of the reason that the environment and global warming has 'suddenly' become a major concern to the public.” I have to say, if one more person had randomly sung the line “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” at me this past holiday ‘season’ I would have had to burn down the tree. Needless to say, I was getting pretty frustrated with many people’s ignorance to the problem that was tapping them on the heads and saying, “Hellooo? Anybody home?” Global Warming was drawing more attention to itself than Stephen Harper** with his little
In Young, Urban and Green, journalist Vivian Song refers mostly to the TNS Canadian Facts Survey, which says, “…a majority of Canadians [specifically Quebecers -- wonder why?] are willing to make some simple changes in their daily lifestyle to limit greenhouse-gas emissions, but they are less prepared to take drastic action.” Well, duh… Nobody will ever be willing to “take drastic action” given the fact that everybody seems to assume that “drastic action” means getting back on the Mayflower and living in mud huts. I highly recommend looking at this survey: it proves exactly what I’ve always been afraid to face: Canadians are disgustingly greedy. Be sure to visit Y, U & G as well, and pay special attention to the facts at the bottom of the article. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s edition of the series, titled Carbon Offsets: Can we buy our way out of polluting?: it’s sure to be an interesting read!
The Goldilocks Effect is just like the story: Not too much, not too little, juuuuust right – of course, in this case we’re talking about the composition of the Earth: carbon, silicon, oxygen and iron. Also, according to my other classmates' blogs (see the left sidebar for links) Earth is like Baby Bear's porridge -- not too hot, not too cold. It's juust right. Mars is the "too cold" porridge, and Venus is the "too hot" porridge. And just like Goldilocks, humans said "It's juuust right!" and starting chowing down. We just have to wait until they finish the bowl and head upstairs to take a nap.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is part of the United States Department of Commerce. Its mission is “To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nation’s economic, social and environmental needs.” It focuses on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere, and credits itself on being:
1. A Supplier of Environmental Information Products
2. A Provider of Environmental Stewardship Services
3. A Leader in Applied Scientific Research in these areas “of national and global importance”: a. Ecosystems; b. Climate; c. Weather & Water; d. Commerce & Transportation.
For more information, check out these sites:
David Suzuki’s Inconvenient Truth
Canada Factbook
Environment Canada
Check out David Suzuki’s Site, and while you’re there, Vote for the Environment! (If Rick Mercer can do it, so can you).
Stop Global Warming I haven't taken a good look at this site, but from what I saw, it looks like a good resource for tips and information.
* Even though I can't make any sense out of some of these articles, like Troops Lose Cold Game of Go Fish ... Would anybody care to explain?
** Note: This video is also worth a watch if you agree with me with regards to Harper's new "investment" -- votes from Quebec.
*** I'm curious to find out how London's "Green Plan" saved taxpayers $1.8M since 2001 , while Londoners' property taxes increase by 2.8% (on top of increased assessed values).
Stay tuned,
Lauren.
P.S. I know my birthday was more than a month ago, but if anybody wants to buy me a really late present, or just have a good laugh/reality check, click here.
P.P.S. Awww, some celebrities will be arriving in eco-friendly cars to tonight's Academy Awards. That's cute... Then they will each get on their private jets and fly out to one of their eight homes where they'll spend the night burning their money. But it's the award that counts, right? Winners tonight will be sure to thank their PR people who decided, "Global warming is so hot this year! Let's go green!"
Interestingly enough...
Just as I was checking my facts regarding the London property tax increase, I noticed this link, which pointed out something that should have been obvious: Mr. Kyoto, David Suzuki, is a "carbon-spewing beast" , saying that his diesel tour bus (seen here with the lovely but currently misguided Rick Mercer) is acceptable because he uses "carbon credits" while Al Gore is chauffeured around in a freaking limo! Oh, and here's Al Gore's personal jet! And his SUV! Okay, sorry, no picture: I looked for hours, but nobody bothered to keep proof. You'll have to use your imaginations (or just watch the film ) to see him being chauffeured though picturesque country villages and peering through the Presidental Tint on his windows at all of the wrongdoing, global warming-causing Americans. Here's an interesting video: although I won't guarantee its accuracy -- particularly on the "CO2 meter" -- it definitely sums up what I'm trying to say. Ohhh, now I'm angry...
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Post #5: A Couple Thoughts
*I recently reposted this, after realizing that this later became an assigned blog.*
Here are couple of ways to reduce your emissions:
(With some help from http://www.climatechangesask.ca/html/individuals/On_Road/Reduce_CO2_Emissions/ and http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.pdf)
1- Walk or bike when you can, rather than drive.
