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Greenhouse Gases? Global Warming? Climate Change? Everyone on the planet is somehow partially responsible for creating the problems that the earth is facing today. Hell, even the cows are to blame!

In order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in the world, first we must understand what they are. There are seven different types of greenhouse gases that are emitted throughout our nation, some of them occur naturally, some are produced by human activities and some are human made such as Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons and Sulfur hexafluoride.  Gases that are exclusively human made are considered industrial gases, that have naturally increased since the industrial revolution nearly 150 years ago. Nearly 3/4 of the gases that are produced due to human activity in the last 20 years have come from burning fossil fuels.

We aren’t the only species that’s killing our planet, there is another culprit emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; COWS! Yep it’s true, all those “happy cows” in California are aiding in killing the planet! Cows emit a massive amount of methane through belching, and a wee bit lesser amount through flatulence. And methane is indeed a greenhouse gas; therefore it is righteous to say that the amount of cows belching and farting on the planet is killing us! Why is it just cows and not dogs, cats or horses? There are several animals, including cows that belong to a family of animals called ruminants. Ruminants have four stomachs and they use their stomachs for digestion, unlike humans, that use our intestines to digest our food. The stomachs in these creatures are filled with bacteria that help aid in the digestion process, but also produce the icky gas called methane.

So, what can we do? Well, there are several solutions to the cow=methane problem.

1. Many farmers are trapping the methane that is produced by the manure that their cows are producing and converting it back into energy i.e. electricity! They are then selling the electricity back to the power utility’s grid! Brilliant! What an ingenious way to turn crap into something useful and good for the environment.

2. There is also a study being conducted by Welsh scientists that believe that by adding garlic to your cow’s diet you can reduce their methane production. Hmmm…perhaps adding pizza to your livestock’s diet could indeed aid in the lessening of the methane production of your farm. The study is still on going, however early results do indeed indicated that garlic will cut down a cows flatulence in half. Huh? Who knew?

3. Cut back on your meat consumption. I know that it will continue to keep those “happy cows” in California happy!

We know that the greenhouse emissions have grown due to humans and well…cows; we need to do our part to reduce them. I’m sure that planet will survive, however we as a species may not be able to survive on an overheated planet.

Keeping it real ~
Wind

You’ve never been Boo’d? Oh, you’re gonna love this!  This is a great Halloween tradition and it’s never too late to start a new tradition!  With the need for localization during this day and time, Boo’ing your neighbor is one of the best ways to strengthen the ties within your neighborhood.

The basic idea consists of putting together a little basket of different Halloween treats for one of your neighbors, and then they do the same thing for a different neighbor and so on… and so on… and so on.

The fun begins with a Boo-Gram!  A boo-gram is a note, more often than not; it’s a poem that you leave on your neighbor’s door with a big BOO! sign, treats for the family members and a bucket or a basket for them to prepare for the neighbor of their choice.  The sign is placed outside of the home to inform your neighbors that you have already been hit, if many people participate, by Halloween you will begin to see Boo signs lined up and down the streets of your neighborhood!

Once you get Boo’d, you must then Boo two other neighbors, just to keep the chain going.  This is always great fun for the kids when they get to chose which house gets Boo’d or if they get to ring the doorbell, leave the goodies and then run away!

If you are not very poetic, you can borrow one of my poems to start you out!

The treats are for you to enjoy as you wish
This game is quite simple: there’s very little risk

Pick two of your neighbors to pass on the BOO
Fill up their baskets with a goodie or two

Keep the BOO in your yard to proudly display
That you have been tagged this Halloween day.

You have 24 hours to join in the fun
Once two baskets are delivered the game has begun

At the end of the game you’ll finally see true
The BOO’s in yards of those that got BOO’d just like you!

This should be started no later than the middle of the month, so it may be too late to start this tradition for Halloween this year, but how about a Gobble Gram for Thanksgiving!!

Over 200 years ago the human race made the decision that machines would make life easier, and thus started the Industrial Revolution!  The need for energy to run these machines has indeed made life easier however, it has made survival harder.  OOPS!

The Industrial Revolution was the start of the need for fossil fuels and by burning these fuels we are releasing gasses into our atmosphere that is heating up our planet.  If we continue on this trend the planet may no longer be able to sustain our species.

Now, many believe that this will not happen, as the scope of the reality is too big, it’s easier just to deny the problem and maybe it will go away.  Not gonna happen!  We, as a species created this problem and we, as a species, need to correct this problem.

By using less electricity we can help solve this problem.  Solar Panels are very expensive but are becoming cheaper by the day.  There are many grants and tax incentives out there that will enable the “average Joe homeowner” to achieve the goal of converting to solar power. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website can lead you in the right direction for what is available in your state.

