Our World Is Moving in the Right Direction!

 I need a boost of positive energy, and these stories are full of hope and energy. I hope these positive stories get your week started with gratitude and full of positive energy.  Enjoy!

** McDonald’s has announced a new commitment to sustainability. The fast-food chain will launch recycling in all of its restaurants and by 2025, 100% of its packaging will be sustainable.  I am assuming this means compostable or recyclable? Also Boston will ban plastic bags, and Iceland and Denmark are doing research to create biodegradable plastic bottles.

** Recent victories for our oceans.

Car of the future!

** 52% of Norway’s new cars are electric

**  Clean energy investments throughout the world reach 333.5 billion in 2017.

** France will shutter all coals plants by 2021. Read at France and Macron 

** Reasons to be hopeful for our earth! From EcoWatch  

** And from Climate Reality local climate action reasons to be hopeful.

** Unique gym class in suburban high school is what we need during divisive times. Read at diversity

Other Good News:

https://health4earth.com/2017/07/21/ready-for-good-news/

https://health4earth.com/2017/06/01/its-good-news-2/

https://health4earth.com/2017/09/03/exciting-good-news/

Four Powerful Things You Can Do

Individually we are a drop, together we are an ocean.

As 2017 rolls out and 2018 rolls in, remember to set some environmental goals for the new year. As people of this planet earth we all should be aware of our warming climate, and how we are causing it!  Yes, it is very cold in many places this new year, but it is the over all tend that our planet is warming, not just one or two events, that we need to worry about. Extreme weather events, warming and rising oceans, and drought should not be ignored. CNN has an easy list of things you can do. Read it here.

Climate Reality, https://www.climaterealityproject.org/   has a more serious and difficult list, things most of us just don’t want to do, but should seriously think about! This is their list:

The four most powerful things you can do to fight climate change:

  1. Eat a plant-based diet
  2. Fly less, or not at all
  3. Drive less, or not at all
  4. Have smaller families

 

Five Signs the Climate is Changing

Where I live the climate is clearly changing and impossible to deny.  See the video from Climate Reality on five indicators the climate is changing. View    here. 

Five Changes from Climate Reality:

  1. Air temperatures over land are rising.

It’s clear that weather stations on land show average air temperatures are rising, and as a result, the frequency and severity of droughts and heat waves are increasing. Intense droughts can lead to destructive wildfires, failed crops, and low water supplies, many of which are deeply affecting southern areas of the United States and other parts of the world.

  1. Air temperatures over oceans are rising.

Roughly 70 percent of the world is covered by oceans. So you can understand how hotter air over our oceans could make a big difference in the climate system.

It’s simple, as the air near the surface of the oceans gets warmer, more water evaporates. The result?  Potentially stronger tropical storms, more extreme precipitation events, and more flooding.

  1. Glaciers are melting.

The disappearance of glaciers is one of the clearest signs of climate change. People who rely on melting glaciers for water are facing shortages, and in many regions, the situation is only getting worse.

In a world unaffected by climate change, glacier mass stays balanced, meaning the ice that evaporates in the summer is fully replaced by snowfall in the winter. However, when more ice melts than is replaced, the glacier loses mass. And the people who depend on melting ice for water to support their farming and living needs are deeply affected.

>> Related: The Climate Crisis Deserves Our Attention Right Now <<

4. Arctic sea ice is shrinking.

Satellite images from space show that the area covered by sea ice in the Arctic is shrinking, continuing a downward trend for the past 30 years. As with glaciers, Satellite images from space show that the area covered by sea ice in the Arctic is shrinking, continuing a downward trend for the past 30 years. As with glaciers, there’s a seasonal rhythm (or supposed to be) at work. The Arctic ice cap grows each winter when there’s less sunlight, and shrinks each summer when days are longer and warmer, reaching its lowest point of the year in September.

Previously, this cycle of melting and freezing has more or less balanced out. But with temperatures rising, we’re seeing more ice melt in the summer than forms in the winter. The result is that some research suggests that the Arctic could lose almost all of its summer ice cover by later in the century.

5. Sea levels are rising.

Sea levels have been rising for the past century. And the pace has only increased in recent years, as glaciers melt faster and water temperatures increase (causing oceans to expand). You can imagine how this would affect the almost 40 percent of the US population that lives in a highly populated coastal area. Let’s not forget that eight of the 10 largest cities in the world are near a coast.

Consider how many millions of people are at risk as sea levels rise, storms intensify, and more extreme flooding occurs. Additionally, as sea levels rise, salt water begins intruding into freshwater aquifers, many of which support human communities and natural ecosystems.  From Climate Reality

Even in just the past ten years I have observed enormous changes.  First, it is scary that in ten years we have experience more than five hundred year storms. Second, it just doesn’t get really cold at night anymore. Ticks and other invasive bugs(emerald Ash Bore and others) survive the winters.  Third, we are constantly going from drought to inundation. Fourth, the trees and plants are moving north. Fifth, sadly the wildlife is disappearing. We have fewer song birds, the moose and deer are struggling with disease.

