The problem I see with politicians is that they are good at finding problems. For instance, the current tree huggers are jumping up and down about global warming. Telling me not to drive SUV's, switch my light bulbs to compact florescent bulbs (Which contain lead), and about my carbon foot print. When there leader flies around in a personal jet, has a house that uses more electricity than the average household does in a year in one month. They talk about a topic that scientists don't agree about. They reference charts that show me a trend over time. And what really gets my goad is that places like China are the biggest offenders. Please stop the madness on this topic.
The global warming fruit cakes would get much more accomplished if they could show us a cheaper more economical way to reduce our carbon foot print without burning a whole in our pockets. They would also gain some respectability if they would start targeting third world countries that don't have environmental controls. How about attacking the multi-billion dollar trucking industry in the US? One semi produces more carbon than my SUV does? Shouldn't trucking companies be looking at alternative solutions? Oh wait, there aren't any. So put the effort into solutions instead of your add campaigns, crappy inaccurate documentaries, and a leader that can't take his own medicine.
Don't throw celebrities such as Darrly Hannah who tell me about converting her house to solar. And that it did not cost that much. Plus the cost will be written off in just 5 years. Well the average US citizen does not have the funds to convert to solar, and many US citizens don't live in a climate that is feasible to convert to solar.
All to often these politicians point out problems, but their pork barrel economics prevents real solutions.
Sorry for the rant, but I think this is a great topic.
The average american could definately afford to make their homes energy efficient. That is, if the average american was getting paid. The savings by switching to a CFL can be nearly $1500 USD in 5 years. That's $300 a year. I don't know about you, but spending $90 to upgrade the lights in my home and making back $300 a year for it doesn't sound like such a bad trade. Unfortunatly, the US is a "status symbol" country. We always have to have the biggest toys and the nicest houses, so who cares if we are putting a hole in the ozone layer (or, you know, destroying it like above Chile and the North Pole)? Richard Branson (head of the Virgin Companies) was asked recently why he continues to run his airline while talking about the evils of global warming. His response? Something along the lines of "Well, if I stop making my jets and offering my services, somebody else will. The least I can do is to make my jets energy efficient". Humans are a lesiure kind of species. Did you know that it isn't humans producing the most methane? It's actually bovines. So. Here's our solution: kill off all the cows in the world. There. Methane reduced. But that's so very impractical. I mean, really- killing the cows? That would give the animal rights activists something to scream about. Oh, wait, they already are. They're advocating for the animals whose homes are melting away in the polar ice caps. From the USEPA website:
Observed effects include sea level rise, shrinking glaciers, changes in the range and distribution of plants and animals, trees blooming earlier, lengthening of growing seasons, ice on rivers and lakes freezing later and breaking up earlier, and thawing of permafrost.. I belive the prediction about the sea level is that in several year's time, Manhattan will be underwater.
For simple, easy, cheap ways to help reduce your greenhouse gas emissions at home go
here. For how to do this at work, try
here. On the road?
Here. How about at school? Right...over...
here.
It isn't that hard. You don't have to replace your car or install solar energy to make a difference. Like my first link says, just change 5 lightbulbs and tell your friends to do the same. Bike to work, if you can. Not only will you save on gas (and with prices rising, who doesn't want to do that), but you'll probably get in some good exercise, too.
