I would like to have a list of acts that individuals can take in their daily lives to help our planet. Very specific actions. I think sometimes there is a a general assumption that we as individuals know what to do … but I actually don t think we do .
Your article was positive, forward looking, with an air of "can do" and compassion as always. When the bison were endangered, did we have to get everyone onboard? I think not. Key groups needed to be influenced to pass laws and set and drive the new social norm that will sustain a larger change..
We are facing unprecedented event where we need more than just a few groups to effect change to save a species. My questions is, how many people need to be convinced, or more importantly, what groups. Focus our efforts. If we need to convince 70% of American's, forget it. If the hordes of Qanon Trump love'n supporters along with the constant spew of nonsense from Marjorie TG, Josh, and Ted Cruz have taught us anything, that's not going to happen. Even though Ted Cruz knows that the Paris Accord isn't about Paris, he has legions of idiots that drink up his statements to that effect. Obviously there are plenty of political popstars that enjoy pushing as much false rhetoric, serving up a troff of lies and disinformation to their legions of followers.
First, we need to figure out who needs to be influenced, and focus on those groups. We spend way too much time trying to convince and influence the general public, and shotgun campaigns. Don't try to change the community who think Trump is still President, or the "Paris Agreement" means we are selling out to the French. FOCUS.
Second, develop a plan that our focused group has the power to implement. Make it simple and understandable and achievable. Any legislation needs to include stiff penalties, bla bla bla.
Third, work on a change management plan that supports the goals and initiatives that includes a big budget advertising campaign that is focused and national. Smokey the bear campaign is a good example. It distilled things to the lowest common denominator, and it came with cute action figures for the next generation to grow up with. (I suggest it not be a smoking ruined planet on a string to symbolize where we will be if we don't turn this around.) This is a generational issue, we need to influence humans who are kids today, but who will carry the non-carbon emitting torch tomorrow.
Of all the mistakes Trump made, ignoring climate change and rolling back important environmental changes made in the past 50 years was perhaps the worst. Many of these were done by Republicans as George Shultz remarked 5 years ago. Nixon and Reagan trusted science. Trump was completely ignorant and talked of “good, clean coal.” and refused to even participate in talks like the Paris Accord.
Let’s hope that climate change is not going non-linear. Then it will be too late as Shultz said.
We moved recently to Texas from Pennsylvania. The summer temperatures are significantly higher than those in the areas around Philadelphia. There, we did not have a need to run our AC all day, every day during the summer months. The choice we made in Texas is to keep the house temperature at 78 degrees even though the temperature outside is over 100 degrees. When our children went off to college and then into their adult lives, we downsided to smaller homes and one car to share. I made adjustments to conserve water. These are small changes considering the immensity of the damage to Earth. I am not a leader of any large group able to change laws and policies. I am a voter able to support politicians who demonstrate a true love of Earth and its people. I have enough free will to adjust my own behavior and use of resources. I was a teacher who organized groups of students to encourage and participate in school-wide recycling. I worked with colleagues to convince our Board to adopt Earth-friendly policies. Every person in our nation can contribute to the safety of our world in some way. Choose your way, and encourage others to do the same.
Frankly, I'm scared s***less. I'll be dead within the next couple of decades (I'm old) and I have no descendents, but there are a lot of you out there that are going to bear witness to the fruits of our mismanagement of our environment. I'm trying, though, on your behalf: reduce, reuse, recycle, avoid plastic, drive minimally, eat vegetarian, limit use of air conditioning and heating, read digitally rather than on paper, have a 90% paperless office. Hey, I grew up and still have a home at Hanford -- that's never scared me as much as climate change. I figure the dinosaurs are up in heaven laughing at us and they will rub it in, when we get there, that they didn't have a choice but we humans sure did and what in the h*** is wrong with us?
As one step, why don’t we look into amending our soil with biochar? It’s carbon negative, helps the soil hold water and nutrients, and strengthens plant life. There are YouTube videos from a decade ago of forestry experts recommending this for our forests and trees. Tried some in my own yard and the effects were dramatic. This is something many of us, with a little instruction, could attempt.
Can't help but wonder why it always seems to take marches and campaigns by what first appears to be single-interest, all-or-none, strong-willed individuals and ever-growing groups to bring to the forefront those extremely important and necessary matters for Americans and perhaps all nations to pay attention to and work for the betterment of all.
Yes, we have only one planet and cannot save it without a concerted effort by leadership, business and the learned specialists to guide us.