Practice the three R’s; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  Every time that you send garbage to the landfill you are aiding in the production of methane which is a greenhouse gas.  Use your left over vegetable cuttings for making compost or stock for soups and stews. Be creative and find other uses for little things that you are going to throw away .  An example is your toilet and towel paper rolls, I cut them down and make little seedling pots that can be placed right into the ground! Always recycle; many cities and towns have started a recycling program to make this an easy choice for you, use it!

Purchasing Electric Cars can tend to be a very expensive change.  If it is not one that you can afford, take the bus as often as you can, ride your bike up to the store or walk.  The more we use our vehicles, the more we are heating up the planet.  Plan your trips in a manner that will allow you to use less fuel.

Just by making these few simple changes we can help clean up the mess that we created, for the good of the species.

~Wind

Note:  This blog is part of  Blog Action Day 2009 .  If you have a blog and are interested in climate change join here

Due to Florida’s prominence in the exotic pet trade, many of these reptiles that were once beloved pets have escaped and are running wild through South Florida and the fragile Everglades!  Yes, it’s true….Iguana’s are EVERYWHERE!

The subtropical climate in Florida is a prime environment for these scaly herbivorous lizards to dine on your pretty petunias, reproduce and even stop traffic on A1A in the Florida Keys.  These lizards are growing to such lengths that with their dark color and dorsal spines some Floridians are even mistaking them for alligators!  Granted these may not be the smartest residents among the Florida population…but the facts remain…there has been an Iguana Invasion!

On one occasion, one of these hungry herbivores took a nibble on a 7-year old girls foot from Oakland Park, Fl.  Perhaps it mistook the child’s toe for a juicy, ripe Florida tomato, but never-the-less the young child acquired 23 stitches! This is a rare incident, typically Iguanas are not known for behaving badly and attacking humans.  They are however, ticking off most of the Florida population as they trample through the neighborhood dining on all the floral curb appeal that the residents have tried so hard to achieve.

So, what do we do?  How do we make the Iguana be gonna?  First off, Don’t Panic!  Really…it’s just an iguana…they haven’t come to steal your worldly possessions, kidnap your children or con you out of your bank account, they’re hungry…they’re looking for your flowers.  Therefore, the obvious solution is don’t plant flowers and get a dog!  Problem solved!

Keeping it real!
Wind

In honor of reestablishing my fear of the ocean, I have been watching Sharks devour people, pets and well…car tires for the last few days. However, one thing that caught my attention during one of the many documentaries that I have watched over the last few nights, with my mouth wide open, horrorstruck, was the fact that until 1916 there were no known human shark attacks!

This means that in less than 100 years, we as humans have managed to nearly wipe this creature off the planet.  Nice work!  The documentary went on to say that the rising number of shark attacks is due to the rising number of people swimming in the ocean. ok…maybe it’s me, but common sense tells me that if there is something in the water that is larger than a condo and thinks of you as a noonday snack, stay out of the water!

The documentaries that I have been watching are all crying out for humans and sharks to play nicely together…if this task is even possible (and I don’t think that it is), the first step would be for us to stop eating each other and find other ways to cohabitate; it’s in the best interest for the survival of BOTH species!. But in truth, I don’t think that either one of the species knows how to play nice, the only answer is for both of us to find different friends and just stay away from each other.

Keeping it real ~

Wind

Today is the longest day of the year!  This day is known by many names; Summer Solstice, Mid-Summers, Litha and the list goes on.  Come tomorrow, the days will start to get shorter as the sun will begin it’s yearly descent.  With the heat index peaking this last week, there is no doubt in my mind that the sun is at the height of its power.

There was a time years ago, when our ancestors weren’t blessed with things such as clocks, calendars or computers to remind them of the dates and the times of the year.  Alarms didn’t ring to let them know that it was a new holiday, they relied on the sun, moon and stars to guide their way through the wheel of the year.

Mid-Summers Day was a time of celebration; a time to rejoice in anticipation of the cooler days ahead and the upcoming harvests.  Those times have long since passed; we have forgotten to honor these changes in the earth.  We as a society celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Valentines Day, holidays that encompass only ourselves and not the planet that we live upon; the planet that provides us the many resources that we need to survive as a people. As we have forgotten to honor the Mother Earth, she will soon be unable to provide for us.

In honor of the Summer Solstice I have included a poem that was written by author, poet and most importantly, friend, Lori Lake .  It is reminder of our need to re-connect with the planet before its too late…

Unnatural Rhythms

Upon the wings of intellect
Which soar across the left side sky,
So high above the heart of Earth
It does not seek to unify.

 To increase productivity,
Unnatural rhythms we direct.
Its motion churns relentlessly,
Upon its speed we disconnect.

 Forgotten rhythms of the Moon,
And seasons with their solstices.
Nature’s cycles once in tune,
Ignored with no condolences.

 The sound of nature’s wind and sea;
The heartbeat of the Earth denied.
Lost organic rhythms be,
For now we can’t identify.