2- If you must drive, carpool
3- Don't take the scenic route when you drive. Get there, get back.
4- Don't leave your vehicle idling for more than 10 seconds. It's better to restart your car rather than leave it running if you will be gone longer than 10 seconds.
5- In the winter, avoid using your autostart remote control, as that encourages idling for lengthy amounts of time (I'm guilty of this one, I'll admit it). Instead, try using a block heater for an hour or two.
6- Be gentle with the gas and brake: gassing quickly or braking suddenly use 39% more fuel and release 5 times the CO2.
7- Remember that 60 km/h is the most fuel-efficient driving speed. Driving at 100 or 120 uses 20% more gas.
8- In the city, open a window rather than run the AC.
9- Keep your vehicle tuned up, and the wheels at the proper pressure.
10- Use your cruise control.
11- Remove heavy objects from your vehicle when they are not needed.
12- If you have a garage, use it! Your hockey sticks don't need shelter from rain and snow, and keeping your vehicle in the garage will save idling and cleaning time.
13- Turn off the TV and lights when you leave a room.
14- Unplug anything you're not using (this can also reduce your hydro bill) since most items that run on electricity absorb it even when they're turned off.
15- Use both sides of your paper.
16- Recycle!!! Paper, cans, bottles (plastic or glass), tin foil.
17- Don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth or are getting into the shower.
18- Use sponges or cloths to clean up, rather than paper towels or disposable napkins.
19- Don't leave the fridge open.
20- Clean up garbage, etc.
21- Use rechargeable batteries -- they cost more to buy, but save more money in the long run!
22- Remind your friends and family to do the same!
Here are couple of ways to reduce your emissions:
(With some help from http://www.climatechangesask.ca/html/individuals/On_Road/Reduce_CO2_Emissions/ and http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.pdf)
1- Walk or bike when you can, rather than drive.
2- If you must drive, carpool
3- Don't take the scenic route when you drive. Get there, get back.
4- Don't leave your vehicle idling for more than 10 seconds. It's better to restart your car rather than leave it running if you will be gone longer than 10 seconds.
5- In the winter, avoid using your autostart remote control, as that encourages idling for lengthy amounts of time (I'm guilty of this one, I'll admit it). Instead, try using a block heater for an hour or two.
6- Be gentle with the gas and brake: gassing quickly or braking suddenly use 39% more fuel and release 5 times the CO2.
7- Remember that 60 km/h is the most fuel-efficient driving speed. Driving at 100 or 120 uses 20% more gas.
8- In the city, open a window rather than run the AC.
9- Keep your vehicle tuned up, and the wheels at the proper pressure.
10- Use your cruise control.
11- Remove heavy objects from your vehicle when they are not needed.
12- If you have a garage, use it! Your hockey sticks don't need shelter from rain and snow, and keeping your vehicle in the garage will save idling and cleaning time.
13- Turn off the TV and lights when you leave a room.
14- Unplug anything you're not using (this can also reduce your hydro bill) since most items that run on electricity absorb it even when they're turned off.
15- Use both sides of your paper.
16- Recycle!!! Paper, cans, bottles (plastic or glass), tin foil.
17- Don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth or are getting into the shower.
18- Use sponges or cloths to clean up, rather than paper towels or disposable napkins.
19- Don't leave the fridge open.
20- Clean up garbage, etc.
21- Use rechargeable batteries -- they cost more to buy, but save more money in the long run!
22- Remind your friends and family to do the same!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Post #2: Incentives and Rebates
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on January 19, 2007, that $1.5 billion would be put into the ecoENERGY Renewable Initiative. According to http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1499,
The first component of the initiative, ecoENERGY for Renewable Power, will
invest $1.48 billion to boost Canada’s supply of clean electricity from
renewable sources like wind, biomass, small hydro and ocean energy. A ten-year
incentive program will be established to fund eligible projects to be
constructed over the next four years.The second component, ecoENERGY for
Renewable Heat, will provide more than $35 million incentives and industry
support to increase the adoption of clean renewable thermal technologies for
water and space heating in buildings such as solar air and hot water heating. In
addition, projects for residential solar heating technologies will be explored
with partners such as utilities and community organizations...As such, it is an important part of the Government’s suite of ecoENERGY Initiatives to boost clean energy supplies, help Canadians use energy more efficiently and reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from conventional energy sources.
