you are what you eat

I saw my dad the other day for the first time in a few weeks. He had just stopped at the store to get a few groceries and he says, "I was just at BJ's, and everyone there is HUGE! I don't even mean overweight, I mean obese." I of course gave my usual, "Dad!" to which he replied, "I'm serious. When you were in elementary school and I used to go to back to school night, you would see a few people overweight, and a few obese, but now it's everyone!"
Clearly it's not everyone, but America is fatter than ever. Europe's obesity numbers are much lower, and a big part of that is probably because they eat organic food. A friend of mine has gone to Macedonia every summer since I've known her. Every summer she eats whatever she wants, and still comes home ten pounds lighter. It is oftentimes expensive to eat organics, but there are solutions.
The NY Times also had a great article this week about why it's so expensive to eat healthy, and what we can do about it.

Climate change could effect the war?

A new report is saying that the potential instablilty caused by climate change could prolong the War on Terror. I hadn't really thought of this as a possibility, but I guess climate change could hinder global security. Part of me is still skeptical of this because I really don't think that environmental changes would make terrorists more likely to attack. However, if conditions do worsen in other countries it could have a serious backlash for us either way. If various countries were all suffering at once, the US would be expected to step in and give aid.
It's amazing how great an impact global warming may have. It will effect ecosystems, habitats, industry, and now even security. I just hope we actually start doing something to fix things instead of just talking about the damage it may cause.

i can see clearly now

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I highly reccommend heading over to the MSNBC climate change page. They've got great visuals of major areas of concern from global warming and the greenhouse effect. These interactives show areas where glaciers are shrinking and pictures melting mountains among other things. They've got some great articles and fun interactives, so go over there and educate yourself. Thanks MSNBC!

$900 billion? chump change

A report released by congressional invesitagators is saying that global warming damages could cost over $900 billion in insurance. This is of course in a worst case scenario situation, but these numbers are still jarring. Since Hurricane Katrina, hurricanes and flooding among others are now considered in the risk calculations by several private insurers.
What does this mean to you? More money out of your pocket. These ourageous costs could be a potential burden for taxpayers if insurance premiums for flood and crop losses increase. How's that for karma?

Al Gore: Climate Crusader!

Al Gore received an award from the U.N. on Thursday for his efforts on global warming. Way to go Al! Gore could not be present, but said in his speech read by actress/activist Daryl Hannah said, "It has taken too long for global leaders, especially in the United States, to wake up to this fact and respond, but I have hope."
I'm glad that people like Al Gore still have hope. We need it now more than ever. If you have not yet seen Gore's 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," I highly reccommend it. It should be an eye opener for some.

we have set an unrealistic goal

Cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent? A lofty goal if I've ever heard one. But this is what the European Union expects by 2050 to prevent the expected 2 degree Celsius rise in temperature that everyone is fearing. This means that wealthy nations like the US would have to cut emissions by 95 percent. 95 percent!! Will this ever happen? I don't think so.
Maybe we shouldn't have sat around doing nothing for so long. Or are we overreacting? Some think that all of this environmental rubbish is just political propaganda. We have dug ourselves a serious hole, and now the only suggestions for fixing it are not only drastic, but completely unrealistic. Good luck.

1/4 of the world at risk of ocean surges

Nearly one hundred billion people live below 100 feet above sea level. Years ago this didn't really matter, but rising sea levels are potentially putting these people in harm's way. These numbers are especially alarming in lieu of the Tsunami in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where we saw first hand just how devastating these sea level surges can be.
Climate change is causing sea levels to rise every year, and changing temperatures could cause these levels to increase further. We have already seen devastation to parts of artic areas, and continued glacial melting could result in these sudden surges. We are at a greater risk than we think, and need to start doing more about it.

hydrogen is the fuel of the future

This week is the Shanghai Auto Show, which will feature several alternative vehicles. One of the most exciting will be a hydrogen-fueled version of the Chevrolet Volt. The Volt uses lithium-ion batteries and a fuel cell, extending its range to 300 miles with vitually no emissions-only water vapor. How cool is that?? The Volt won't be available for sale for a few years, but can certainly be something to look forward to.
Sounds too good to be true? It probably is because these concept cars are bound to be expensive. This is a great move in the right direction, but it won't really be effective until we make a car that's affordable for average working people.

