Owner: Revolving Doors URL:http://joneri.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:13:14 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A blog mainly dedicated to the concern of our madly accelerating world, destined to crumble if we don't slow down. Site statistics:Click here
Bubble People and Boiling Frogs 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This is a man caught in a bubble, thoughtless of how his daily behaviour affects the climate.Once upon a time there was a frog which was dropped into water so hot that it leaped out, shocked - and saved itself. Later it was dropped into tepid water, which it found very pleasant. Then the water began to warm up, but only imperceptibly, so the frog remained lulled and relaxed, becoming more and more warm and sleepy ... until it was too late to escape, and it was boiled to death.Each year, the average car emits about three times its weight in carbon dioxide pollution - a leading cause of global warming. Read more:Bubble
, Frogs
When will the US take its responsibility? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Climate change is a global problem and requires a global solution. As theworld's largest emitter, accounting for 25% of global greenhouse gases, theUnited States plays a pivotal role. Effective U.S. action is the largest singlestep that could be taken to arrest global warming. Curbing U.S. emissionswould send an important message to the rest of the world. America'sexample sets the tempo and the direction of action far beyond its borders.Ultimately, an effective strategy will require commitments and action bydeveloping nations like China and India, especially as their economies andshare of emissions grow. But if the world's wealthiest country abdicates itsresponsibility to deal with the problem, how can we argue that poorernations should step up to the plate?
Push 1970-01-01 00:59:59 OK, here we go.In this blog I will post things I stumble across on the Internet which I want to share with you. I will try to ad some reflective comments to them. Usually my mind clings on to one interest realm at a time and for the time being I am absorbed by climate change imposed by man.Here is an interesting essay worth reading: MEDICAL METAPHORS FOR CLIMATE ISSUESIt took time for the public to realize that smoking is lethal. Just recently smoking is being banned on airplanes and public areas. I wonder how long will it take for the public to realize that global puffing also is lethal? When will people start acting accordingly?
Love miles 1970-01-01 00:59:59 On the day of the release of the 4th IPCC-report my wife ironically decided she wanted to take a 10-day trip to Japan the coming summer. She hadn't visited her home country for two years and she hadn't yet gotten a chance to see her sister's new baby. She would go alone this time, partly because it would be to expensive for the four of us to go, and partly because she for once wanted to meet her friends and family on her own, not having to worry about me and our two boys. Totally she would cover approximately 22444 km going back and forth, which equals about 2,5 tons of CO2. To compensate for this we will buy 3 tons worth of carbon emission rights. I guess she ought to go now before future taxes and regulations might make it increasingly difficult to fly long distance.If you for some reason must fly somewhere, you can calculate the carbon emissions here.
Mr Chirac Calls for Green Revolution 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Words from Mr Chirac
at the Global Ecological Governance Conference:"Soon will come a day when climate change escapes all control. We are on the verge of the irreversible.""Faced with this emergency, the time is not for half measures. The time is for a revolution - a revolution of consciousness, a revolution of the economy. A revolution of political action.""Our international political system is inadequate for dealing with the vital challenge of the 21st century - the question of the environment.""This UNEA will carry the environmental conscience of the world. With a strong political mandate... it will give greater strength, greater coherence to our common action.""We are, and rightly so, proud of our intelligence and our technical achievements. But in the space of a few centuries we have burned resources accumulated over millions of years.""We are destroying eco-systems that sheltered a biodiversity lost for ever, depriving ourselves of vital keys for the future. We know all this: so Read more:Green
Alarmist? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Yes, of course! When there is a fire, the alarm bell should sound loudly so we can save lives and put out the fire. Read more:Alarmist
An Example of Modern Life Absurdities 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A lot of people are concerned about their health, spending precious time in health clubs and gyms. If people would spend their calories on transporting themselves to work by foot or bike instead, they wouldn't have to worry about the waist line and they would save a lot of time, money and carbon. The fitness business is quite absurd when you see it from this perspective.FitnessvsPedal power Read more:Example
, Modern
What Made my Bubble Pop 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Before I saw Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth I didn't give global warming much thought. I was sleepwalking. Gore's movie popped my bubble of ignorance and it suddenly became clear to me that we really are approaching a state of catastrophe. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. I saw it broken down in ten segments on youtube before it was removed. The first segment has now reappeared and can be seen on this link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9kIfCX7BNwI hope the following parts will be uploaded later. Read more:Bubble