It is very hard not to give into despair. I worry about what this earth will be like for my great children and my great grandchildren. Our country is facing destruction from so many angles and yes, I am despondent over it.
Regrettably, the consequences of our actions are already hard upon us. Many of them are not reversable. And all of us are carefully avoiding the elephant in the room - population.
I still vividly recall my high school biology teacher in the early 1970s discussing the meaning of zero population growth (ZPG).
I, too, wonder why so many societies, including ours, haven't done a better job in the ensuing decades to better assist in this problem. Then I see all the societal complications and realize it just isn't as it sounds. So, we are back to other ways to work on the improvements our earth so badly needs.
GREED! We can change things as individuals and many have; however, if big industry does not change also? The CEO’s of the big oil companies do not want to loose their gold cache. They may say they will change, but behind closed doors! And that is only one example. I would like to say I have hope for the human species, but if you look through our history you have to wonder. Power and money seem to be the key words not only in business, but also in politics.
Paying attention to the world around us is so important and so many of us walk blindly through our lives. My area of SW Ohio doesn't have wild fires, hurricanes, or other extreme climate issues that make the front page every day, but climate change is affecting us every day. We've had a very hot summer--even for us--and this week is bringing dangerous heat indexes and very high humidity. Precipitation comes in clumps these days--all or nothing it seems. Rain and snow fronts come across our region fragmented, arriving in miniature cells instead of a coherent front. Several of the trees in my yard are already dropping yellow and brown leaves and have been since late July. The bugs are magnificent this year and they're thirsty. The birds that I feed do performative swooping acrobatics for me late every afternoon. At least one every day runs into one of my sunroom window and skitters away embarrassed. We need to pay attention to the world around us. Climate change is happening right before our eyes.
Sadly we have known most of this for quite some time. Now if we can just get people to do something (and force the powerful to help with their due share).
I took part in the first Earth Day as a kid, and every one since. I think we need to have an Earth Day once a month. Care about our environment ticks up for Earth Day, but being creatures of the here and now it wains. I don't want this to wain, I want us to talk about it all the time till it becomes second nature.
Thank you
I would like to have a list of acts that individuals can take in their daily lives to help our planet. Very specific actions. I think sometimes there is a a general assumption that we as individuals know what to do … but I actually don t think we do .
Your article was positive, forward looking, with an air of "can do" and compassion as always. When the bison were endangered, did we have to get everyone onboard? I think not. Key groups needed to be influenced to pass laws and set and drive the new social norm that will sustain a larger change..
We are facing unprecedented event where we need more than just a few groups to effect change to save a species. My questions is, how many people need to be convinced, or more importantly, what groups. Focus our efforts. If we need to convince 70% of American's, forget it. If the hordes of Qanon Trump love'n supporters along with the constant spew of nonsense from Marjorie TG, Josh, and Ted Cruz have taught us anything, that's not going to happen. Even though Ted Cruz knows that the Paris Accord isn't about Paris, he has legions of idiots that drink up his statements to that effect. Obviously there are plenty of political popstars that enjoy pushing as much false rhetoric, serving up a troff of lies and disinformation to their legions of followers.
First, we need to figure out who needs to be influenced, and focus on those groups. We spend way too much time trying to convince and influence the general public, and shotgun campaigns. Don't try to change the community who think Trump is still President, or the "Paris Agreement" means we are selling out to the French. FOCUS.
Second, develop a plan that our focused group has the power to implement. Make it simple and understandable and achievable. Any legislation needs to include stiff penalties, bla bla bla.
Third, work on a change management plan that supports the goals and initiatives that includes a big budget advertising campaign that is focused and national. Smokey the bear campaign is a good example. It distilled things to the lowest common denominator, and it came with cute action figures for the next generation to grow up with. (I suggest it not be a smoking ruined planet on a string to symbolize where we will be if we don't turn this around.) This is a generational issue, we need to influence humans who are kids today, but who will carry the non-carbon emitting torch tomorrow.
Of all the mistakes Trump made, ignoring climate change and rolling back important environmental changes made in the past 50 years was perhaps the worst. Many of these were done by Republicans as George Shultz remarked 5 years ago. Nixon and Reagan trusted science. Trump was completely ignorant and talked of “good, clean coal.” and refused to even participate in talks like the Paris Accord.
Let’s hope that climate change is not going non-linear. Then it will be too late as Shultz said.
Again and again you show common sense and thoughtful comments by clearly stating facts! Thank you. Now let’s get moving forward and get things done.
