We're Toast!

Last week I rented “An Inconvenient Truth”, Al Gore’s movie on global warming. It was an enjoyable movie, and I’d recommend you see it if you haven’t already.
Global warming has become a topic of great discussion in the past decade, and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. I’m absolutely sure we’ll be hearing more and more about it in the coming years. I’m convinced that global warming is a real issue and that something needs to be done about it.
Al Gore is working towards making people aware of the situation. In “An Inconvenient Truth”, he takes a stance that humans are the cause of global warming, primarily due to our burning of the world’s fossil fuels at an alarming rate. The best known fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas, and output a very high amount of carbon dioxide when they are used. This in turn, “clouds” the earth’s atmosphere, preventing the sun’s heat from leaving. With the solar heat building up inside our atmosphere, the temperature will continue to rise until it becomes a threat to humans and animals alike.
The movie is full of rather disturbing facts about the climate changes and events that have occurred over the past 10 years. He names off hurricanes that have occurred in parts of the world for the first time in recordable history, and that they are becoming more and more frequent. He showed photographs of some of the world’s most renowned icy attractions, and how they have changed over the past decade. They all showed that the ice had melted significantly. The same was true of the north and south poles. More so, he showed computer generated previews of how this melting would affect places near water level. Thousands of acres of land and homes all over the world would become lost to the rising tides of the oceans.
Some may think it rubbish, and others may believe every word out of Gore’s mouth. This movie proved convincing enough to get me concerned about global warming. I have a bit of skepticism towards the movie, not so much by what it did say, but by what it failed to say. I believe that we are undoubtedly a factor in global warming and we need to make some big changes before its too late (which will be in about 10 years, according to Gore).
StopGlobalWarming.org has a growing list of things you can do to help prevent global warming, and an idea of how much you could save by implementing a small change in your lifestyle! Here's a few:

• Hybrid Cars
• Recycling!
• Solar, Wind, Tidal Power
• Car pool
• Turn down the thermostat

RECYCLE!

Just wanted to give an update on my growing pile of items to be recycled!

• I got lucky enough to visit my brother after one of his weekend get-togethers. I gathered 32 aluminum cans from his apartment, and then 14 more from my house, for a total of 46 aluminum cans to be recycled.

• Six 750 ml glass bottles and two 1 liter bottles that had been accumulating in one of my kitchen cabinets.

• Approximately 6.5 pounds of paper products, mainly newspaper, that were hiding throughout my living room and bedroom.
  

Not too shabby, if you ask me. Of course, I won’t be gathering recyclables at this rate on a regular basis. Most of these items had been adding up for quite some time before I decided to recycle them. I’ll be making a trip to the dump to sort them out in a week or so.

in class writing

(I got a little carried away on this post, but I think I got my point across.)



Six years ago, I was vacationing with my family in Atlantic City. I was walking down the boardwalk and spotted an aquarium in one of the shops. I looked into it and saw about thirty small green lizards. They were absolutely adorable.
Crowded into a twenty gallon aquarium, some were crawling over top of the others, while others lay motionless at the bottom of the tank. I couldn’t help but to feel sorry for the little guys; they didn’t have room to walk, the cage was soiled with feces, and I didn’t see any food or water. I knew what I had to do.

“Mom! Mom! I really want to save one of these lizards! Can I, Mom! Please?”

She finally gave in to my desperate pleads. $12.50 bought me a “critter carrier” and one green iguana hatchling. The worker at the shop told me to feed it carrots, and assured my mother it wouldn’t get any bigger.

Yeah, right.

Today, I’m the proud owner of a four foot lizard, whose enclosure takes up half a room.

So what’s the point?

