I signed up to participate in this year's Blog Action Day which means that, together with about 7000 other bloggers from around the globe, I am going to write about climate change today. You can check out the details here and, of course, if you feel like writing about climate change you can do that without registering as well. The idea is to create a big buzz in the blogosphere about the most important global topic of this year (ahead of the Copenhagen summit in December).
I think by now even the most die-hard conservatives have accepted that climate change is a fact and that we need to deal with this problem sooner rather than later, lest we risk the future of the entire planet. It is a complex problem, it doesn't have simple solutions, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of it.
It is also easy to forget, while we wait for the world leaders to take some serious measures, that there are many things we can do as individuals. It might seem that our individual impact is so tiny that it makes no difference at all in the bigger picture, but that is not true.
Remember how a group of people walking on a bridge in a synchronized step can create vibrations so powerful that they can bring the whole structure down? If each of us does whatever is in his or her power to do, the sum of billion small parts will add up to something big.We can start with simple things: recycling, saving paper, turning off tap when you brush your teeth, taking showers instead of bath, taking public transport/walking/cycling instead of driving, etc.
Check out this great resource on WWF's website where you can get lots of useful advice on how to green your living. And take a look at the video, as well--it's funny, but the ideas are good.
That much we can and must do--we have no choice.
I think by now even the most die-hard conservatives have accepted that climate change is a fact and that we need to deal with this problem sooner rather than later, lest we risk the future of the entire planet. It is a complex problem, it doesn't have simple solutions, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of it.
It is also easy to forget, while we wait for the world leaders to take some serious measures, that there are many things we can do as individuals. It might seem that our individual impact is so tiny that it makes no difference at all in the bigger picture, but that is not true.
Remember how a group of people walking on a bridge in a synchronized step can create vibrations so powerful that they can bring the whole structure down? If each of us does whatever is in his or her power to do, the sum of billion small parts will add up to something big.We can start with simple things: recycling, saving paper, turning off tap when you brush your teeth, taking showers instead of bath, taking public transport/walking/cycling instead of driving, etc.
Check out this great resource on WWF's website where you can get lots of useful advice on how to green your living. And take a look at the video, as well--it's funny, but the ideas are good.
That much we can and must do--we have no choice.
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5 comments:
I took this test last year with my daughter and found the results scary even though my global footprint was under the average persons for my country.
http://www.myfootprint.org/en/about_the_quiz/what_it_measures/
ever since I have been more aware of trying to reduce it.
A pattern appears, the richer the country the worst the footprint. It show how much we have turned into a disposable society.
It's a very interesting quiz! I'm afraid I didn't fare very well--turns out we would need 1.5 earths to support my lifestyle even though we do quite a few things to try to reduce our footprint. Ooops! Have to work on the green living more :)
Jelica,
I have not visited in so long, -
travel and busy times otherwise,
new laptop, no more old favorites -
I felt joyful when I discovered your link on my stats!
Thank you for the reminder,
saving energy is something all of us can take part in.
I hope the Artic air does not come all the way to your city, here it has been snowing all morning!
Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
I am a closet climate-change grinch. As a professional environmental type, I should be gung ho about saving the polar ice caps, however ... I do feel a little helpless about it, especially in light of much larger trends of world population growth and Chinese and Indian economic resurgence, and the already rapid rise of global temperatures, and so on.
I think we can all achieve more, and even get some gratification, by concentrating on local, community-level environmental issues like picking up litter, recycling, taking mass transport, supporting locally owned shops, not smoking, volunteering or whatever else tickles your fancy. Some of these things will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, although to what effect. is anyone's guess. The change you can count is the one that will happen in your own neighbourhood.
Sorry for being so parochial -- but had to say it!
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