global warming – Health4earth

Heat Waves

Happy Summer! What are ways we can show our love for our planet?

Below is from the Carbon Almanac :

The ‘official’ start to summer is June 20th in the Northern hemisphere though it seems that the heat of the season has arrived earlier.

There is a heat dome happening in North America with the mercury reaching temperatures that normally are seen later in the season. In addition, Delhi India recently broke temperature records with a new record of 49.9 degrees Celsius (121.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The previous record was 49.2 degrees Celsius (120.5 degrees Fahrenheit), which happened just two years ago.

High temperatures are particularly problematic for senior citizens as the body doesn’t cool down as easily. By mid century, about 20% of the world’s population will be over 60. If you are 35 years or older now, you are included in that number. Another vulnerable group are the unhoused.

Human actions are causing climate change which in turn is causing more extreme heat waves. Which can also lead to conditions for forest fires.

Want to help? Here are some ideas for action.

186 MPH Winds Hit Taiwan

Taiwan has been struck by three typhoons in the past month. A few weeks ago Taiwan was pummeled by Typhoon Meranti with winds of 186 MPH. In July they were struck by Typhoon Nepartak. As the earth warms, most of this warming is in the oceans causing instability. Global warming is making typhoons worse.

Earlier this year I was able to travel around the island of Taiwan with my husband. The people we met were so gracious and happy, and the food fabulous. This rugged mountainous country is beautiful.

Because of storms hitting the east side of the island, the Pacific Ocean side, most of the people live on the west side of the island. Map of Taiwan here. My thoughts and best wishes go out to the charming people and marvelous landscapes of Taiwan. I wish Taiwan a quick recovery, and I recommend Taiwan as an interesting place to travel.

A mountainous island — A mountainous tropical island

These two explained the life-cycle of the purple butterfly in English

Butterflies migrate from the southern part of Taiwan over the mountains to northern Taiwan. This was a butterfly festival celebrating migration.

Our Shared Responsibility!

“We need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters or the big corporations but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people who will be most affected by this, for our children’s children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by politics and greed.”

Super Tuesday, Please Participate!

So far, 2015 smashes 2014 records

January 2015 through June 2015 have been the warmest first 6 months on record. 2014 was the warmest year on record. What is scary to me is that over 90% of this heat ends up in the oceans!

This video explains it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhhtvm1pcio

Where are you on this map? What have you observed this year?

Do We Want Clean Air and Clean Water?

I am on my way to Climate Reality Leadership Training in Chicago, and hope to learn to communicate what we need to do if clean air and clean water are important to us!

Below is from Steve Hogseth of Utah:

When our industrial age began, few could have projected today’s predicament. For decades, the wake-up call has been ringing. We need to utilize fossil fuels in the foreseeable future, as we must maintain our economy. We need to taper off on fossil fuels and embrace gentler energies. Through man’s innovation, greener energies will gain efficiency, mitigating fossil consumption. We need to stop blindly “believing the words” of self-interest lobbyists, greed mongers, oil/coal advocates, and political pundits. We must personally become scientifically attuned.

A question for naysayers: “Even if you do not believe in global warming, why would you not want to address the source of dirty air and water?” Steve Hogseth, Utah

http://www.leadertelegram.com/opinions/letters_to_editor/article_5e9ce4cb-878c-512d-927a-34095ef07bb6.html Steve Hogseth on climate change

https://realitydrop.org/

Can We Save Our Bees and Our Butterflies?

“Can anyone believe it is possible to lay down such a barrage of poisons on the surface of the earth without making it unfit for all life” Rachel Carson

Our pollinators are declining at a rapid rate. Yes, there are things that each one of use can do. Calling for more research is a waste of valuable time. It is time for everyone to act.

Below is a good commentary on the loss of our bees:

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/206997751.html

So what can you do? We are so awash in chemicals we aren’t even aware of them anymore. Below is a list of things that can make a difference for pollinators and for your health, also.

1. Reduce all yard chemicals, and reduce the size of your mowable yard with flowers that pollinators love.

2. Plant more flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. My favorite for Minnesota and

English: Culver's root, Veronicastrum virginic... — English: Culver’s root, Veronicastrum virginicum. Shot from above at around 4pm, Leland IL. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wisconsin are: Bee Balm, Culver’s Root. Cone Flowers, Hyssop, chives, Russian Sage, Liatris (blazing star), wild geranium, and golden rod.

3. Buy organically produced food, and reduce the beef you eat.

4. Reduce the amount of chemicals in your home for cleaning and construction.

5. Support candidates and elected officials that believe in global warming.

6. Never throw chemicals, worms or fish(they can be invasive) into our streams, lakes or storm drains.

7. And..basically anything you do to for clean air, clean water. and save energy helps all wildlife and humans.

http://www.queenofthesun.com/get-involved/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-bees/

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/26/environment/pesticides-suspected-in-minnesota-bee-deaths

http://www.xerces.org/bringbackthepollinators/

http://www.restoringthelandscape.com/

http://www.backyardbrevard.com/2013/05/celebrate-national-pollinator-week-in-june/