One YouTube channel I follow is "Astrum Earth". I have grown to appreciate the no-nonsense approach to explaining the science of various issues.
In this video, AE's Alex McColgan walks us through how we are losing the battle over climate change. It IS a 2x4 between the eyes, though for anyone who as been an advocate of environmental science, this is more of a "I told you so".
Essentially, the worst offenders are abdicating resolving climate change remediation to us; the individuals - not relying on the worst offenders to implement changes.
Alex also outlines that the climate experts are prescribing that the Earth will need to pass that 1.5 degree C threshold in order to turn things around... IF the population can finally get on board. Not reassuring.
Our land.
Our wake-up call came two months after we moved into our home in 2004. Our neighborhood was declared a part of a larger "Superfund Site" because of toxic fill was used in the 1980's when storm drains were installed at the bottom of our street. Our home is located up 150 feet in elevation from hardest hit areas, but they still put our lot on the map. We had several years of soil testing run to determine if the ground contamination found it's way to us (thankfully, it had not). Driving down our hill, we could see trees throughout oozing sap that was tainted turquoise blue from the arsenic and mercury leeching into the ground. Some homes were abandoned - worthless to the home owners. It took the State many years to mitigate the contamination, and ultimately they did. The properties were cleaned up - consisting of removing feet of soil down to the rock layer below, the trees removed and replaced. Reparations made to the people who stuck it out. We do not have any data on the health impacts, but up the slope where our home is, I saw signs of recovery - amphibians. Salamanders! Started seeing them a decade ago; under planters and rocks where the soil was damp. If this most fragile of species is thriving, then I knew we were safe.
Stewardship.
Over these past years, we have worked to get our lives about as carbon neutral and planet friendly as we can make it; all but eliminated our reliance on fossil fuel, better understanding of composting, recycling, reusing. This was not a "let's get it done in a week" thing; these required strategic plans and years to implement. Upgrades to improve, preserve and protect our 25,000sqft of this planet.
- Replacing our (c)1948 cesspool with an onsite waste water management system that filters output before sending to a leeching field.
- Replacing the oil burning furnace and hot water tank with energy-efficient heat-pump driven alternatives
- Installing a comprehensive solar architecture that enable the home to be self sufficient for 9 months out of the year.
- Replaced all incandescent lights with LED's.
- Replaced all windows with LEED certified glass panels.
- Re-insulated the entire home to 2025 standards
- Composting as much as possible; mulching yard waste instead of bagging and disposing.
- Utilizing town e-Waste / recycle facilities for End Of Service Life disposal of electronics and appliances. Similar for spent household paints and other toxins.
- Replaced gas-powered vehicles with EV's.
- Became involved with community and coastal preservation / restoration efforts.
As stewards of our piece of the Earth; we're (husband and I) going to do everything we can to protect it; we know, first hand how fragile this place is. So forgive me if I go off on some moron (and those adoring him...), fucking around with the planet claiming all the warnings are a hoax, removing guidelines and providing subsidies to industries against protections. We are so... damn... close.
There is no "Planet B".
I just hope to Hell I can live long enough to see signs that the planet is righting itself.
Rade
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4 comments:
Wow, you are fighting the battle firsthand and know what it takes! More power to you! We are seeing now the TRUE cost of the Industrial Revolution started 3 centuries ago and it's the old, old story -- the ones who reaped the immense wealth took, and continue to take, no responsibility whatever for the damage caused by doing so. The wealth was/is taken individually but the cost was/is borne collectively.
Yes... it most certainly is! And thanks!
Rhode Island is SO damn close to going green. We have been constructing off-shore wind farms that, once completed (85% done!), will provide enough green energy for most of the state. But shit-for-brains keeps shutting down the construction, even though it has been fully funded by both local and federal funding sources. Pissingly awful is that someone like a Bezos or Musk could fund the remaining project out of pocket change. Instead, we get "corporate sponsors" for the Epstein Ballroom off the White House.
Not that I think big pharma is good, but I love the commercial they've been running during the Olympics.
Good post and great work that you are doing.
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