Can you believe some folks still think climate change is just a matter of old hooey?
I mean, think of where you happen to live and just tell me if your surroundings and temperatures have changed over the last few years? Does it feel temporary? Or do you have a feeling that you can expect a “different” season, summer or winter this year? I’m willing to bet you’ll answer yes to the latter. |
In our area suddenly you couldn’t find a fan in the store for love or money. Portable air conditioners were regarded as unknown and therefore to be treated with suspicion. After all, how would those things actually make a difference in the sweltering heat of a house facing west? Besides, we live in a very temperate climate. Melty heat like that would only occur for a week at most. That’s what we thought.
The scientists say it’s climate change that’s doing it. More frequent and extended drought, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and put a full stop on people's jobs and their communities.
It makes me more and more grateful not to be a sea creature. Imagine how helpless it would be to know you had to breathe through your gills, knowing how polluted your water is, how you’re sucking up micro-plastics, chemicals and all kinds of medications. It’s just overwhelming. Yes, and there’s the matter of water warming too. No temperature adjustment; if you’re a fish you’re stuck with whatever it is.
It’s good to remember you, as a person are at the top of the food chain, and that has its advantages, but there are also some not-so-nice things about being in this position.
As those in the lesser chain eat, and then get eaten in turn, the pollution becomes ever more concentrated. So you can say “wild” all you like, and often “grass fed” too, but it doesn’t change the fact you’re still eating fish, seafood and animals that have munched on our human-caused pollution. Oh yes, and a big one that is just starting to enter the food chain - and us - is the plastic micro-beads in so many of our products. You can see them in just about everything now. They are there to add weight for the manufacturers. Less product weight equals more profit for them.
- Knowledge is king. Learn all you can about this topic.
- Donate to bona fide scientific research.
- Use less electricity. Make sure your light bulbs are LED. Control your room temperature.
- Reduce your spending. Buy good clothes, even at thrift stores, and make them last.
- Make a food menu each week. Buy just what you need for it. Forget about bulk buying, unless you have a large family.
- Use leftovers for new meals. Try to reduce throwing away food.
- Buy local whenever possible.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables, and cut down on meat. It costs more to produce meat.
- Skip long-distance air trips. They cause huge pollution. Not only that, you still have to realize they and you are all still very vulnerable to Covid-19.
Our world is in a desperate situation. I know it seems that the lonely little voices speaking out about this won’t make a difference. But each voice does have the potential to do so.
Have you noticed signs of climate change? Do you have a way you can do your share to ease it? Feel free to share it in the comments below. You can use any name you want.