Americas Effect on Global Warming

[IBeirTheBell]

America has the most Automobile use in the world and is poluting the world that could very soon casue dramatic Global Warming..


Thoughts?

[Polwarth]

What do you mean, 'could cause'? Where have you been for the past 10 years?

[IBeirTheBell]

Posts not encouraging discussion with the intent of causing fights WILL BE DELETED!

Thought provoking comments rather than name calling IBerTheBell.

[Edited by kathyv on 19th April 2005 at 05:04]

[HollyElise]

IBier, though i agree that America's impact on global warming is extremely high (perhaps the highest) per capita in the world, global warming is a very complex effect. Most people don't realize (for instance) that cows... that's right, cows... are believed to contribute about 40% to the world's global warming. LOL.

Another tidbit... CFC (Chlorofluorocarbons)... that used to be used as a propellant in aerosols, among other things, take approximately 200 years to break down in the upper atmosphere. So though they have already been banned and replaced with other propellants, their distructive effect on the upper ozone will continue, and has not yet peaked. Not much we can do about it.

Volcanic eruptions, on the other hand, partially compensate for global warming... temporarily. The last decade has seen a number of eruptions that have delayed some of the effects of global warming... pulling our global temperatures down.

There are many factors that contribute to global warming, and some factors even help repair the ozone layer, though those are not understood as well.

Personally, i don't like discussing the sad state of global warming without pointing out that each of us can do more than just discuss it... that our habits and the way we live effects the earth every day.

Today you could:

drive less - carpool, combine errands, take the bus, better yet, take a bicycle or walk.

buy locally - much of fossil fuel goes to transporting the goods we buy. A co-op near me noticed recently that it was buying apples from New Zealand... 12,000 miles away... when we grow wonderful apples here in our county, less than 12 miles away. WHY?

buy less, buy less packaging, buy renewables, recycle, repair -I think you know this stuff.

plant trees

get involved - make your vote count, and write a letter to your representative once in a while, urging the fleet average to be raised (minimum miles per gallon cars must get) or supporting clean air acts and industrial pollution restriction, etc.

Let's not just beef about it.... LOL... there i go with the cows again.... LOL!... let's walk our talk.

[Gavia_Immer]

Holly:

There is No doubt in America's substantial contribution to global warming. Our current political regime is so anti-environmental it makes me want to pack my family up and move to Labrador or Staffon on Skye. Running away from the responsibility is not in my nature. As an environmental consultant and outdoor recreationist, I will continue to fight for under represented species. I fear the damage has been done and I hope there is something left of a world in terms of species diversity and quality for the next several generations. I want my sons and thier sons and daughters to see what these eyes have seen. As Ed Abbey once put it "Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of a cancer cell"

p.s Your writing skills are wonderful! I would guess a book is in the making.
gavia_immer