Pass it on!

Blogging during English 112 has been a pleasant alternative to formal writing for me. Although I was challenged at times due to my inferior computer skills, I persisted and became more competent. Hyper linking to other sites which corroborate key points really sends a message to readers. Also, the ability to receive feedback and correspond with other like minded individuals through the comments section of blogs has been fun. I will recommend to my eldest sons Boy Scout leader we establish a blog to use as an online guide for planning outdoor activities. Perhaps having an online media tool will encourage interaction by both kids and parents and lead to better organization. It seems ironic that I sit in front of computer typing away when I normally would prefer to be anywhere else.
As an avid outdoorsman, I take a genuine interest in our environment. It's not about catching a big fish, or shooting a deer or other game animal. My philosophy is you can’t live your life in front of a television set so go outside! Whether you play sports, enjoy bicycling, or just take an afternoon walk in the park with your dog, you should do what you can to safeguard the great outdoors.

Research for my posts has made me aware of the adverse environmental impact we humans have made on our planet. Further, I have learned there are paths we can walk to reduce our footprint on our environment. In previous blogs I have touched on numerous ways we can make a difference to bolster our environment. For example, anyone can replace inefficient light bulbs with economical fluorescent ones and recycle reusable items. Ultimately, the most powerful tool we can use to crack down on air pollution is voting. However, before you cast your ballot get the facts on the candidates. To find out who is currently in office click here and type in your zip code. This will give you your politicians email address and other contact info. Communicate with your congressmen or women. Also, contact the local newspaper. You have strong weapons at your disposal. The bottom line remains state and federal government control the future of the air we breathe, but elected officials are your voice. Your vote can make a difference.

I am a realist when it comes to the winds of change. I know I have been beating a drum of gloom and doom in some of my posts. This was to catch my reader’s attention and hopefully spark an interest. Just like a child, we must crawl before we walk, and walk before we run. Unless I am mistaken, the end of the world isn't predetermined. We have the time and resources available to clean up our environment. All it takes is a little effort on our part to start the ball rolling. Let’s give our children a clean tomorrow.

Small Town, Big Steps!

Unlike most areas of our country, Reynolds, Indiana is taking a serious approach to becoming independent of fossil fuels. As a result, Reynolds has been nicknamed Bio-Town USA. This town has set an action plan in place to become environmentally friendly. "The long term expectation of the BioTown, USA, project is to completely meet all the energy needs of Reynolds via biorenewable resources, including electricity, natural gas replacement, and transportation fuel. Meeting the energy needs of this town with renewable sources will be the first of its kind in the world, while using environmentally friendly technologies that will convert animal and human waste to biogas, which translates into energy" (Anonymous, n.d.). Now, I understand converting human and animal excrement into fuel sounds farfetched, but apparently there is technology available to do so.
In addition, the at least one gas station in town now sells ethanol and biodiesel. Residents are receiving incentives from General Motors to purchase flex fuel vehicles. I understand purchasing a new, flex fuel vehicle isn’t an option for most of us, but it sounds feasible if you are in the market for a new car.

Moreover, Wal-Mart has offered residents of the 47980 zip code five free fluorescent light bulbs. Now, even I was a skeptic concerning the impact fluorescent bulbs have on your light bill until reading, "One bulb can make a lot of difference," by Abby Lietz. In her column she states, “A single 15 watt GE compact fluorescent light bulb can save up to $36 a year in energy costs, compared to using a 60 watt incandescent bulb, and uses up to 75 percent less energy on top of lasting about eight times as long.” This was a real eye opener for me; I thought fluorescent bulbs were just nice to have and trendy.
I plan to watch Bio Town closely to see if they really do take animal waste and convert it into natural gas. It is nice to see there are others concerned about our environment and willing to take steps to conserve energy and break away from foreign oil.

References

Anonymous, (n.d.). Bio Town, USA. Retrieved November 28, 2006, from Indiana Office of Energy and Defense Development Web site: http://www.in.gov/energy/biotown/

Clean Coal?

