I've heard alot of buzz about carbon offsets and the different views people have on it. I went to www.beacarbonoffsetter.com and calculated the amount of carbon I personally put into the air by doing all of the things I do on a daily basis. I used the second calculator under information and it gave me the carbon emission in tonnage. It was eye-opening to say the least.
Until now, I thought I was doing my fair share of protecting my environment in the ways I knew how, but I don't feel that it is enough. I am growing weary of hearing all the political views that say that I shouldn't be concerned with the direction we are headed and yet I know in my heart that alot of things we do can't possibly be good for the earth that my children are inheriting. I cannot think of the day I will be gone and my three kids will be left with a mess that we all could have helped to prevent but not take enough of an active role. It is just as much my problem, if not more than their problem.
In the end, because I am still searching for ways to personally change my ways. I purchased offsets off of the beacarbonoffsetter.com site. I figure that I can help to fund projects through people or organizations who have the knowledge and the resources to delegate the money to the best place. I liked this particular site because I could easily navigate through it and it wasn't fussy. I actually am considering donating funds monthly.
I am comforted that there are people and organizations out there that are doing more to work toward a better understanding of our earth and how we can make it better today and for tomorrow. Anything else just seems irresponsible on our part. We only borrow this earth for the time that we are here. We should take care of it.
And for anyone who reads this blog, go to the website and calculate your yearly tonnage. Maybe it will open your eyes too.
17 August 2008
11 August 2008
Is A Bad Economy Good for the Environment?
I’m a pragmatic environmentalist. By that I mean that we should examine environmental issues factually, from all sides, without rancor or hypocrisy. That doesn’t always put me in good standing with “pure” environmentalists. But the problem for the green lobby these days isn’t how they are perceived by the public, it is the chilly economic climate that has frozen the shoots of environmentalism. Espousing the green life is increasingly being seen as a luxury.
Only a year ago, one poll showed that 15% of those polled put the environment in their top three concerns. That figure has dropped by a third to 10%. According to Andrew Cooper, director of the research company, Populus: “There is a direct correlation between how people perceive the economy and the importance they place on the environment. When times are tough people resent paying more to salve their conscience.”
It's not just the economic downturn that has harmed the green order. People are growing wary of environmental causes that can turn out to do more harm than good. They don't want wind turbines marching across the landscape when nuclear power stations can do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They worry that washing and bleaching all those non-disposable diapers may be damaging the ozone layer, and that the massive incentives for biofuels have distorted the world food market.
But paradoxically, we may be becoming greener. People are driving far less due to the price of gasoline. We are buying fewer white goods, buying less impulsively, and thinking carefully before heading out on a trip around town to run errands. Bottled water sales have fallen. Garden centers have reported a rise in the sales of vegetable seeds in the past 12 months. People are saving money by growing their own potatoes and carrots. They are turning off their central heating for a few more months of the year.
It's the downturn that has made greenery look unappetising - but it may yet prove to do more than anything to save the planet.
Only a year ago, one poll showed that 15% of those polled put the environment in their top three concerns. That figure has dropped by a third to 10%. According to Andrew Cooper, director of the research company, Populus: “There is a direct correlation between how people perceive the economy and the importance they place on the environment. When times are tough people resent paying more to salve their conscience.”
It's not just the economic downturn that has harmed the green order. People are growing wary of environmental causes that can turn out to do more harm than good. They don't want wind turbines marching across the landscape when nuclear power stations can do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They worry that washing and bleaching all those non-disposable diapers may be damaging the ozone layer, and that the massive incentives for biofuels have distorted the world food market.
But paradoxically, we may be becoming greener. People are driving far less due to the price of gasoline. We are buying fewer white goods, buying less impulsively, and thinking carefully before heading out on a trip around town to run errands. Bottled water sales have fallen. Garden centers have reported a rise in the sales of vegetable seeds in the past 12 months. People are saving money by growing their own potatoes and carrots. They are turning off their central heating for a few more months of the year.
It's the downturn that has made greenery look unappetising - but it may yet prove to do more than anything to save the planet.