Eye Opener nr 2 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Another film that made me more conscious is the The Planet.Twenty-nine experts give their not-quite-pessimistic opinion about the state Planet Earth is in. From Kenya to Brazil, from Shanghai to Greenland, professors, water distributors, directors, entrepreneurs and a wildlife photographer with a gorilla for a pet explain what is happening to our planet. They also present their views on the consequences of the climatic, geographical and anthropological changes in the past and near future. The subject adequately extends beyond listing facts about the greenhouse effect: the film demonstrates how fast developments are nowadays. Our claims on water, air, flora and fauna used to have consequences only locally. As a result of globalisation, we are experiencing a unique event: for the first time in history, what we do at home can have effects on the ecosystem on the other side of the globe. The film quickly presents quotes, facts and examples - leading us to the issue of how we will make do w Read more:Eye Opener
, Opener
Global Ecological Governance Conference 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The President of the French Republic Leads Global
Ecological Governance Conference in Paris on 2-3 February 2007. "We all know that uncontrolled human activity is bringing about a sort of slow collective suicide. Disaster can only be averted if nations can come together to support jointly agreed commitments. Let us create a United Nations Environment Organization, the expression of the world's ecological conscience, with the means to assume this responsibility, the forum in which we take common action for future generations. France will be hosting an international conference next year to bring together all those who want to make progress on this project, which is crucial to the future of the planet". Extract from the speech of Mr Jacques CHIRAC, the President of the French Republic to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 19th 2006.The conference has united more than 200 participants from more than 60 countries. Finally the clot in the ketchup bottle has
The REPORT that Will Change the World 1970-01-01 00:59:59 4th IPCC-reportIf carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere reach twice their pre-industrial levels the global climate will probably warm by 3.5 to 8 degrees. But there would be more than a 1-in-10 chance of much greater warming, a situation many earth scientists say poses an unacceptable risk. Many energy and environment experts see such a doubling as a foregone conclusion sometime after midcentury unless there is a prompt and sustained shift away from the 20th-century pattern of unfettered burning of coal and oil, the main sources of carbon dioxide, and an aggressive quest for expanded and improved nonpolluting energy options.The report powerfully underscores the need for a massive effort to slow the pace of global climatic disruption before intolerable consequences become inevitable. Read more:Change
, World
Modern dinosaurs 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Car makers will be forced to cut carbon dioxide emissions produced by new cars under fresh rules outlined today by the European commission.May big fat men in riducoulosly big cars disapear from our roads. Read more:Modern
Cycling to Work 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I ride my bicycle to work everyday and when I see the never ending stream of cars I get charged with an aggressive energy that keeps me moving. To attract the attention of the car drivers I wear a reflective vest. I wish more people with vests would join.Some cyclists don't fear death.NYC messengers Read more:Cycling
Oil 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Oil affects every corner of our lives. Our modern society is dependent on oil. But one day the supply will peak and the prices will start going up. Below are two clips on the subject.Dr. Colin CampbellMatthew Simmons
Mindfulness 1970-01-01 00:59:59 In our modern society it may be difficult to get time for self reflection and stillness. We don't give much thought or awareness to what is going on in our minds and bodies. And what is happening beyond our bounderies, we probably give even less thought. When we go from a to b we usually don't see and experience the surroundings in a present and aware way. Most of the time our minds are detached from the outside world. In this state we tend to be careless of how we treat our environment. A good way to become more aware is to practice mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness
meditation is the practice whereby a person is intentionally aware of his or her thoughts and actions in the present moment, non-judgmentally. Mindfulness is applied to both bodily actions and the mind's own thoughts and feelings. When we are aware of our thoughts and feelings we can experience our surroundings in a more clear way, seeing things in a new window.Mindfulness (sati) Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepo
Surreal Calmness 1970-01-01 00:59:59 We are running out of time. The point when runaway climate change kicks in is approaching. The point when carbon sinks in nature will turn in to carbon sources. Sources which will unleash enormous amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. When this happens the temperatures will rise dramatically. A mere 6 degrees of global warming was enough to wipe out up to 95 per cent of the species which were alive on earth at the end of the Permian period, 250 million years ago. The Permian crisis nearly marked the end of life on earth.We are heading for disaster and yet people are surrealistically calm. People still buy SUVs and go to Thailand. Why?I think a lot of people don't realize what global warming has in store. Rising sea levels and stronger storms is a bleak threat in comparison to the cataclysmic events that took place during the Permian crisis and which are likely to happen again.Tipping pointsGlobal Warming-All You Need to Know (video)
Local Cooling 1970-01-01 00:59:59 More than 30 billion kilowatt-hours of energy is wasted because many of us simply forget to shut down our computers when we're not using them. If we could just improve the efficiency of how we use our PCs, the savings in energy costs would be over $3 billion dollars! The CO2 emissions from just 15 computers are equivalent in energy terms to the gas consumption used by one car.Download the 100% Free LocalCooling
Application and it automatically optimizes your PC's power consumption by using a more effective power save mode.