We moved recently to Texas from Pennsylvania. The summer temperatures are significantly higher than those in the areas around Philadelphia. There, we did not have a need to run our AC all day, every day during the summer months. The choice we made in Texas is to keep the house temperature at 78 degrees even though the temperature outside is over 100 degrees. When our children went off to college and then into their adult lives, we downsided to smaller homes and one car to share. I made adjustments to conserve water. These are small changes considering the immensity of the damage to Earth. I am not a leader of any large group able to change laws and policies. I am a voter able to support politicians who demonstrate a true love of Earth and its people. I have enough free will to adjust my own behavior and use of resources. I was a teacher who organized groups of students to encourage and participate in school-wide recycling. I worked with colleagues to convince our Board to adopt Earth-friendly policies. Every person in our nation can contribute to the safety of our world in some way. Choose your way, and encourage others to do the same.
Frankly, I'm scared s***less. I'll be dead within the next couple of decades (I'm old) and I have no descendents, but there are a lot of you out there that are going to bear witness to the fruits of our mismanagement of our environment. I'm trying, though, on your behalf: reduce, reuse, recycle, avoid plastic, drive minimally, eat vegetarian, limit use of air conditioning and heating, read digitally rather than on paper, have a 90% paperless office. Hey, I grew up and still have a home at Hanford -- that's never scared me as much as climate change. I figure the dinosaurs are up in heaven laughing at us and they will rub it in, when we get there, that they didn't have a choice but we humans sure did and what in the h*** is wrong with us?
Appreciate your rallying cry!
As one step, why don’t we look into amending our soil with biochar? It’s carbon negative, helps the soil hold water and nutrients, and strengthens plant life. There are YouTube videos from a decade ago of forestry experts recommending this for our forests and trees. Tried some in my own yard and the effects were dramatic. This is something many of us, with a little instruction, could attempt.
You bet. We need to use every tool in the tool box! Biochar is a really good one.
Can't help but wonder why it always seems to take marches and campaigns by what first appears to be single-interest, all-or-none, strong-willed individuals and ever-growing groups to bring to the forefront those extremely important and necessary matters for Americans and perhaps all nations to pay attention to and work for the betterment of all.
Yes, we have only one planet and cannot save it without a concerted effort by leadership, business and the learned specialists to guide us.
Without a shot in the arm you may never be able to contribute to the next challenge.
It is very hard not to give into despair. I worry about what this earth will be like for my great children and my great grandchildren. Our country is facing destruction from so many angles and yes, I am despondent over it.
Regrettably, the consequences of our actions are already hard upon us. Many of them are not reversable. And all of us are carefully avoiding the elephant in the room - population.
I still vividly recall my high school biology teacher in the early 1970s discussing the meaning of zero population growth (ZPG).
I, too, wonder why so many societies, including ours, haven't done a better job in the ensuing decades to better assist in this problem. Then I see all the societal complications and realize it just isn't as it sounds. So, we are back to other ways to work on the improvements our earth so badly needs.
GREED! We can change things as individuals and many have; however, if big industry does not change also? The CEO’s of the big oil companies do not want to loose their gold cache. They may say they will change, but behind closed doors! And that is only one example. I would like to say I have hope for the human species, but if you look through our history you have to wonder. Power and money seem to be the key words not only in business, but also in politics.
Paying attention to the world around us is so important and so many of us walk blindly through our lives. My area of SW Ohio doesn't have wild fires, hurricanes, or other extreme climate issues that make the front page every day, but climate change is affecting us every day. We've had a very hot summer--even for us--and this week is bringing dangerous heat indexes and very high humidity. Precipitation comes in clumps these days--all or nothing it seems. Rain and snow fronts come across our region fragmented, arriving in miniature cells instead of a coherent front. Several of the trees in my yard are already dropping yellow and brown leaves and have been since late July. The bugs are magnificent this year and they're thirsty. The birds that I feed do performative swooping acrobatics for me late every afternoon. At least one every day runs into one of my sunroom window and skitters away embarrassed. We need to pay attention to the world around us. Climate change is happening right before our eyes.
And neighboring Pennsylvania
Thank you for sharing a vivid local picture.
The same is happening in northwest Ohio.
Sadly we have known most of this for quite some time. Now if we can just get people to do something (and force the powerful to help with their due share).
I took part in the first Earth Day as a kid, and every one since. I think we need to have an Earth Day once a month. Care about our environment ticks up for Earth Day, but being creatures of the here and now it wains. I don't want this to wain, I want us to talk about it all the time till it becomes second nature.