What changes do you see as the climate warms?

It’s Reality

Climate Reality
Climate Reality

We don’t appear to have a government that will protect us from carbon pollution and our warming climate. Because of this, we all need to take more personal responsibility for our earth. It is amazing what we can do working together.  How can we all reduce our carbon footprint?  This week, try a car-free day, my car is put away for the week. Also, eliminate beef, and celebrate Meatless Mondays.  Pasta and spinach salad for dinner at my house tonight. From One Green Planet on meat consumption.

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

wpid-wp-1423799335727.jpegValentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite days, and this year we need to clear our heads and celebrate harder than ever. We all can find something to love. Because I have a passion for our earth.  My suggestions are about loving the earth.  What do you love??

My suggestions for loving the earth today, tomorrow and forever.

Reduce your plastic use and always bring reusable shopping bags

Recycle, Recycle, and Recycle some more

Turn off lights and electronics

Buy Less and reuse what you have

Pick Up trash and litter. Any litter can end up in streams, lakes and oceans

Walk and use public transit.  How many days can you go without a car?

Appreciate the beauty of the earth

Plant seeds of milkweed, cone flowers, bee balm, asters, and Liatris to bring butterflies birds and bees to your yard.  And never use chemicals
Happy Valentine’s Day wp-1455333450127.jpeg

And from Climate Reality, 25 ways to show the love 

Clear Skies, Healthy People!

Blue Marble Image
Blue Marble Image

With a Great Planet, Comes Great Responsibility!

Video from the White House on our warming climate:

What can we all do?

  • Always turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use.
  • Drive less: Walk, bike, ride share, Carpool, combine errands, and take public transport.
  • Reduce two-cycle engine pollution:  Add more garden and pollinator friendly plants to reduce your lawn mowing, shovel snow by hand, and choose silent sports. Polluting our air is not cool!!
  • Reduce or eliminate your use of pesticides, and all chemicals. Your family, your pets, birds and butterflies will be much healthier.
  • Reduce or eliminate beef from your diet.  Producing beef uses lots of energy!
  • Recycle all plastics, glass and metal cans, and of course paper.  According to TerraCycle 84% of household waste can be recycled
  • Purchase products made from recycled materials.  This saves energy, trees, water and natural resources. Recycled paper products are the easiest to find.
  • Turn down the thermostat in the winter and reduce air conditioning in the summer. Schedule an energy audit from your local power company for ways your home can be more efficient.
  • Finally, work to elect leaders that believe in Climate Change, and support 970832_10153091136195497_1060532036_nclean renewable energy solutions. 

Doing The Best I Can!

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May was the hottest month on record, with Alaska and India struggling with unheard of heat.  http://ecowatch.com/2015/06/23/heat-waves-hit-planet/2/ May was also the wettest month ever in the United States, but California is in severe drought.

Even Pope Francis is concerned about our warming planet. The pope says for the common good of the planet we should consume less, and reduce our use of paper, plastic, and water. Also, he advocates for less use of our cars and air conditioners. http://www.startribune.com/pope-s-message-on-earth-s-fate-is-a-call-to-action-regardless-of-faith/308943131/  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/opinion/the-pope-and-climate-change.html?_r=0

I love  that the pope gives people specific ways to help our earth. A cute story follows:

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Environmental activist Wangari Maathai, of Climate Reality shares a story about a hummingbird:

“A raging fire is burning in the jungle.

It’s such an overwhelming disaster that all of the animals are watching the conflagration in shock.

A hummingbird says, “I’m going to do something about the fire.”

The hero of this story
The hero of this story

It flies to the nearest stream and takes a drop of water.

It races back to the fire, where it drops the water on the flames. Back and forth it goes, over and over, while the larger animals — like the elephant whose trunk could deliver so much more water — stand watching.

Eventually they ask the hummingbird, “What do you think you can do? You’re too little!”

Without pausing, the hummingbird answers: “I am doing the best I can!””

The story has a simple point.

 “I may feel insignificant, but I certainly don’t want to be like the animals watching the planet goes down the drain. I will be a hummingbird. I will do the best I can.” — Wangari Maathai

http://www.upworthy.com/in-this-charming-short-story-a-hummingbird-explains-why-we-have-to-at-least-try?c=cr1  (The complete version of this story)

Don’t stand by and watch, do the best you can. What is one thing you are doing to reduce your carbon foot print? Every little bit can add up to a whole lot!

I am doing the best I can!
I am doing the best I can!