What can YOU do?

So, we've spent this unit discussing the atmosphere as a resource, and some of the problems associated with our use of it as a dumping ground for our various activities.

The Kyoto protocol is an international agreement towards reducing GHG emissions, but the point was made during the debate that each country's goals are just that: GOALS. Kyoto leaves it up to each country the process by which they meet their goals, whether through actual reduction of GHGs, or through the purchase of emission credits.

But what can WE do? How can we as individuals make an impact on GHG emissions? Although we are each responsible on average for emitting only about 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, can't we reduce this at all?

Research as many ways as possible people can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by modifying their personal lives. Consider not just your own actions, but the actions of people around you... your friends, relatives, co-workers, and so on.

Ozone Hole Causes Global Warming!?

Waaaaay back in August, 2006 (ok, it wasn't that long ago, but sometimes it seems like a long time ago), David Suzuki himself wrote an article that you can find on enn.com, or you can just click here.

In the article, David (I like to think that if I met Mr. Suzuki, we could be on a first name basis) waxes philosophic on the purpose of focus groups, and in particular, one focus group that investigates how well the public understands global warming and climate change.

So how well do you know climate change? Is your understanding on par, above, or below the average joe? Check it out!

p.s. this is not for a blog entry, but for your own interest.

p.p.s No, Emerson, I'm not going to use the Suzuki picture you'd like me to use.

Your Footprint

"Out of sight, out of mind" goes the old saying, and we know that it is largely true. Of course, we have friendly reminders, like grandparents who remind you that there are children starving in Ethiopia, so clean your plate young man!

On a grander scale, though, the old adage still holds true. Cities can take up a lot of space, and you can fit a lot of people in them, but the ecological impact of all those people is hardly limited to the geographical boundaries of that city.

Even your own household. What must we think when we are kids and we throw garbage away? Where does it go? For all intents and purposes, once the garbage bag is tossed in the garbage truck and whisked away, it has blinked out of existence altogether. But of course that's not true, and the same goes for the resources we intake, and the wastes we pour out.

The idea of an 'Ecological Footprint' is to try and remember that our households affects the environment far beyond everyday experience.

Go to myfootprint.org, and find out what your ecological footprint is. Then, head over to this website to find out your lifestyle footprint. In your blog, post the results of your footprints so everyone can check it out, and suggest some ways that you might be able to reduce your footprint.

Canadian Carbon Tax

Another tax!?!? Awwwwwwww... :(

Ok, hilarity aside, Canada has been tossing around the idea of a 'Carbon Tax' in the House of Commons, lately. But the Conservatives, and their minister of the environment, the Hon. John Baird are certainly making it clear that they do NOT support a carbon tax! David McGuinty (yes, THAT McGuinty... he's the brother of Ontario premiere Dalton McGuinty) exchanged some words with Mr. Baird, to which he responded:

"We don't sit around the cabinet dreaming up ways to increase taxes," Baird said, taking a shot at McGuinty's brother, Dalton, who is premier of Ontario. "That's certainly more common in the McGuinty family than the Harper cabinet."

Despite what the politicians say, the economists are now weighing on this issue. The Globe and Mail reports that Don Drummond, chief economist of Toronto-Dominion Bank, has released a report that states he believes a well-designed carbon tax is the answer to Canada's pollution woes. But he doesn't just think that a tax should be thrown out there as a disincentive tactic. He states that it should be "revenue neutral", and would shift tax to other areas, rather than just being another money grab by the government.

So what do you think? Is it a good idea? In your blog, make a post that summarizes your opinion of a carbon tax here in Canada and why you think it is a good, or bad idea. Be sure to support your opinion with at least 3 links to other websites!

Parasitic Energy

Let's face it, we take the energy available to us for granted. Although we grumble at the pumps when paying ever increasing prices for gasoline in order to move us around, at the same time, many people spend hours a week on stationary exercise machines, frittering away precious energy in order to burn off the excess energy from the food we consume.

In Hong Kong, one person is doing something about it. By hooking up the gym equipment to a battery, the gym is able to harness the energy produced by its customers in order to power the lights and tv's!

Not only that, but some people have plans to utilize energy produced by people in their everyday lives in creative ways. Devices that capture the energy of a person in their everyday, regular routines has been dubbed 'Parasitic' generators. Pretty cool!

Read all about it here.