 Find the time to re-connect
Through open heart & quiet mind.
Organic rhythms re-attune,
A harmony that you may find. ~

Copyright 2007 - Lori Lake

Blessed Mid-Summers to all!

~Wind

Often I have thought about living on my own tropical island away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday constrictions of living within a society. However, the cost of being able to purchase my very own island; far outweighs dream.

Richie Sowa, a carpenter, eco-pioneer and artist from Britain, shared this same dream of mine.  The difference is he followed his dream, and built his very own tropical island paradise!  In 1998, Richie began collecting plastic bottles off the coast of Mexico and built an island structure using the bottles to keep the island afloat!

His completely self-sustaining island consists of a two story home, a solar oven, a self-composting toilet and his own food garden!  Well, here watch this video and see for yourself:

Wow!  I become more and more impressed every time I watch the video.  What a great way to leave your mark on the world…by not leaving a mark on the world…

~Wind

If you haven’t witnessed this display of ninja-like reflexes; I thought I would share!

The fact that this has become big news seems to have Americans up in arms! After reading the comments in the St. Petersburg Times  this morning, it reminded me of how much Americans just like to bitch!

Here’s an example of the verbal diarrhea that was spewed forth as one of the comments that I read this morning. “Was thinking the same thing as John. Economy is in shambles, Iran is on the verge of civil war, North Korea is ready to shoot missiles at us but the paper put a story on the front page about a fly. God save us all.”

Oh for the love of the Gods! Lighten up! Of course this isn’t the biggest story in the news, but I must say that it is quite an impressive feat! Have you every tried to kill a fly with your bare hands? No easy task, I’ll tell ya’! It’s a funny story and with all the sadness and bad news in the world, couldn’t we all use a laugh? Honestly?

According to the PETA website, “Believe it or not, we’ve actually been contacted by multiple media outlets wanting to know PETA’s official response to the executive insect execution.” Oh My God! Are you serious?!?! Even PETA is walking on eggshells on this one! PETA’s response was this… “In a nutshell, our position is this: He isn’t the Buddha, he’s a human being, and human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act.” This response tells me that PETA thinks it is ridiculous as well,  but does not want to upset any of their sensitive followers and has to smooth this one over. In which case, they sent the president a gift:   a Katcha Bug™ Humane Bug Catcher . My guess is that this gift was more to stroke the pettiness of some of their followers than anything else.

Let’s think about this for just second; what exactly was the fly’s reason for landing on our Commander and Chief? hmmm…my guess, is to throw up, eat it’s own vomit and possibly lay eggs for it’s little maggot offspring to hatch on his finely pressed attire!! EWWW!

Anyone who has read my blog, knows that I love all animals, I pride myself in being a speaker for the rights of our fine furry friends, but come on people it was a FLY!!!

~Wind

 
Nothing like a Day at the Beach

Last week Air France flight 447 disappeared near Brazil, pieces of the plane were located in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, according to investigators, but alas what Brazilian officials believed to be pieces of the missing flight turned out to be nothing but…and I quote “run of the mill ocean trash”!

Scientist claim that most of the ocean trash is small plastic items, however if “run of the mill ocean trash” can be mistaken for airplane parts, that leads me to believe that there are some pretty large “run of the mill” garbage floating around!  This garbage tends to collect and gather in patches called gyres, where the current of oceans swirl.

Currently, there are around six major trash-collecting gyres in the oceans!  In honor of the first U.N. sanctioned World Oceans Day, celebrate by becoming an active advocate for our oceans.

Reducing our carbon footprint by lessening our use of fossil fuels will lower the acidity in the oceans which in turn will help save the coral reefs and the entire ecosystem.

Be aware of your use of plastic products, especially the disposal of them.  Plastic is not only the main ingredient in these gyres, but they are killers of ocean life as well.  Plastic is often mistaken as food to sea turtles, ocean birds and other marine mammals, the substance causes problems in their digestive system that can cause the animals to starve or choke.

The problems that are endangering our oceans today, started with the human race, let it end with it!

Spreading the word…

~Wind

While, considering that this could possibly be the last century of our civilization is not something that anyone wants to think about, according to recent scientific research, it is something we really need to put into forethought.

Tonight is a two hour television debut called Earth 2100 showing on ABC at 9:00 p.m., hosted by Bob Woodruff.  It will take us through the worst case scenario of the next century, through population growth, resource depletion and climate change, make no mistake during this crisis the Earth will survive, however people may not!

It is a real possibility that we will be the cause of our very own extinction, by depleting our own resources through population growth we well be forcing our own species to battle itself for survival. If we continue on the road that we are on, eventually we will reach the point of no return.

Earth 2100 will give us an unusual look into the future, while providing ideas on what we can do to stop our own extinction.  Mother Nature has always found a way to thin the masses, why would humans be any different?

Check out Earth 2100 tonight, and get back with me and let me know what you think!

~Wind