What Can We Do for the Earth?

Glaciers are melting in Antarctica

Today, a story appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle about a new report in the scientific journal Nature about worsening environmental conditions on the Earth. It claims we are closer to a "tipping point," after which it will be much more difficult, if not impossible, to reverse these changes. It's not the first time I've heard this, and once again, I wonder what I can or should do about it.

How should we absorb this information? Yes, there are climate scientists (and some know-nothings) who claim it's all made up or a hoax. I don't think we can deny that changes are occurring. There's a lot of question as to when it will make a difference, though. If it's not ten years, maybe it's 50 or 100. In any case, why not do something about it right now?

I think that, despite the clear and obvious problems, we simply don't want to deal with it. I recognize in myself a distinct urge to think happy thoughts about my next orchestra concert--or meal--or nap. It's hard to imagine any real major shifts in a world we have always taken for granted.

But I'm worried, and I want to do something.

But what? When? How?

Climate Change - What to Do About Global Warming?

So, today I read that an annual climate report says that Greenland's ice melted more in 2010 than in any year since they began reporting it in 1958. It's just one of many little bits of news that pop up in the news links on my Yahoo home page.

This is hardly the first time I've read this kind of thing, and it's becoming more accepted every day that we have a climate change problem on our hands. But what are we going to do about it?

I don't know, but looking at the way I run my day, I'd say we need to change the way we go about our business.

Today I'm thinking about work. That's where I'll be today from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. During lunch I'll read my book. My attention all day will be on doing my job.

On the way to and from work, I'll listen to my iPod in the car--perhaps XM Radio. After work, I'm going to play music with my band, Red Paint. I'll have a couple of beers, play our music, and then come home. I'll futz around a little and then go to bed.

Will I do anything today to make a difference in our environmental situation? Not likely. How about you?

Who is going to solve this problem if we're all too busy going about our business to do anything constructive?

Something to think about.

Kill Camels to Save the Planet?

I ran across a story today on Yahoo about a plan being proposed in Australia to put a bounty on wild camels there--because their methane emissions are an ecological problem! The government says that the more than a million of these large animals cause various other kinds of destruction as well.

As a camel enthusiast (many years ago) this is pretty bizarre. And it's not a pleasant concept to anyone, really.

However, each camel reportedly burps out 100 pounds of methane a year, which is a lot, I guess. The EPA says it's about a sixth the amount of a car. And, it is true that our ecosystem must absorb emissions from many things besides factories and cars. I have heard more than once that cow flatulence is a significant cause of problems as well.

Somehow, "Go Green--Shoot a Camel" doesn't sound like it has traction, but with Australia's aggressive plan to slash emissions, which starts next year, it could happen.

Weather vs. Climate--and are we Screwing Up the Latter?

It's not supposed to look like the photo to the left in the San Francisco Bay Area at 6:41 a.m. on June 2. No, by now the green hills are dried to gold, the sky is clear and blue, and the thermometer is routinely hitting 80 degrees. But today, I'm taking my umbrella and wearing a long-sleeved shirt and coat. I am wondering if we're getting Seattle's weather by mistake.

Weather vs. Climate. What's the difference? And is climate change upon us, as scientists have predicted for decades? Kinda of looks like it to me.

Weather is what the guy on the TV news talks about before the sports updates. It's about whether you should cancel that outdoor party or wear your raincoat. It's always changing, is only somewhat predictable, and is a great thing to discuss at a party where you don't know anyone.

Climate, however, is more about mean temperatures and average rainfall. It affects which crops will grow, if the riverbank will hold the runoff, the breeding cycle of insects, and, indirectly, the livelihood of millions of people. We've seen extreme weather incidents recently--the tornados that ripped apart Joplin, MO, now flooding in South Dakota. Record temperatures in Southern California. Today we hear about tornados in Massachusetts! The list goes on and on. Is this related to climate change?

The science of climate change seems to boil down to more junk in the air causing the earth to retain more heat, which leads to rising global temperatures affecting the distribution of water on the planet. Too much rain here (floods), too little (draught), and the movement of air from these disruptions causing friction, leading to tornados. Melting polar ice leads to higher water levels in coastal regions.

I don't profess to understanding it, but it appears that we are moving from ignorance to disbelief to now a growing general concensus that something is amiss. We are starting to talk about handling the effects of climate change and not just about preventing it. It looks like we can't prevent it.

So, what do you do? Apparently, replacing your SUV with a Prius isn't enough. We need to understand the whole picture, and then have our governments "help" us do what we need to do to cope. According to the June 6, 2011 issue of Newsweek ("Weather Panic"), we are woefully unprepared. It is one thing we all can agree on--a world problem. Maybe we don't need aliens to land to become unified after all.

Here's where I go for a daily dose of information, but there's plenty if you go looking for it.

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