Years ago, I lived with my parents in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Winters here were cold to brutal. Our house was poorly insulated and had a coal burning furnace for heat. I distinctly remember how the snow surrounding our home was dirty from coal soot and ash. Even as a child, I thought of coal as a dirty fuel. My parents eventually replaced the coal furnace with an oil burning one while I was in elementary school. Chiefly this was done to eliminate the chore of firing the coal furnace in the middle of the night, rather than to reduce pollution. Currently, there are approximately 17,000 factories, refineries and power plants that burn coal to produce products or generate electricity. To see how a coal burning power plant affects the air you breathe and contributes to greenhouse gasses, air pollution, and global warming click here.
Recently, I heard about a newly rekindled technology called coal gasification. This is a process that has been on the back burner for many years because natural gas and petroleum products were considered less costly. With the cost of crude oil skyrocketing, coal is getting a second look. Coal is the cheapest and most abundant fossil fuel found in the United States. It is also the largest polluter when burned to produce electrical power. Coal gasification doesn’t incinerate the coal like conventional combustion type power plants do. “A gasifier converts hydrocarbon feedstock into gaseous components by applying heat under pressure in the presence of steam” (Anonymous, 2006).This technology doesn’t eliminate all pollutants derived from using coal, but it significantly reduces them to levels which are more environmentally friendly and meet the Clean Air Act requirements.
I never thought I would be a staunch promoter of coal, but I now believe in its virtues.

References

Anonymous, (2006, June 27). How coal gasification power plants work. Retrieved November 28, 2006, from US Department of Energy Web site:

Mind boggling

I have spent a considerable amount of time mulling over the fate of my blog, and where this collection of posts will lead me. The article I composed that strikes me as being the most controversial deals with Atomic Energy. This is the least utilized and most abundant resource available to the United States. The method to my madness is simple-why not clean up our act with a Nuclear Reactor? There are numerous reasons I have chosen this topic for my analysis paper. First and foremost, nuclear power is conflict-ridden and gets both good and bad reviews.

Additionally, it doesn't cause air pollution and would help reduce global warming. Moreover, the idea of being able to cut our dependence on fossil fuels is intriguing.

The bottom line is nuclear power fascinates me. I have the utmost confidence that if the United States decides to go full speed ahead with atomic energy and congress approves funding for new nuclear power plants, we have the technology to keep the American people safe. We currently have 109 Nuclear power plants spread around our country now! I am aware of the problems associated with spent nuclear fuel rods. By the same token, if we can clone a sheep or cat surely we can overcome this obstacle.

Nuclear power presents an opportunity for us to help numerous species coexist with mankind by reducing air pollution and decreasing the effects of global warming. We, humans, have annihilated numerous types of flora and fauna through habitat destruction, market hunting, initiating climatic change, and an all out senseless slaughter. We can’t reincarnate what has been lost, but we can use the technology at hand to preserve what remains.

Make a difference!

Recently, I was asked how we can reduce air pollution to slow global warming. Putting the brakes on global warming is a monumental task that is indeed global. This is a worldwide problem. But as individuals, we can make a difference if we follow some simple steps:

Recycle, recycle, and recycle! I recycle aluminum cans, newspapers, and plastics, it is soooo easy. This may sound trivial but keep in mind the amount of trash that goes into landfills. Plastics and aluminum do not compost. Recycling even a portion of this garbage across the country helps our environment. If you are wondering how recycling ties into air pollution, if everyone recycled, we wouldn't have to mine or remove as much raw materials from the earth. This would reduce the pollutants being spewed into our air by everything from mining equipment to chainsaws to log skidders. Recycling newspapers reduces the number of trees being logged for paper products. Trees produce oxygen that benefits us all.

Another way you can make a difference is by conserving energy at home and in the office. This is an easy thing to do that is often overlooked. If you leave a room, turn off the light switch. I am not saying to live in the dark, just try to live in moderation.

