Ask any Polar bear and it will tell you.
The ice caps at both poles are melting, releasing fresh water into the ocean; meanwhile, glaciers recede at unprecedented rates. We can only speculate on the overall effect this will have, but global warming is our new reality.
Carbon is being released into our atmosphere at unprecedented rates, both man-made and natural, and is responsible for speeding this phenomenon along. Whether you weigh in on the discussion or not, you are included in the results as space ship Earth is the only one we’ve got.
Finding ways to make ourselves carbon neutral must become a priority. Economics seem a distant concern while the planet’s temperature is rising.
While a degree or two difference seems pleasant enough on human skin, it is far more significant to an organism like a planet. The recent shortening of our coldest winter temperatures over a period of time is responsible for the cascading effect of waking up our little sleeping beauty – the pine beetle – from its normal winter siesta causing all sorts of damage to our Canadian forests, and that was just one bug.
Another degree or two rising and we can expect chaos on a very unpleasant scale.
Einstein said, “We can’t fix a problem at the same level of thinking that created it.”
So carrying on with business as usual just won’t do.
What can we do then to reduce or neutralize our carbon use, and create the kind of world we want to live in?
All around the world there are examples of people lowering their carbon footprint. If we avail ourselves of what’s out there, and set our minds to it there is no reason we can’t do the same.
“Towns in Transition” is a grassroots worldwide movement committed to working with any community interested in transitioning away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Some examples are as follows:
De-centralize the grid with clean and renewable energy such as solar or wind. Wikipedia shows there are 15 wind farms across Canada, so the idea is taking off no pun intended.
Become locavores. Producing, selling or eating from local organic sources gives us the chance to vote with our dollars three meals a day. Making a commitment to eating locally enables us to boost the area’s economy, lower our reliance on food grown with oil-based insecticides, while eliminating the transport of groceries from the other side of the planet.
Build energy-efficient earthen homes. Earthships, strawbale, cob, cordwood are a few of the choices among earth-friendly homes that steward our resources and downsize our energy consumption. The Greater World Earthship Community in Taos, New Mexico illustrates this beautifully living 100 per cent off the grid and carbon free.
Transportation: Buy an electric car. Join a ride-share program or car pool. In the cities, use public sky trains, the bike paths or walk. Transform your diesel engine to burn bio oil, or simply quit idling the car.
Our dependence upon fossil fuels must be addressed. The carbon we are spewing into our atmosphere for the privilege of cheap energy is not worth the overall price we will pay if we destroy the delicate balance of our planet’s eco systems.
Just ask the Polar bears.
Nicole Chayka is a 100 Mile House Free Press reader.
