Helping Others Understand Global Climate Change

Holiday Green Action #8

This week the world is focusing on the climate meeting in Copenhagen. What can you do? Talk calmly with facts to friends, family and neighbors about global climate change.

Polls released earlier this week, stated that HALF of Americans do not believe that climate change is a real threat. I don't know why this is, it could be because the economy has become the main focus of concern for most of us. It could be because powerful voices have an economic stake in America's continued over consumption of carbon-based fuels and earthly resources. Because we have allowed the ability to pay for speech to be equated with the right to speak, those who can pay more to express their point of view will be heard the most. Unfortunately, fear mongering makes people defensive.

Give a gift to the Earth: Help people understand the scientific facts of climate change and point them toward actions they can take to be part of the solution.

1. The term "global warming" can seem unbelievable to people when temperatures dip to freezing. This morning there was a half inch of ice on my bird bath in sunny California. "Global climate change" more accurately depicts what is happening. Ask people to think about climate change. How are things different where you live? flooding, storm strength, drought. The drought cycle in California is lengthening.
   
2. Fact : An “unequivocal” warming trend of about 1.0 to 1.7°F occurred from 1906-2005. Warming occurred in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and over the oceans. U. S. EPA Link
3. Fact: The last time carbon dioxide levels were apparently as high as they are today — and were sustained at those levels — global temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than they are today, the sea level was approximately 75 to 120 feet higher than today, there was no permanent sea ice cap in the Arctic and very little ice on Antarctica and Greenland, Aradhna Tripati, UCLA assistant professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences & Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, as quoted in Science Daily. Findings from ice core samplings Link
4. Fact: Deforestation is releasing large amounts of carbon stored in trees and reducing plant growth that should be absorbing carbon dioxide.

The way we have been living for the last 100 years is unsustainable. If you look around at your local environment, you already know that. Let's all take action to work together toward cleaning up our destructive habits and working toward a sustainable future.