Finally, vote for politicians that have a history of, or profess to, protect the environment. By and large, the United States Government has the reins when it comes to the air we breathe and global warming. “The U.S. government provides about $25 billion in annual subsidies to fossil-fuel industries.” (Michael Grunwald, in Warming to the Inconvient Facts, 2006,2) As long we elect politicians that are the lapdogs of fossil fuel companies and automakers, little will be done to combat global warming. Take the initiative! Research candidates on the internet or in the newspaper, then take a stand and vote.

References

Grunwald, Michael (2006) November 21, 2006 Warming tothe Inconvient Facts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/21/AR2006072101376.html

Nuclear Power, friend or foe?

The Bush Administration's top dog, good old Dick, has been promoting Atomic Energy since 2001. This is a big leap forward for Nuclear Power, which has been ill favored in the United States do to the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. Another black eye for Atomic power was the Chernobyl catastrophe Russia experienced in 1986.

I for one believe it is high time we pursue this underutilized energy source aggressively.
Since Three Mile Island, safety has been a priority of the Atomic Energy Commission. To corroborate this, there has not been even one documented case of nuclear power failure in the last 20 years.
Currently the United States has over 100 nuclear power plants that produce approximately 20% of our country’s energy. Good old Dick needs a pat on the head for proposing we build a minimum of 5 new nuclear power plants each year for an infinite number of years.
If you are concerned about having a nuclear power plant being built in your backyard, relax, you probably live an hour or two from one already. Hell, 5000 sailors live on aircraft carriers and these ships are powered by atomic energy. They aren't scared!

The biggest hurdle for the proponents of atomic energy remains, what to do with the hazardous materials? These are spent fuel rods and nuclear waste. Many countries primary solution is to reprocess spent fuel rods. This reclamation process reduces the amount of nuclear waste and recharges spent fuel rods to a useful capacity, albeit a diminished one. The remaining waste materials are stored indefinitely in the hope that time will diminish their potency. President Jimmie Carter banned the reprocessing of nuclear waste in the U.S. during his term as president. Maybe he should have concentrated his efforts on growing peanuts.
In closing, rather than drill for oil or natural gas in the Rocky Mountains or on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, lets clean up our act closer to home with Atomic Energy.

The Good, The Bad, and The Bush.

George W. Bush: oil man, rancher, governor, now President of the United States has made many decisions which directly affect our environment.
Just days prior to the release of the energy bill last year, the Environmental Protection Agency withheld an annual report on automobile fuel efficiency. A bootleg copy of the missing report slipped through the cracks and made the news. I can’t for the life of me understand why the Bush Administration authorized automakers to build new cars and trucks that have greater fuel consumption than similar vehicles built in the 1980’s. Roughly 40 percent of our country’s oil is used to fuel automobiles. You don't need to be a scientist to put 2 and 2 together and realize worse fuel economy equals more emissions. More emmisions means more pollution.
Another instance of environmental subterfuge used by the Bush Administration took place in 2004. Dr. James E. Hansen who is a climate expert and the director of the NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies blew the whistle on George and Co. for deliberately adjusting news releases concerning global warming. Furthermore, they rejected scientific evidence that has shown that global temperatures are rising from air pollution. This blanket of smog covers the Earth trapping in heat which ultimately raises temperatures, melts glaciers, raises sea levels, and produces climatic change. It is a shame our country is the largest contributer to global warming and our legislature ignores the signs.
In closing, it is a sad truth that our President has been bought by some of our country’s biggest polluters. These dirty birds are power companies that have donated 6.6 million for the President and the Republican National Committee according to Public Citizen. These funds directly correspond to a reduction in The Clean Air Act which has allowed power companies to spew more smokestack emissions.

Forget the whales, save the beach.