Earth Week is upon us

How cool is it that Earth Day has evolved into Earth Week? If you live in the Bergen County Area, Ramapo College will be holding a host of events in conjunction with the Meadowlands Environment Center. The Earth Week celebration will include a film series, lectures, performances and speakers, wrapping up with Earth Fest from 12-6 in the Grove. The festival will include vendors, live music, crafts, activities and various performances.
This week is a great opprotunity for Ramapo students and members of the community alike to get involved and educate themselves. DO IT!!

U.N. warns of global warming's effects

The U.N.'s report on global warming has issued serious warnings for years to come, when the tempeature of the earth increases. Shifts in rainfall and rising temperatures could seriously increase the demand for water, taking its on agriculture and industry. Cities like NYC and Boston could be at risk from damaging floods and storm surges, which would seriously effect the industry and transportation among other things. Global warming could cause heat waves, fires, flooding, and changes in diseases. Repairing beaches would cost billions, and lack of snow in some areas could seriously hurt resorts and other industry.
I said in my last post that I wonder if we'll even have seasons in years to come. As it is we barely have a spring, it goes right from cold to hot. The storm that's been effecting the country this week is just a taste of what scientists predict is in store for us. I hadn't even really considered just how hard certain industries would be hit from the climate change, which could really hurt our economy. This was certainly an eye opener for me, and hopefully it will be for others.

Mother Nature rears its ugly head

In the past few days our country has been pounded with a serious spring storm. Areas of the midwest have been pounded with snow and the Gulf states have been hit with serious thunderstorms. Beginning tomorroow the northeast is expecting a nor'easter, which will make for torrential rains, flooding, and gusting winds. "This is very odd for this time of year," National Weather Service meteorologist John Koch said Saturday in New York. "This is something that you would expect to see more in the middle of winter."
As it is temperatures in NJ haven't been even close to record norms. We should be feeling some beautiful 60 degree weather by now, but the past few weeks we've been lucky if it makes it into the 50's. I'm starting to wonder if we'll even have seasons anymore in the next few years. It was in the 60's and 70's in mid March, and then winter came back to slap us in the face. Thanks alot global warming.

Who will Save Our Selves?

Oh, how different our country would be if Al Gore had been elected in 2000. Gore has come up big yet again, organizing Live Earth concerts to be held July 7 in cities around the world. The show, aimed at raising climate control awareness, will feature greats like Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer at Continental Airlines Arena in the Great Garden State. Other shows will take place in London, Sydney, Shanghai, and Tokyo among others. This marks the start of the Save Our Selves campaign, led by The Alliance for Climate Protection. (chaired by my man Al Gore)
The show will be broadcast live in the US on NBC, as well as live from several other stations around the world. All proceeds will go toward the battle against global warming, which is really great. It's nice to see that people are really recognizing how serious the problem is and are mobilizing an effort to make things happen. Come on Al, you're making things happen, and you could do even more as el presidente. So do us all a favor and PLEEEASE RUN FOR THE 2008 ELECTION!! Thanks =)

one fish, two fish...

I found this article after writing my previous post. Scientists have determined that global warming is already beginning to wreak havoc on our ocean life. Rising ocean temperatures are killing phytoplankton, which not only serve as a food source, but also process and create carbon dioxide and oxygen. Warmer waters already contain less oxygen than colder waters, which could make spell serious problems for certain types of fish. Warmer waters will also help jellyfish to thrive, which means several species of fish may start disappearing. Just another way global warming will come to bite us in the ass.

could the end be near??

A global warming conference held in Belgium on Friday warned of the serious effects of climate change if we don't do something now. They reported that the poorest countries will suffer most, predicting that Africa will be hit hardest. The report predicted:
-increased hunger is Asia and Africa
-extinction of 30% of our species is temperatures rise
-dry areas will be at higher risks of disease and hunger
-all areas will be at greater risk of floods, storms and erosion
Experts say the problems can be solved, but it will cost trillions to fix on a global level. Will it be done? Will our government and others around the world really work together to fix this? We have done serious damage to our planet and now it's our job to fix it, by actually doing something instead of just talking about it. The end could indeed be nearer than we think. Maybe not in our generation, but maybe in our childrens' or grandchildrens' generations. We've worked so hard to progress as a society, but all of that has come at a serious cost. Could we have brought upon our very demise? I certainly hope not. A serious change would do us good, otherwise the future looks pretty grim.

ge foods leaving a nasty taste

Last month the press quickly brushed over the halting of Genetically Engineered alfalfa by a federal judge. Many of you might not have even heard about it, and many of you might not even know a whole lot about GE foods and why they're potentially harmfuk. The saying goes, "You are what you eat," which means that everyone should be aware of what's going into their bodies.
Everyday we eat foods that may have been genetically altered in one way or another. Not enough testing has been done on GE foods for us to know if they're safe to eat, or whether these altered crops could effect our ecosystems. People in favor of GE foods swear that it could cure hunger around the world. Hell, if I know it's safe and other countries can benefit from it, then great. But growing GE crops is an expensive process, and I seriously doubt that any third world nations could afford it.
The other argument is that it could end the use of pesticides, when in reality, the use of pesticides has actually actually increased with the introduction of GE foods. Gee, what a coincidence that the same companies that create GE foods also make the pesticides themselves! It seems to me that the motives are clear, and this is yet another money-maker at the cost of our health, and the future of our environment.

