writeaboutwarming

August 30, 2009 – Speaking of the cancer epidemic: so few people seem to be aware that there is no ONE thing causing the enormous increase in cancer since World War II. Instead, it is the cumulative effect of pollutants and synthetic chemicals unleashed on us and the environment that is causing widespread cancer, not just in our country, but throughout the world. I just read an excellent article on Health.com, and I’d like to share with you some of the very important points they bring up, along with some of my own thoughts on the matter. (The article can be found at http://living.health.com/2009/03/15/how-to-detox-your-body/ , and I accessed it today at 10:17 a.m.) The article begins with rather ominous words, which the author treats in a curiously upbeat fashion: “Every day we put potential toxins into our mouths, breathe them into our lungs, and track them into our homes without ever really knowing where they’ll end up – or how much damage they’ll do when they get there. In fact...

August 23, 2009 – Are you conserving energy at home? It really comes down to a matter of habit, one that we all need to form. All the light bulbs in your home should be compact fluorescent by now. I know, I know: so many of today’s light fixtures require specialty bulbs, which aren’t made as CFL’s. Do what you can: remember your garage lights and your outdoor lights. Turn the lights out when you leave a room (turn off everything electrical when you leave a room!). As you replace worn out appliances, replace them with energy star models. The biggest “gas guzzler” in the house is your refrigerator. Take the time to ask questions when you buy a new one, and make sure the salesperson understands that energy consumption is a major consideration, as far as you’re concerned. Don’t’ put your old model in landfill! Vietnam Vets, or a similar organization, will find it a good home. Don’t use the A/C on days you don’t need it. Some folks just close up the house once it gets hot and don’t...

August 17, 2009 – Optimistic, persistent leadership. The kind that refuses to recognize failure as a plausible outcome. The kind that does not allow “no” for an answer, particularly when the future of humankind depends on “yes.” The kind of leadership provided by people who never, ever give up. Not even when the saltwater is up to their necks in Washington, D.C., and the wildfires are burning out of control in all 50 states. Future generations are calling to us, demanding their right to enjoy the gift of life. We already know that it will be an impoverished existence, lived on a sorely abused planet. There is a great deal that needs doing, and it falls to each of us to do all we are able. Optimistic, persistent leaders will show us the way. Finding them is the first challenge. Fortunately, as we know from very recent experience, inspiring leadership is near at hand. This means we must be watchful and ready to act, not only to enable the inspiring leaders of tomorrow to take their place...

August 9, 2009 – Well, well. It appears the Pentagon is taking a look at the havoc climate change will be causing, and trying to figure out what the military and humanitarian implications might be. I hope that once they’ve examined the issue closely, they will begin doing some cooperative planning with the folks at the UN. While there are those decrying the uselessness of NATO, I have to think that organization might have a key role to play in addressing the looming crisis. There’s a great deal to anticipate and plan for, and I definitely believe this is an instance where two heads are better than one. Well-informed heads, that is. The earlier we learn to cooperate with each other, the better off we will all be. Assuming humankind is capable of cooperation on a sustained basis, how would we best go about it? There are organizations that have made it their business to learn all they can about global warming. The Worldwatch Institute comes to mind. The Nature Conservancy, Sierra ...

August 2, 2009 – Since I didn’t begin buying organic fruits and vegetables because I thought they were more nutritious, I can’t be disappointed by reports that they aren’t. I’m guessing that buyers who are unaware of the carcinogenic effect of herbicides and insecticides on their food must have assumed that superior nutri- tion was the reason to buy organic. The same would be said, therefore, about buyers who are unaware of the deleterious effect of soil compaction, caused by enormous, very heavy farming machinery being driven over the soil. (Plants grow best when the soil is loose, allowing for air, earthworms, and various microscopic residents of the soil to co-exist with plants.) And the effect of “mining” the soil, i.e., farming it without rest by merely supplying the needed fertility through chemical fertilizers, rather than replacing the lost fertility with the use of organic fertilizers, which not only fertilize the plants, but leave an organic residue that improves both ti...

July 26, 2009 – How interesting – I had to read The Ecologist online to find out that the Cincinnati City Council passed a law requiring “environmental justice permits” of businesses operating in the city. It’s not clear from the article whether all businesses will have to obtain the permit, or just new ones. The permits are a response to the well-known habit of businesses that pollute locating near the poor. While the new law puts Cincinnati in the forefront with regard to protecting its citizens from environmental injustice, this position could quickly be undermined by the fact that there is incontrovertibly NO money available with which to enforce the law. Was this merely an attempt to give the appearance of having acted on behalf of voters? Sponsoring city council member David Crowley worked on the measure for four years, withstanding aggressive opposition from the business community. Based on the lack of funding, however, it would appear that Crowley’s mettle will continue ...

July 19, 2009 – I haven’t talked about the spiritual aspects of our relationship with the earth, which would give the impression that I regard these aspects as unimportant. Since this is not at all the case, it’s time to raise the subject. I’ll try to adhere to a spiritual approach, rather than a religious one. It would always be my hope that one’s religious beliefs throw a compassionate light on our living with and on the earth. The earth has long been regarded as a maternal being, the matter/ mother from which we arise and who gives us birth. It would seem to be a very logical advance in reasoning to say that, just as we treat our own mothers with respect, we should treat our earth mother with respect. We treat our mothers with love and caring. In like manner must we treat the earth. We come full circle when it dawns on us that when we care for the earth, she cares for us in return. Just like our mothers. If this is true, then the opposite must also be true. Individuals...