As an avid beachcomber and sun lover, nothing ignites my temper more than the polluting of our oceans. I enjoy visiting the Crystal Coast of North Carolina and lived in Hawaii from 1995-1998. A tranquil day at the beach is almost always interrupted by either trash washing in with the tide, or bubba (the crusty old smoker,) that grinds his or her cigarette or cigar out in the sand then deposits it there like compost. I feel like shaking the daylights out of these idiots I mean smokers, but do not want to embarrass my wife, or make matters worse by getting arrested for assault. Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter found on the beaches worldwide. Click here to view this tragedy. To add insult to injury, trash cans are conveniently located at all public beach access areas in my home state of North Carolina. I make it a point to pick up any nearby trash surrounding my family whenever I need to use the trash receptacle. This restores the small piece of real estate my kids play on to a pristine location. The beach is a beautiful place if people take care of it.
Another sad truth is the mountains of trash deposited in our oceans by ships. Ships are allowed to dump trash approximately 50 miles out to sea. However, it is supposed to be biodegradable materials only. The honor system is in effect here.
In closing, the most common cause of litter found in our oceans or lying about scattered on the beach is from runoff. This is trash which was discarded by people and ended up in sewers that eventually dump into the ocean. This trash not only pollutes our marine sanctuaries, but can carry deadly organisms from one area of the world to another endangering marine life.
I hope if nothing else, any smokers out there that read my blog clean up their act and dispose of their butts properly.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

As an avid outdoors person, I have visited some of the most beautiful places the United States has to offer. The majority of these are either state or national parks which are protected from development and litter. Unfortunately, these pristine areas are not safeguarded from air pollution. Since my childhood, I have trekked numerous mountain trails with my father and relish the wilderness and escape from everyday life. However, there is no escaping affects from urban smog. This link doesn't specify as to the source of the so called (haze,) but an educated guess would point to Los Angeles. People in metropolitan areas occasionally associate haze with the hot, stifling, dog days of summer. This is a sad misconception. Haze is air pollution any way you slice it.
A lovely place which I enjoy taking my family to is The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The Smokies are sandwiched between Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is a biogenetically diverse wonderland which is home to 130 tree species and 65 different types of mammals. Yet, all the trees in the park cannot filter out the pollutants which block out the sun and destroy the mountain views. The major contributing factor of smog here is 13 coal powered electric plants that surround the park and were grandfathered in prior to the Clean Air Act of 1970. This situation has to change.
Smog is here to stay and is the fruit of our labor. Whether from automobile exhaust commuting to work or industrial pollution at the jobsite, we all contribute. It is our job to take steps to reduce the footprint we contribute to air pollution and elect officials that lead the charge.

Eye Opener.

Recently, I moved from a small town in North Carolina to the urban sprawl outside the Washington D.C. Moving here wasn’t something I chose to do, but was required to do by accepting a promotion at my job. I am an easy going, outdoorsy kind of guy that has experienced a serious change of pace with the D.C. area. I was a rookie when it came to driving in congested traffic prior to my move. The gridlock on our roads is unbelievable, to see the stats click here. I empathize with newcomers to the area trying to navigate with a map. Most Washingtonians drive 10 miles per hour or more over the speed limit and don’t be the poor soul that gets in their way. The number of vehicles on the road in the D.C. area is staggering. It didn’t hit me until I was jogging one morning how much carbon monoxide is being pumped into the air by automobiles. I inhaled more car exhaust on my 3 mile jog than I have probably experienced in my lifetime. This and an article I recently read in Time Magazine "Global Warming, Be Worried, Be Very Worried," has prompted me take an interest in pollution and how it contributes to global warming.
I believe one person can make a difference in our world, and former Vice President Al Gore is bringing his struggle for the environment to DVD November 21st. Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth," is his way of spreading the word about Global Warming. Even if you are skeptical towards Global Warming, I encourage you to view the movie trailer here. I hope my weekly posts will encourage others to take a stand toward making our world a cleaner place to live and breathe.