Biofuel: too good to be true

Biofuel has been a hot topic in the past year, and many have been hopeful that it would be the cure-all our country needs. It could mean signifigantly lower gas prices, replenishing oil and battling climate change and global warming. Now it's looking like biofuel is indeed too good to be true, and will not be the miracle our country has hoped for. There are growing concerns that there is simply not enough land to grow these bio-fuel crops, which could seriously increase starvation in poor countries. Rainforests and ecosystems are being destroyed to grow these crops, and the burning to clear the land is seriously increasing pollution.
It goes to show that there is no clean cut solution to this problem. We have done serious damage to our environment, and we're beginning to feel the repercussions. The solutions we've found have turned out to not be solutions after all, but how will our government react, or the American people for that matter? We would all love for prices at the pump to go down, but at what expense? If biofuel isn't really helping our environment, and could potentially cause mass starvation, then it's certainly not worth it to me.

He's got the whole world in his hands

A January article from ABC News showed one case ofreligion and science coming together. Seems like a foreign concept as the two are always at odds, but a coalition of scientists and religious leaders have decided to put aside their differences to do some environmental good. These Christian fundamentalists have decided that global warming, pollution and other issues plaguing our planet are indeed moral issues as well, and are compelled to lend their hand to the world of science.
Whatever the motivation, this is clearly a huge step. Science and religion are probably the two biggest institutions in the world, and if they can begin to forget their differences and unite for a common good then that's incredible. This coalition has stopped aruging about the origin of our planet to realize that either way it's our duty to protect it. Will they be shaking hands over abortion issues anytime soon? Clearly no, but this is a huge step in bridging the gap.

stickin' it to the man

It's fairly obvious that the Bush administration doesn't put the environment on their Top 10 Issues of Importance for America. Yesterday a federal court overturned the revised rules for management of our nation's national forests. Lawyer Tim Presto was quoted in the New York Times today saying, "Basically, the importance of this decision is that the Bush administration had been trying to take all mandatory environmental protections out of forest planning process and this decision puts them back in.” The previous rules cut back on requirements to help protect wildlife and forest ecosystems. The plans will be redone by the Agriculture Department upon consulting the public and other wildlife protection agencies.
It figures that the original rules cut back on any environmental reviews, yet gave overwhelming use of power to forest managers. Under the 2005 rules, forest managers were allowed to decide where it would be okay to development forest land. What do forest managers know about ecosystems, or how their development could destroy them. And even more so, what do they care? They don't, and clearly the Bush administration doesn't either. Development means money and money talks, allowing the Bush administration to sleep at night. And let's face it, anything that will allow Mr. Bush to continue getting his ten hours of sleep a night works for him.

Would you like...paper??

How many times has a bagger at your local grocery store asked you, "Paper or plastic?" I worked in super market retail for years and know what a pain in the ass people can be about their bag preference.(paper and plastic is the worst!)
San Fransico has now put a city wide ban into effect meaning, you guessed it, NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!! To all of you baggers out in San Fran...I pray for your fingers after bagging with nothing but paper. However, this means great things for us earth friendly people. Store like BJ's and Costco don't offer bagging, and they still do great business. People would be bound to bitch if plastic bags were done away with for good, but I'm sure we could be conditioned to be okay with it.

our ever changing fast food nation

Could Buger King be single handedly starting a fast food revolution? On Tuesday, the fast food giant known for its "manly" burgers announced that they would gradually begin buying eggs and pork from farmers that don't confine their animals to cages and crates. Animal rights activists and environmentalists alike are optimistic that this will result in major reform throughout the food industry, and could potentially put an end to factory farms.
This is a huge move for Burger King as the number two hamburger chain. This could put some serious pressure on other restaurants and fast food chains to follow suit, which could force farmers to use a more humane treatment of their livestock. This could mean big changes potentially, and a maybe start toward a (dare I say), socially conscious America.