Where to begin...

Where to begin, indeed? I'm not sure, so I'll just get to the heart of the matter: as many of you folks know, we are in the midst of a global crisis: global warming, which has led to climate change, which could very well lead to the destruction of the human race...



After seeing Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, I realized I needed to do more to get my butt in gear about the environment (in general) and global warming (in particular). I became more conscious about the energy I used (e.g. stopped washing clothes in hot water, limited my purchases of frozen food and packaging, bought more efficient light bulbs); I began shopping at our local farmers market regularly and also increased buying organic; I began taking public transportation exclusively to work...



But it took me until last month during my college reunion to really take larger, pro-active steps to reduce my own C02 emissions as well as start getting politically active about it. Basically, I got scared out of my wits during the keynote speaker presentation by David Orr, Professor of Environmental Studies at Oberlin College. In his presentation, among other things, was the assertion that we have about a 10-year window of opportunity to put the brakes on global warming. If we don't get our shizit together by then, we'll have flipped the switch of no return, and a "runaway effect" will commence. Basically, we'll be fried. Literally.

So. What to do? I immediately began a two-pronged approach of 1) Education and 2) Action. First, I began educating myself. Dude, I am HUNGRY for knowledge on global warming, climate change and the environment in general. I now realize that this whole global warming thing, although within my consciousness, has remained at the periphery of it, and I needed to take responsibility on educating myself on the complexity, seriousness and urgency of it all. So I began reading a couple amazing books to start: The Weather Makers, by Tim Flannery; The Sustainability Revolution, by Andres Edwards; and Big Coal: the dirty secret behind America's Energy Future, by Jeff Goodell. I'm also constantly online reading NYTimes coverage of anything remotely environmental as well as researching environmental organizations (such as National Environmental Trust; David Suzuki Foundation) and policies and talking to other folks who can educate me.

Second, I began taking the actions of: 1-further reducing my Co2 emissions and 2-becoming politically active. So far for step 1: I have now bought "carbon-free" light-bulbs (see thebulb.com) to replace every light bulb in our home and garden. I have also scheduled appointments to get estimates for installing solar-powered water heating as well as solar-powered electricity at our house. I am making plans to replace all of our appliances with energy efficient ones.

And for step 2: I've emailed several politicians including my congressional representative (Barbara Lee), mayor (Ron Dellums), House Speaker (Nancy Pelosi) and signed the Moveon.org petition urging congress to vote NO on COAL SUBSIDIES. (Plus I emailed a bunch of you out there to sign the petition by Moveon.org as well; you know who you are!) And I plan to increase my political activity by joining local action committees and perhaps national ones.

Finally, step 2 brings me to this blog: reaching out to YOU ALL OUT THERE, for dialogue, support, information and education. I want this blog to be both an educational/activist tool for myself and others, as well as a tool to monitor my own progress and help hold myself accountable for my actions/non-actions. What better way to do that than to go public?

So... in closing to this very long introduction.... I hope that this blog will serve you as well as me in becoming one more voice in the call for sustainable development and in combatting the climate crisis. Therefore, it is my hope to hear from YOU! Let me know what you and others you know, are doing to help stabilize our planet, and hopefully heal it for the generations to come.

Talk to you soon.
-Alison