A lot of people get suckered into buying “spur of the moment” pets. People sometimes think it’s a good idea to give pets out as gifts, whether it be for Christmas, or a prize at a carnival. Others try to help animals by opening rescues or refuges. Each of these examples contributes to the pet trade, and often are an aide in poor husbandry and irresponsible decisions.
Sudden decisions to bring a pet into your life often bring unforeseen troubles along with them. Parents sometimes have their kids take “the sunflower test” where the child has to keep a sunflower alive and well-watered for a month, and if they do, then they’ve proven their responsibility. This analogy is far from acceptable for determining one’s ability to care for a pet. Puppies, for example, sure are cute, but it can take a lot of work for potty training, exercise, proper diet, vet trips, and attention. On top of that, some breeds are more prone to health issues than others. Other types of pets, like my iguana, require special heat and lighting, a custom enclosure, and a high pain tolerance (his claws are sharp!).
More so, these irresponsible actions are encouraged by carnivals and fairs that give out animals as prizes. While some counties have laws against this, few provide active enforcement to prevent it. I’ve seen bunnies, goldfish, iguanas, and chicks as prizes in carnivals, and I’ve never seen any correct care guides handed out along with the prize. The carnivals aren’t interested in these creatures’ fates; they’re just there for the money.
I’m sure it’s hard to see why an animal rescue could be detrimental to animals. After all, their sole purpose is to help animals. It’s exciting to see everyday people spending their morning showing off their collection of rescued animals, or bottle-feeding a bear cub. These are the images we see constantly on animal documentaries and other shows. What we don’t focus on that the owners make large sacrifices in order to help these animals. They have to work whether they are sick or tired, whether it’s snowing or 100 degrees out, not to mention that they often must give up family vacations because these animals depend on them day in and day out to survive. Some people become inspired by these rescues and decide they want to start their own. More often than not, it ends in disaster. Things work out for a while, but over time, the daily responsibilities overwhelm them and the rescue starts going down hill. There was even a special on Animal Planet a few weeks ago, where Jeff Corwin visited a bird sanctuary that had gone severely downhill, and helped to get it up and running again.
All of these examples make it easier for people to bring home pets, and not to worry about what may be wrong with how they’re caring for the pet. They fuel the pet trade in promoting more and more careless owners and breeders to produce more homeless pets, or to throw the ones they own back into the loop. Since they rarely get stuck with the end result, they have no idea where these animals are ending up. Out of sight, out of mind, you know?
Sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back and look at the big picture. When you do, you’ll probably come to the same realization that I did. It might sound cruel, but the only way to stop (or help stop) the overabundance of animals out there, is not to be a part of it. Some animals must be sacrificed in order to make changes. I played a role when I bought that little green lizard six years ago. Looking back, I would have appreciated the knowledge I now have about iguanas and the pet trade. I could have researched iguanas as pets before I bought one and realized that owning one was going to cause big changes in my lifestyle. There are also many existing rescues throughout the U.S. where you can volunteer or adopt a pet, without contributing to the import or production of more for the pet trade.
I certainly wouldn’t go back and change my decision because the experience has helped me to learn a lot about reptiles and the career I want to go into. The best thing to do when thinking about bringing a new pet into your life is to make sure you read up on it! Find out what kind of care it requires, how much attention it needs, and what kinds of issues it is prone to developing before bringing it home. This will ensure that you’ve made the right decision and that your home will be a “forever home” for your new pet.

brighten your day

Enlighten! is a new and improved way to be an energy efficient person. It's an organized effort to reduce electricity intake, and conserve energy! It came about due to the Dominion Power Line issues in Virginia. It implements the usage of CFL's (compact flourescent lightbulbs) that combine low wattage with high light output.
Unlike earlier attempts at earth-friendly lighting, these newer bulbs don't take time to light up to their full potential. The makers must have realized that when my phone starts ringing in the middle of the night, and in my half-asleep stupor I knock it into my pile of dirty clothes, I don't want to wait five minutes for my lamp to light up to be able to find my phone.
Now there are other alternatives to the everyday incandescent light bulbs, halogens, and flourescents. Solar lighting can operate with little or no electricity. Besides the hefty price that is required for installation of solar powered lighting, their performance may become impaired if it is dark or cloudy outside.
These new CFL's are a more affordable alternative and have been proven to reduce electric bills by over $300.00 a year! According to EnlightenVA.org, replacing just 12 household bulbs can "reduce as much pollution as an acre of forest". Prices on these bulbs have been dramatically reduced over the past few years since they were introduced into the market, and now you can find CFL's for about $3.00 each. Not too bad considering they last longer and use 75% less energy than the standard light bulb (Enlighten).
Give it a try!

references
Enlighten! USA. 03/07/2007. Enlighten! USA. 04/12/2007. www.enlightenusa.org

Great move, Scholastic, but aren’t you six books late?

I am proud to announce the seventh Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows, is being printed on FSC approved paper that consists of at least 30% post-consumer waste.The first U.S. printing will consist of approximately 12 million copies ("Paper Decision").This is a big step for the U.S. considering the fact that U.S. publisher, Scholastic, Inc., declined to produce the sixth book on recycled paper back in 2005. This is an improvement for Americans, but it doesn’t stand up to the Canadian edition, which was created with 100% PCW fiber for both the sixth and seventh books!("Half-Good Prints")Studies show that one million copies printed on recycled paper helped save over 40,000 trees. Environmentalists are putting forth efforts to get more books printed on FSC certified paper in the future. Some of the most prominent struggles include availability, quality, and price ("Publisher Conversation").Luckily, there are many ways we can help out to increase the amount of books printed on recycled paper. We can increase the demand by purchasing those books that bear an FSC certified seal. For example, Harry Potter fans in the U.S. can order the Canadian edition of the final book, rather than the U.S. edition. And if you’re worried about the price, don’t! According to Oanda.com, a currency conversion website, it would actually cost less to purchase it there! And if you’re worried about shipping, Amazon.com (US and Canada) offer the seventh book with free super saver shipping! You can also make your support for recycling known by writing publishers. Ask them to support the FSC and its stand to preserve the world’s ancient forests!