So what are some of these initiatives? Here are just four of the hundreds of initiatives of which few people are aware:
1. Gasoline-Electric Hybrid cars are exempt from emissions tests.
Cost: $35
Savings: $35, plus TONS of money off of your gas bills (hybrid cars can get 42mpg in-city!!)
I know what you’re all thinking: “It’s only $35! Who cares?” What can you get for $35 these days?
Compact Fluorescent Lights. These bulbs burn 50%-80% less energy than incandescent
light bulbs, and, at $5-$8 dollars each, they end up costing you much less money in the
long run.
2. Washing Machine and Toilet Rebate Program:
In the city of Toronto, businesses and citizens receive cash back when they buy city-approved energy-efficient washing machines or toilets. If your existing toilet has a flush volume of 13L or more, replace it and receive different amounts of money, based on the type of toilet purchased. Washing machines must be high-efficiency, front-loading machines, and must have this sticker:
Cost: $1000-$2000 for washing machines, $50-$400 for toilets.
Business Savings: $125 for washing machines, $150 for toilets.
Citizen Savings: $60 for washing machines and $60 for a low-flow, 6L toilet, up to $150 for a 6L or less flush valve toilet.
Okay, we have now doubled our reward: $75. What can we do with $75?
Water-Saving Showerheads. The average showerhead uses 5 gallons of water per minute, while an energy-saving showerhead uses between 2 and 2.5. A water-saving showerhead will cost between $5-$70. See http://www.hydroonenetworks.com/en/efficiency/water/upgrading_hotwater/ for more information.
3. Retire your Refrigerator!
A program called “Chill Out!” is currently being run in London, Ontario, in partnership with London Hydro. Participants leave their old refrigerators for pick-up and recycling, and then receive a $25 Energy Savings Kit from London Hydro. As well, participants who purchase an ENERGY STAR appliance will receive $75 in cash!
Cost: $100-$5000.
Savings: $25-$100 max., as well as energy bill savings each month.
Check out http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/equipment/english/page65.cfm?PrintView=N&Text=N to see how your appliances measure up!
Okay, $100! For $100, you could invest in a clothes umbrella! They range in price anywhere between $12 for a small, indoor one, to $260 for a heavy-duty wrought iron family-sized ones.
4. Renovate your Home.
Homeowners can have their homes’ energy efficiency improved. For $350, an energy auditor will visit your home and discuss with you areas that need to be improved. By following these guidelines, household greenhouse gases are reduced (on average) by 4 tonnes per year, and will save 50% on energy costs per year. Homeowners can also receive federal grants from Natural Resources Canada valued up to $5000. See www.thereep.ca for more information.
Cost: $350 plus home renovation costs (sealing, replacing doors, etc)
Savings: Up to $5000 with federal grant, plus all of the money saved on your hydro bills.
$5000… What can we do with $5000? I’ll tell you – a lot. You could add energy-saving mechanisms to all of your home appliances, better insulate your home (especially the plumbing!), and have your heating and cooling systems tuned up. All of these things will cut your energy costs in half.
Here are several calculators that will help you to recognize the areas in your home that can be fixed in order to make your home more energy-efficient:
Heating Cost Calculator:
http://oee.rncan.gc.ca/equipment/english/page31.cfm?attr=4
Greenhouse Gas Calculator:
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/calculator/english/index.asp?pid=50
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Global Warming: Part One
Hello, all!
Since my post yesterday, I have been thinking a lot about Global Warming. I realized that I don't really know that much about it, so I decided to do some research. Maybe somebody online could help me, as I hope to help others with this blog. I know that this blog is intended for class projects, but I will be posting my own information on here when I deem it appropriate, which will probably be quite often.
I was digging around YouTube, looking for a video clip of United States President George W. Bush addressing Global Warming, but found nothing. However, I did find several videos made by other people that got the point across better than Dubya ever could... Remember to stay objective! These are just other people's opinions, and I recommend that you form your own!
The first video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nt6ogPJwI9k if you really want to watch) talks about Prime Minister Blair's attempt to get the United States involved in helping raise awareness and create change. Blair had three things that he wanted the States to do:
1) Cut emission standards;
2) Dedicate more money to develop clean air technologies;
3) Agree that yes, Virginia, global warming is a serious threat.
The United States's "Chief Climate Negotiator" agreed to one of these three: Number 2, which means that the American government won't even admit that there's a problem.
Here is another interesting video I found about Global Warming and the United States's claim that Global Warming Doesn't Exist. It's from "Countdown with Kevin Olberman", and definitely worth a watch.
That's all for now. I will for sure be back later with Part Two as soon as I'm able!