04 August 2008
A Guy's Rules for Getting Through Divorce
Ok, I know that this has nothing to do with the environment, but I have several close family members who are going through divorce. So I thought I would share what I have learned about the dissolution of the institution of marriage, at least from a guy's perspective.
I'm no expert on divorce -- I've only gone through it once and don't intend to repeat, but I did learn to live with it. So here are things I learned, some the hard way, some with the help of friends and others. Take what helps, toss out what doesn't.
1. Divorce is not fatal (although marriage typically is). As Shakespeare wrote, "Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love." Relax. you'll live. The sun will shine on your ass again. Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today, unless you are a Redskins fan, then you're eternally screwed.
2. Focus on the kids, if you have them. If not, don't go out and try to make some with your ex's best friend. Continue to be Dad. You're divorcing your wife, not your kids. Talk to them, listen to them. This is scary, probably one of the most butt-puckering, frightening things they will go through as children. When communicating with your ex or soon to be ex about the kids, make it business-like and positive; don't be a jerk. Your kids deserve you to be you. Also, if your ex is getting re-married, that doesn't mean that you will stop being their father. Only dying will cause you to stop being their dad, and I don't recommend that. (See item 1 above.) And if your ex's new guy loves your kids, great! The more people that love your children, the better off they will be. (That was taught to me by an exceptionally beautiful person.)
3. Don't be a rotten jackass. There's a big difference between being a dumbass and a rotten jackass. Don't be bitter, that's boring. Don't spew out blame to whomever will listen, that's boring, too. Easy to say, hard to do, but try, would you?
4. Keep your finger off the send button. Ah, the beauty of e mail and texting. It is so tempting to blast your ex with a barrage of nasty, scornful, hate-filled messages. Been there, done it, felt good about it at the time. Knock it off. Hate is never a good thing, and your ex can always use those messages against you. More importantly, doing that just continues to foster the negative nature of the situation. Think before you send. Abraham Lincoln had a habit of writing nasty-ass letters to his generals and others, and then sticking them in the drawer of his desk. After a few days, weeks, etc., he would take another look at the letter and then either rewrite it or just toss it.
5. Beer and booze do not help. Trust me on this one. Drinking only makes things worse, a lot worse. You'll end up getting fat, a DUI, the kids taken away from you, beaten up in a bar, sitting around a crummy apartment in a soiled wife beater t-shirt, or all of the above. None of those are an asset in anybody's accounting ledger.
6. The guys don't want to hear about it. Seriously. We're guys. We don't talk about this stuff. The most we should say is "That sucks, dude." Sitting there and pouring out the sordid (or not) details of your unraveled marriage to your friends is not a good idea. It's boring. Smile, say thank you and move the conversation to baseball.
7. DO talk to professionals, if you think you need it. Professional counselors, therapists, etc. have thriving businesses for a reason: they help people. I have been to counseling many times and it always helped. Help can range from psychiatrists to licensed social workers to groups at the local church. Get it if you need it.
8. Exercise. I can't overstate how much exercise has helped me through this rough patch. It puts you in a better frame of mind, eases anxiety, etc. etc. You know all the benefits, so, to quote a famous shoe company, just do it.
9. God. Faith, prayer, meditation, all help. I'm not a bible thumper, but I have been able to rely on my particular faith. It didn't make things all better, no angel came down and kissed me on the forehead, but it does help.
10. Divorce does not define you. You're divorced, big fat deal. You and a zillion other people. Being divorced doesn't define you. It isn't a filter through which you have to view life from now until you die. Your friends aren't going to think of you as "my divorced dumbass friend Joe." They'll just think of you as "my dumbass friend Joe."
It is what it is. Walk it off. Live your life. The world spins madly on
I'm no expert on divorce -- I've only gone through it once and don't intend to repeat, but I did learn to live with it. So here are things I learned, some the hard way, some with the help of friends and others. Take what helps, toss out what doesn't.
1. Divorce is not fatal (although marriage typically is). As Shakespeare wrote, "Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love." Relax. you'll live. The sun will shine on your ass again. Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today, unless you are a Redskins fan, then you're eternally screwed.
