globel warning-what are you doing about it?

Question

I recently been hearing all this talk about globel warming. It is pretty scarey. Our future for our children is in real danger. I don't see people taking a real concern for this issue. How many people out there are concerned about this and what are you doing about it to help?

Answer 1

1) I traded in my Ford F150 (16 MPG) for a Saturn SL1 (36 MPG).

2) I keep the thermostat at my house on 78 in the summer and 66 in the winter.

3) I recycle everything my local government has a program for.

4) I live only 6 miles from where I work.

5) I replaced most of the light bulbs at my house with either halogen or florescent ones. And I turn them off when I leave the room.

6) I drink the water that comes out of my faucet instead of supporting the bottled-water industry. Strange one here, not often seen, but imagine the amount of plastic bottles created and gas used to deliver a product that you already have in your home. Buy an under-sink filter and save the environment!

Answer 2

Sure it's scary. And Gore's movie has the perfect title: it IS an inconvenient truth. And there are always people who want to deny anything that is scary or inconvenient or that they just don't want to admit that they are partly responsible for.

What am I doing? I follow the three Rs as much as possible, and I recycle EVERYTHING possible. I belong to Freecycle (see sources) and so am always trying to find someone who needs something I no longer need. I also rescue usable items from the curb and give them to people or organizations that can use them.

I use canvas bags ALWAYS when I shop, grocery stores and regular stores. My car gets 42 mpg, but I work at home so I do minimal driving and when I do drive I combine my errands. I write letters to politicians about matters on the environment and sign petitions almost daily. I capture rainwater for watering the few plants we have in the yard; I compost, turn out all unnecessary lights, keep the thermostat for the air conditioning at 80. When I travel I always insist the cleaning staff NOT change my sheets and towels every day (I don't change my sheets at home every day, so why do so when I'm away?), and I bring a reusable cup or mug with me. I'm thinking about building a solar oven too (see sources).

Answer 3

Frankly I'm tired of hearing it's the farmers fault. What I am doing about it - trying to get a small farm to raise my own food as well as for a few other families. The purchase of the land without commercial credit is a big issue. Reducing energy loss - using more alternative energy which is free - wind and sun.

If it's the fault of cattle - ruminants we must also eliminate all ruminants - deer, elk, sheep, goats, etc etc etc. Landfills, natural gas and coal mines all produce more methane than livestock do. The quest for cheap means consolidation - without regard to the fact it's not that much more go buy direct and take away the profit from those megafarms - THAT is where things will change. Every consumer who eats can change that but once the small places are eliminated (and with NAIS going forward without being voted on even) that dwindles your food supply.
Landfills produce over three times the methane than cattle - and the need for landfills grows daily with convenience packaging and a disposable society. Another source - and gaining in production over the last 13 years - is wastewater treatment. At the rate that is going it will soon overtake animals as a source of methane production - yet no one talks about wastewater.
"Landfills are the largest human-related source of methane in the U.S., accounting for 34% of all methane emissions." (source below)
"Methane is produced during the anaerobic (i.e., without oxygen) decomposition of organic material in livestock manure management systems." - who made necessary the demands for this? The consumer wanting cheap food. This was unheard of when manure was spread, exposed to oxygen and decomposed adding back to the soil without being in toxic amounts. The current methods is essentially the same for human waste treatment centers - and no one seems concerned about the numbers of HUMANS producing methane by this method. Wetlands, termites and oceans all produce methane.
My answer is to return to basics and hope there are a few people who are willing to take a serious interest in their food and supporting an alternative system that doesn't support current ways of doing things. When those things change so will others.
So far I haven't found anyone serious to put up money to support maintaining those alternatives.

Answer 4

There really isn't much a human can do to reverse or alter the effects of global climate change. Sure you can stop driving, not use air conditioning, and stop using aerosols; but these are similar to damming Niagara Falls with a piece of plywood. If you want to blame someone or something for the primary causes of global climate change, blame the sun and the moon. The moon because of tidal effects that cause the earths core to fluctuate thus causing magma flows and volcanic eruptions. Volcanic eruptions produce more "atmospheric pollutants" than mankind has ever created with just one eruption. You can also blame the sun because the primary substance of greenhouse gases is water vapor. Steam caused by the earths natural water cycle.

Answer 5

I don't own a car. I shop on foot, by bike and public transportation. I bike and rent movies for cheap entertainment. I avoid buying items made in China as much as possible, partly because they are contaminating the air at an alarming rate, and I am appalled by their intention to sell cars to the world market!

Answer 6

Methane production is heavilly responsible, and that production by animals has ripped a hole in our Ozone. If all concerned world citizens would limit consumption of beans and other legumes, or possibly use "Beano" we might benefit from cancer inducing rays or even freshen our office environment quite a bit..

Answer 7

I'm just tryin' to survive (I'm doing anything I can to my ability, and can afford at the moment)

PLEASE make alternatives mega cheap so EVERYONE CAN HAVE THEM!
(and so I'll have no more bills LOL, except for my DSL and phone bills Hehe)

You give me what I NEED and I'll save the planet and save money at the SAME time Muhahahahahaha

Don't give me a Mic b/c the Corperations/Big Boyz would hunt me down for giving out FREE IDEAS LOL

Answer 8

There is nothing you can do. The earth has cycles of hot (global warming) and cold(ice ages). We happen to be in-between an ice age and global warming. Remember you earth sciences class in highschool, or don't they teach that anymore?

Answer 9

I'm certainly concerned about it - we're rapidly approaching a point of no return.

Check out http://www.carbonfootprint.com to find out how much your household is contributing to the problem and to discover ways to reduce your impact.

Answer 10

A small minority of fringe scientist believe in global warming. Most will tell you there is no evidence to support it.