SOS Concerts 1970-01-01 00:59:59 An article in the Finacial Times announces that a series of climate change concerts "bigger than Live Aid" is being planned for July."Live Aid was about asking people to stump up money, this is about effecting systemic change.""The aim is not just to drive awareness but to get people to take action."
Evil Creation 1970-01-01 00:59:59 "Mr Devil, you have done a lot of evil stuff through the years. What would you say is your greatest achievement?""The car!" Read more:Creation
Morale Change Needed to Combat Climate Change 1970-01-01 00:59:59 We can't just sit and wait for our politicians to regulate us out of this crisis. Before they have gotten their acts together a lot of ghg will have been emitted into the atmosphere. We have to educate ourselves and others and take personal responsibility to reduce our carbon footprints. We have to start today, not tomorrow. We may very well be the last generation able to do something before it is too late. Read more:Change
, Climate
, Morale
Contraction 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Since the 1950's our consumption of energy and goods has accelerated at an ever increasing pace. In the developed world we have become very spoiled, taking our comfortable lifestyle for granted. Excessive access to food and amusement. Now the party is over: we are approaching a peak of oil and the threat of global warming can no longer be denied. We are slowly waking up from our drunkenness and now we have to deal with the hangover. It's time to sober up.The pill to treat the hangover may be national carbon rationing accompanied by global contraction and convergence.Contraction
and Convergence (C&C) is a proposed strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change. Conceived by the Global Commons Institute in the early 1990's, the Contraction and Convergence strategy consists of reducing overall emissions of greenhouse gases to a safe level, 'Contraction', where the global emissions are reduced because every country brings emissions per capita to a level w
Carbon Offsetting 1970-01-01 00:59:59 When we fly, drive and heat we emit CO2 which adds to climate change.Here you can calculate your emissions of CO2 for:FlyingDrivingHeating And here you can offset your emissions by funding projects around the world (sustainable energy projects, energy efficiency, forest restoration): OffsetsOr why not make a gift to somebody: Gift offsetsImportant: offsetting is not an alternative to taking action to prevent CO2 emissionsIf you don't have to go to Thailand, than don't!If you don't have to drive your car to work everyday, than don't!If you can install a more sustainable heating system, than do!If a light is on in a room that you are not in, than turn it off!If your friends are wasting energy, than educate them.Start a Low Carbon
Life today! Read more:Offsetting
Hasta la vista 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Offsetting is not an easy way out. It may remind us of the problem, but not solve it. We are living in a world in which the operating system has to be changed.
Go Before It's Too Late 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The other week I passed a travel agency and their slogan read "Go before it is too late". This picture (click to enlarge) was not displayed in their window so I wasn't really sure what they were referring to. The company sells cheap tickets to people under a certain age so I thought that was their main point. When I read the slogan I immediately processed the words in a climate change perspective. Apparently the company applies the slogan in many different contexts and climate change is one of them. One may wonder what will happen to the travel company after it's too late.
Solutions 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Guy Dauncey, author of Stormy Weather:101 solutions to global climate change has posted page-by-page links to the 12 sections of his book. I havn't read the book but the links are quite useful. In section 3 he gives 10 solutions for individuals.Listen to Guy Dauncey talk about his book and his solutions.
Extreme make-over 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Oil companies are doing their best to look green. British Petroleum's total make-over is one example. The B and P stands for Beyond Petroleum. Their homepage is very green and you could almost mistake it for being one of an environmental group. But I guess that their main product still will be black and dirty oil for some time to come. It is said that the company spent more money on the eco-friendly logo than on renewable energy the year they "went green". How much they spend on oil search I don't want to know. Maybe the B and P should rather stand for Beyond Propaganda. Read more:Extreme
Recommend Site To A Friend