References
Hall, Randy. "Harry Potter Recycled Paper Decision 'Works Magic For Forests'". 3/22/2007. Cybercast News Service. 4/12/2007. http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPrint.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200703/CUL20070322c.html
Conversation With A Publisher. 08/10/2003. GreanPeace. 04/12/2007. www.greenpeace.org/international/news/conversation-with-a-publisher
Harry Potter and the Half Good Prints. 07/13/2005. GreenPeace. 04/12/2007. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/harry-potter-111
The Currency Site FX - Converter. 04/12/2007. OANDA.COM. 04/12/2007. http://oanda.com

Food for thought

I had a teacher a few years ago who was a die-hard conservationist and animal rights activist. She constantly promoted organic foods, recycling, and animal rights. She disapproved of fast food and raved about the book "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser. She spoke to the class with such passion, and I found it quite inspiring. So off to the store I went. I was ready to fight the good fight.
Walking down the aisles proved to me that this task was much easier said than done.
Few grocery stores offer a large variety of organic foods. Whole Foods and Ukrops are probably the best known ones. Many grocery stores use large signs to advertise organic foods, especially in the produce section. You can find tomatoes, lettuce, beans, and all sorts of hybrid fruits that have been organically grown. In the meat section, neon "free-range" stickers stand out on the packaging to gain buyers' attention. Dairy products like milk and eggs also offer an organic variety.
One thing, however, that they don't try to exploit is the price.
Sure, I feel bad for the chickens that spend all their time cooped up in a tiny cage, and I wouldn't want to see a cow living in a pen that it can barely turn around in. Of course I don't want to ingest pesticides on a daily basis. . . who knows what kind of health effects will come of that!? But with all this said and done, I don't have a clue how my meals grew up. And my pocket book doesn't really allow for me to make a big deal out of it. I've seen organic items at the grocery store up to a few dollars higher than "other" items. The bottom line is everyone can't afford to eat organically. Lately, I stick to "Bonus Buy" items at Shoppers and the Dollar Menu.
I love animals, but I can still manage to down a burger without thinking I'm a heartless jerk.
One thing is for sure, though. Once the prices become more competitive on organic items, I'll definitely jump on the bandwagon.

Power Line Controversy

I'm sure by now you’ve heard about the controversy that’s going on with Dominion Power. Last fall, the situation exploded into the public eye when Dominion had proposed a route to build high-voltage power lines through many pristine and protected areas in Virginia, as well as through residential communities, to include Civil War battlefields, Historic Landmarks, and the Appalachian Trail (PEC). Needless to say, the public was outraged by the proposal. Many conservationists and residents have rallied against the proposal at community meetings, energy rallies, and other public events.
In retaliation from the strong opposition, Dominion officials stated that Northern Virginia’s demand for electricity is expected to grow over 8% in the next five years and insisted that the area would experience multiple black-outs without the new lines (Shear & Gardner). They also released an advertisement that states, “Without a new transmission line, it will be lights out in Northern Virginia” (DVP). However, little evidence has been provided from Dominion to prove the need for the new line. Many bills have been proposed to suggest Dominion bury the lines in the ground despite the heightened cost, but Dominion doesn’t seem to consider this an option.
Last month, Dominion proposed a new line that would bypass many of the controversial areas in Virginia in an attempt to lessen the opposition, but the people were not satisfied. The power lines would still lower the values of the homes they were visible from, be a danger to children in the area, and pose a possible health threat to the communities they encompass. Affected residents are making changes in their energy consumption in an attempt to reduce the need for the new lines. They are switching their light sources to energy-efficient light bulbs that have been proven to save hundreds of dollars a year off electric bills (PEC) and turning lights, TV’s, and other electronics off when not in use.
If the transmission line must be built, Dominion should bury the line. Those affected by the line obviously are against it being constructed above-ground. Although the extra cost will undoubtedly be passed along to its customers, it would be well worth the price. The construction that will take place will be an annoyance during the length of the project, but the end result will be aesthetically pleasing and seems to be the best compromise for both sides.
Dominion Virginia Power. 04/10/07. Dominion®. 04/10/07.

In Nod To Foes, Dominion to Revisit Route Options. 01/24/07. The Washington Post. 04/10/07. <www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/23/AR2007012301316.html>

PEC. 04/09/07. Piedmont Environmental Council. 04/10/07.

Power Line To Track Existing N.Va. Route. 02/12/07. The Washington Post. 04/10/07. <www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/12/AR2007021201662.html>