Global Warming
By: Lisa     

You’ve heard about global warming, but do you really know all there is to know about it? You’ve heard both sides of the argument, but have you truly made up your mind yet as to which side you want to believe? It’s a tough call--who do you trust: environmentalists, who at times may have radical opinions, or politicians and industry, who have a track record of lying to get their way? Below is my take on the issue, along with some facts and ways you can help.     

     I want to start this month’s installment by saying that it’s probably become clear that I’m a little on the environmental side--okay, a lot on the environmental side. Environmentalists seem to have a stigma about them, and I don’t really know why. I recognize that some environmentalists, and I stress the word “some,” are annoying, and as in any group of people that share common goals, are even, at times, radical. But I’ve come into contact with too many people that hear the word “environmentalist” and automatically associate it with “hippie” and/or “tree hugger.” I want to clear the air by saying that, just because someone is concerned about the environment doesn’t mean he/she would be willing to save the life of a tree over the life of a human being. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. One who cares for the environment in turn cares for the life of humans across the globe. Without a healthy environment, without trees to filter out carbon dioxide from the atmosphere so that we can breathe clean air, we would find it extremely difficult to survive. So, in essence, environmentalism is very much a humanitarian effort as well. And no one should be criticized for being concerned about the Earth, and no one should be ashamed if he/she is an environmentalist. I really don’t want to have to hear another person say, “Yes, I’m into the environment, go on and laugh.” And yes, I have heard someone say that. 

     Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’d like to talk a little bit about global warming. I know, it’s a topic that has just about been exhausted, but I think the main reason for so much confusion is the lack of real facts and statistics made public about the issue. Global warming is a threat, even though some will insist on telling you it isn’t. People often think, “Well a 1° rise in temperature over 100 years doesn’t sound so extreme to me. And actually, I’d prefer warmer weather.” Let me try to once again clear the air by giving you a list of facts from legitimate sources anyone can access. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “In the last 10,000 years, the Earth’s average temperature hasn’t varied by more than 1.8°F,” yet they have observed an “increase in global average surface temperature of about 1°F in the 20th century” alone (http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/global_warming/page.cfm?pageID=497). 

     Global warming is caused by the “greenhouse effect.” Yes, imagine a greenhouse, where flowers are grown in a glass enclosure that traps heat from the sun, thus maintaining and controlling temperature and humidity levels. That’s what’s happening in the atmosphere, primarily due to our burning of coal and fossil fuels which results in the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, where it is trapped. As I stated earlier, this wouldn’t be a problem if trees around the world were abundant enough to trap the carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen. But the ratio of trees to tons of carbon dioxide released is too far off, and it’s not in favor of the trees. In addition to burning fuels and releasing harmful chemicals, we’re also chopping down entire forests everywhere in the world. According to the Rainforest Action Network, globally, 149 acres of rainforest are destroyed per minute (http://www.ran.org/info_center/factsheets/04b.html).

     So, to be blunt, we’re basically on the road toward suffocating and frying ourselves. Global warming doesn’t mean the weather across the globe will become tropical. It doesn’t mean the snow storms in New Jersey will cease. In fact, they will increase. As polar ice caps melt, releasing melted ice into the oceans, weather patterns will drastically change (i.e. more hurricanes in Florida), and ocean levels will rise. According to the National Wildlife Federation, arctic warming has occurred at a rate 8 times faster over the past 20 years than in the entire previous century. Say goodbye to islands and coastal areas across the world, including in the United States, as they will likely become flooded by the rising sea. A prime example that hits close to home is Louisiana, which has been struggling with rising sea levels for years. And have you seen the top of Mount Kilimanjaro recently? Thanks to Bill Maher (I love his show on HBO!), I’ve seen photos of the Mount--without any snow! Imagine, a mountain that had been capped off with snow for 11,000 years, yet now suddenly has none. The Earth’s sudden heating up has also resulted in disrupted animal and plant cycles, such as bears coming out of hibernation too soon. Some animal and plant species have declined altogether, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/global_warming/page.cfm?pageID=497). The National Wildlife Federation has also stated that as many as 1/3 of the species in some regions will likely become extinct, further disrupting ecosystem balance. And to top it all off, the Union of Concerned Scientists also states that global warming will result in “greater threats to human health as mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects and rodents spread diseases over larger geographical regions” (http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/global_warming/page.cfm?pageID=497). 

     But scientists believe the damage is still reversible if we act quickly, and there are ways we all can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. If you have the money, buy a hybrid vehicle. To help at no cost to you, there are simple things you can do every day, such as shutting off the lights if you’re not in the room (or exposing a window to let some light in instead), buying energy-saving light bulbs and products, and shutting off computers when they’re not in use. But most importantly, keep informed, and don’t let government or lobbying industry dissuade you. One of my favorite sites is www.care2.com, where you can click for free each day to generate donations for various causes. They also offer petitions regularly, along with helpful tips on how to reduce the release of pollutants into the atmosphere. It’s totally free and every little bit counts. These are just some ways you can take action on this issue, and trust me, if we all did our parts, we would make a difference and save ourselves and generations to come.