My Green Life

Scientists warn that sea levels could rise 7-23 inches by 2100. Droughts will become more widespread . Hurricanes will intensify. People will be displaced from their homes. I find it difficult to keep an optimistic disposition while being bombarded by the media’s warning about global warming, melting glaciers, rising water levels, and a worldwide elimination of species. Forecasters predict that 2008 will be one of the warmest years despite the fact that the La Nina effect will be more prevalent. La Nina brings colder waters from the depth of the oceans to the surface which would hypothetically produce a cooler climate. These warnings are not meant to cast a shadow of fear on the reader. Instead, it is hoped that this article will shed a light of “cautious enthusiasm” on the subject at hand.

Instead of a doomsday attitude, I marvel at the technology that is just waiting to break out onto the battlefield. Photovoltaic production is one of the world’s fastest growing energy sources, doubling every two years. Solar energy can now be harnessed through a thin layer of ink that is 1/10 the thickness of a human hair, and it can produce a watt of energy in the near future for under a dollar. No longer will solar energy be limited to a bulky apparatus placed on your roof. Utilizing geothermal energy is also becoming more feasible, and buses in Portland, OR run on biodiesel.

Strict environmental enforcement is happening abroad as well. China will begin its ban on the use and production of plastic bags in stores beginning in June, 2008. This is in response to the 3 billion plastic bags passed out daily that require 5 million tons of crude oil to be refined. The Australian government can now boast about its success in deterring Japanese “scientists” from killing 50 humpbacks and 1,000 other whales in the name of scientific research.

Environmental organizations and governments have such a profound impact on what happens to our world, but individuals at home can also determine the fate of the planet. Changing one light bulb to a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) can produce dramatic results if everyone is aware and motivated. The best part about environmental sustainability is that it does not cost more… it costs less. Changing to a CFL may cost you a buck or more upfront, but it will save you one-third of the energy therefore reducing pollution in the long-run. Maybe that is our problem as a whole. We look for instant and easy weight loss, winning the lottery, and quick and cheap environmental fixes. I do believe that our actions will improve before it is too late, but I do not think that it will come without hard work and some changes to the standard of living. I welcome this challenge because it will only make us stronger and more refined. It is also my belief that good can be found in every situation. Maybe the good that will come of these issues is the world connecting and cooperating like we’ve never experienced before. Maybe there will no longer be wars over oil because each country can be independently sustainable. Maybe…