2. Focus on the kids, if you have them. If not, don't go out and try to make some with your ex's best friend. Continue to be Dad. You're divorcing your wife, not your kids. Talk to them, listen to them. This is scary, probably one of the most butt-puckering, frightening things they will go through as children. When communicating with your ex or soon to be ex about the kids, make it business-like and positive; don't be a jerk. Your kids deserve you to be you. Also, if your ex is getting re-married, that doesn't mean that you will stop being their father. Only dying will cause you to stop being their dad, and I don't recommend that. (See item 1 above.) And if your ex's new guy loves your kids, great! The more people that love your children, the better off they will be. (That was taught to me by an exceptionally beautiful person.)
3. Don't be a rotten jackass. There's a big difference between being a dumbass and a rotten jackass. Don't be bitter, that's boring. Don't spew out blame to whomever will listen, that's boring, too. Easy to say, hard to do, but try, would you?
4. Keep your finger off the send button. Ah, the beauty of e mail and texting. It is so tempting to blast your ex with a barrage of nasty, scornful, hate-filled messages. Been there, done it, felt good about it at the time. Knock it off. Hate is never a good thing, and your ex can always use those messages against you. More importantly, doing that just continues to foster the negative nature of the situation. Think before you send. Abraham Lincoln had a habit of writing nasty-ass letters to his generals and others, and then sticking them in the drawer of his desk. After a few days, weeks, etc., he would take another look at the letter and then either rewrite it or just toss it.
5. Beer and booze do not help. Trust me on this one. Drinking only makes things worse, a lot worse. You'll end up getting fat, a DUI, the kids taken away from you, beaten up in a bar, sitting around a crummy apartment in a soiled wife beater t-shirt, or all of the above. None of those are an asset in anybody's accounting ledger.
6. The guys don't want to hear about it. Seriously. We're guys. We don't talk about this stuff. The most we should say is "That sucks, dude." Sitting there and pouring out the sordid (or not) details of your unraveled marriage to your friends is not a good idea. It's boring. Smile, say thank you and move the conversation to baseball.
7. DO talk to professionals, if you think you need it. Professional counselors, therapists, etc. have thriving businesses for a reason: they help people. I have been to counseling many times and it always helped. Help can range from psychiatrists to licensed social workers to groups at the local church. Get it if you need it.
8. Exercise. I can't overstate how much exercise has helped me through this rough patch. It puts you in a better frame of mind, eases anxiety, etc. etc. You know all the benefits, so, to quote a famous shoe company, just do it.
9. God. Faith, prayer, meditation, all help. I'm not a bible thumper, but I have been able to rely on my particular faith. It didn't make things all better, no angel came down and kissed me on the forehead, but it does help.
10. Divorce does not define you. You're divorced, big fat deal. You and a zillion other people. Being divorced doesn't define you. It isn't a filter through which you have to view life from now until you die. Your friends aren't going to think of you as "my divorced dumbass friend Joe." They'll just think of you as "my dumbass friend Joe."
It is what it is. Walk it off. Live your life. The world spins madly on
01 August 2008
Running in China: No Easy Feat
Yesterday Chinese officials announced emergency contingency plans to improve air quality. Too little, too late.The Olympics kick off in eight days in Beijing. Endurance athletes are expected to be hardest hit by the air pollution so prevalent in the world's most populous nation. In recent days, the Chinese capital has been blanketed in a haze, and vehicle emissions have been higher than those expected by experts. Olympic organizers fear the pollution could not only prove a nuisance to spectators but also hinder the performance of athletes if they inhale the pollutants deep into the lungs.
Up to this point, Chinese authorities have ordered many gunk-spewing factories to move out of town or shut down. On Thursday, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that officials would close 220 more factories, coal-fired power plants and steel plants in Beijing, as well as in nearby Tianjin city and surrounding Hebei province if air quality is forecast to be poor for any 48-hour period.
I've been to Beijing and other cities in China many times. I've run there. It sucks. After a run of even a moderate distance of say five or six miles, my lungs and throat ached. It felt like I had been been sucking on a tailpipe. I wish the athletes all the luck in such trying conditions.
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