Unexpected Changes to a Greener Planet

Deliberations, sometimes they get in the way of getting done what we believe in.  Consideration for this, consideration for that; what will they think; WHAT IF!!!  Eeeeak!

Stop... breathe, and do what you believe in.  This is a much simpler statement than the what our genetic coding suggest we go through for decision-making but there is more than a speck of truth in it.  There is so much activity in sustainability and climate change often it feels like someone else is or can do whatever is on your mind- not so.  Each person acts as another potential persuasive vehicle to advance work tremendously important to protecting the planet.  Even if its been said, say it again, add a twist.  We must constantly strive to balance protecting the natural resources accessible to us and the way we use them.  There are millions of people, billions for that matter, waiting for someone with the right tone, approach or message that will resonate with them enough to take active steps to contribute to making a different in the many areas that make up sustainability and preservation.

After a brief hiatus, returning to this work is paramount for me; there is so much work to be done and I cannot count on what everyone else will do so I will continue to do my part and be more diligent in doing so.  Expect more articles from me more frequently, that share important advances in technology, resources, activities and changes in climate related matters.  I don't have all the answers but I feel reinvigorated after returning from Asia and having gone through a certain cleansing for myself.  I found what I needed to regroup and continue with what I believe in.

The world is a beautiful place; I want to fulfill my role in it and preserve it for as long as possible.  My goal is to help inspire others to do the same by sharing my knowledge and determination to do the same.  What you don't find here (looking4answers) you will find here ( at green elements).

Recently I spoke with my ex-wife who shared with me some amazing progress I never thought I would hear come from her lips; I Love her she is an amazing woman.  This evening she told me all of the steps she was taking to be a more active participant in climate consciousness.  Throughout the entire conversation I was smiling to myself realizing how important it is to continue the work.  You see, we don't always know when what we share with others will have the desired affect, but we can't allow that to slow us down or prevent us from doing the work.  What did she share? 1) She is walking our son to school 2) she is (as well as my son) designating a separate disposal for recycling and trash- and my son is keeping her on her toes; 3) she has replaced all the lighting in her home with CFL; 4) she has taken a conscious step to reducing the highly processed food and nearly eliminated soda from her/ their diet.  YAHOOW-OOOOOh!  Nothing could make me happier relative to what changes she is making regarding climate change.

I want to remind everyone that CFL can be extremely dangerous so follow the necessary precautions when handling them.  I have provided a link here >> What should I do if I break a bulb?  .  LED is really the best lighting technology but pricing is still an issue.

Pipelines and Priorities

On November 10 Reuters reported on the US government's decision to postpone Keystone XL's (Canada to Texas) oil pipeline which many environmentalists argue that one of the most damaging effects would be in the Nebraska tar sands ecosystem area, as a direct result from the project.


While there are arguments on both sides, the concern for the government and investors is the approximate $7 billion cost to the project and how any delay would disrupt the progress and possibly force parties to scrap the project. Countering this argument is not difficult to do. 


We were spending approximately $720 million a day according to 2007 research done by Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph E Stiglitz. The National Priorities Project research, states that *budget spending in Iraq and Afghanistan amounted to $797.3 billion and 459.8 billion respectively in the 2011 FY. Thus it is a difficult sell, that a mere $7 billion would force governments or corporations to scrap the Keystone XL project; given there appetite for the black gold.


Why should this project be delayed? Based on US consumption of oil that is a tough one to answer.  How many US residents are prepared to make significant reductions in their consumption of oil and oil/petroleum based products– in this economy, not many is the likely answer.


Reason for Pause
The Department of Energy in May 2011 conference stated that they recorded the highest levels of CO2 emissions ever; yet another indicator to be concerned about is the fact that seven the 7 billionth human was born on October 31st.  Each of these indicators tells us indifferent ways, that exploitation of nonrenewable energy sources (petroleum, coal, and nuclear) will be in greater demand if we extrapolate these records.


Further slowing the pace of the Keystone XL project will allow more time to review the riffs of the project from an economic standpoint.  Externality costs are the unmentioned cost to things like the environment; they look less from the revenue-generating perspective and more at the human and eco-welfare perspective.  


Perhaps a truly progressive idea would be to initiate a campaign similar to a campaign against smoking.  It  would pre-use the projected cost of the environmental impact (after a reliable assessment); allocate those funds for the campaign, and educate people about the cost these externalities (i.e., the environment as well as human health).


If we look back at the advent of fossil fuels as a source of energy for human consumption, it seemed like a really good idea; at the time developing societies required faster moving parts to grow.  Lack of such growth meant in some cases (and still does) either you grow or are conquered.  The difference in knowledge today however is that we can anticipate certain factors; we have a better understanding of the impacts.  The infrastructure and mindsets in the past, did not have the capacity to think forward in these terms.  Thomas Edison (quote below), was an exception.  Today is quite different; we know more about the limited resources and about what certain numbers mean.  Being proactive through conservation and preservation would serve well, the quality of life to all living things.


It is easier to not to say who is right and who is wrong, but what is the best decision to make from were we are going forward.  The best minds in the world always seem to have sound reasoning on their side.




*Chris Helman: Senior War Analyst at National Priorities Project; over a decade of war analysis and research.
* We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy — sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.

• In conversation with Henry Ford and w:Harvey Firestone (1931); as quoted in Uncommon Friends : Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel & Charles Lindbergh (1987) by James Newton, p. 31