Stay tuned,
Lauren
Since my post yesterday, I have been thinking a lot about Global Warming. I realized that I don't really know that much about it, so I decided to do some research. Maybe somebody online could help me, as I hope to help others with this blog. I know that this blog is intended for class projects, but I will be posting my own information on here when I deem it appropriate, which will probably be quite often.
I was digging around YouTube, looking for a video clip of United States President George W. Bush addressing Global Warming, but found nothing. However, I did find several videos made by other people that got the point across better than Dubya ever could... Remember to stay objective! These are just other people's opinions, and I recommend that you form your own!
The first video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nt6ogPJwI9k if you really want to watch) talks about Prime Minister Blair's attempt to get the United States involved in helping raise awareness and create change. Blair had three things that he wanted the States to do:
1) Cut emission standards;
2) Dedicate more money to develop clean air technologies;
3) Agree that yes, Virginia, global warming is a serious threat.
The United States's "Chief Climate Negotiator" agreed to one of these three: Number 2, which means that the American government won't even admit that there's a problem.
Here is another interesting video I found about Global Warming and the United States's claim that Global Warming Doesn't Exist. It's from "Countdown with Kevin Olberman", and definitely worth a watch.
That's all for now. I will for sure be back later with Part Two as soon as I'm able!
Stay tuned,
Lauren
Monday, February 5, 2007
Post #1: Why I'm Here
Hi, Lauren here. This is the first posting of my blog for my Environment and Resource Management course, so I’ll briefly explain who I am. I was born on January 16, 1990, so I’m 17 years old, and currently in my final semester of grade 12. I am going into Journalism when I graduate, possibly at Fanshawe or Ryerson or – preferably – McGill. I am not sure what type of Journalism I want to pursue, but I am mostly interested in rock, broadcast or environmental journalism. Right now I write for a local newspaper – the Banner, and I have a bi-weekly student column (alternating with Mark MacKichan) about current events or issues pertaining to teens.
I am taking this course because I am interested in the environment and helping to preserve it. I took World Issues first semester of last year, and it really caught my attention. It discussed humanitarian issues, but also looked at environmental issues as well. We spent a day in Toronto: we took the train, and walked everywhere, with the exception of one very short subway ride. Throughout this whole course, however, I had one consistent thought: are we really doing so little to save our world? There are genocides and impoverished countries, but the biggest problem on this continent is our environmental degradation. You can insert any cliché here that you want: we only have one planet, our children will inherit the earth, etc, but they’re all true: there really is only one planet and if we take advantage of it, we’re going to lose it.
I understand that there’s no way that we can completely eliminate all environmentally-unfriendly products from our lives, and I know that not everyone is willing to give up the life that they have always lived in order to fix our problem, but I think that there are things that can be done that won’t take away from our daily lives and will still help.
Last weekend I watched "An Inconvenient Truth" – http://www.aninconvenienttruth.co.uk/ – a film made by Al Gore about the dangers of global warming. He used a lot of undeniable evidence that really brought home the effects of what humans are doing to the environment. He debates the idea that global warming is only a political issue, and puts to light the fact that it is becoming a moral issue that can’t be denied. I really hope that this course answers a lot of my questions, and I think it will be a very worthwhile semester!
Stay tuned,
Lauren
I am taking this course because I am interested in the environment and helping to preserve it. I took World Issues first semester of last year, and it really caught my attention. It discussed humanitarian issues, but also looked at environmental issues as well. We spent a day in Toronto: we took the train, and walked everywhere, with the exception of one very short subway ride. Throughout this whole course, however, I had one consistent thought: are we really doing so little to save our world? There are genocides and impoverished countries, but the biggest problem on this continent is our environmental degradation. You can insert any cliché here that you want: we only have one planet, our children will inherit the earth, etc, but they’re all true: there really is only one planet and if we take advantage of it, we’re going to lose it.
I understand that there’s no way that we can completely eliminate all environmentally-unfriendly products from our lives, and I know that not everyone is willing to give up the life that they have always lived in order to fix our problem, but I think that there are things that can be done that won’t take away from our daily lives and will still help.
Last weekend I watched "An Inconvenient Truth" – http://www.aninconvenienttruth.co.uk/ – a film made by Al Gore about the dangers of global warming. He used a lot of undeniable evidence that really brought home the effects of what humans are doing to the environment. He debates the idea that global warming is only a political issue, and puts to light the fact that it is becoming a moral issue that can’t be denied. I really hope that this course answers a lot of my questions, and I think it will be a very worthwhile semester!
Stay tuned,
Lauren
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg){kind=link}
