| Don't let anyone mislead you; global warming is | | | | stress (bleaching) at record levels. They may |
| happening. It gets worse every day and it is up to | | | | soon be gone altogether. |
| us as individual inhabitants of this planet to reduce | | | | Deforestation, heavy dependence on fossil fuels; |
| and hopefully reverse it's effects. Here are some | | | | irresponsible and non-caring individual attitudes |
| facts about global warming that we all need to be | | | | towards conservation; reliance on paper products; |
| aware of: | | | | meat-gorging food intake patterns and massive |
| The greenhouse effect is a good thing. It is a | | | | shipping increases are some of the most |
| natural system that keeps the Earth warm | | | | prevalent causes of global warming. The cycle |
| enough to promote and sustain life. Global | | | | continues to devastate ecosystems worldwide. |
| warming is an intensification of the greenhouse | | | | Governments, manufacturers and individuals alike |
| effect. When there is an overabundance of | | | | must all unite to combat the disastrous effects |
| greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere, the | | | | that are clearly increasing. |
| result is that the planet heats up too much. The | | | | Going green is about more than just claiming to |
| high temperatures cause a variety of problems all | | | | be concerned for our planetary environment. Each |
| over the planet. | | | | of us has to stand up and proactively take a |
| The Artic is warming twice as fast as the rest of | | | | stance for conservation. Here are a few good |
| the planet. The sea ice melts earlier in the spring | | | | ways to begin your personal green campaign: |
| and freezes later in the fall. Polar bears have | | | | Recycle and use recycled products. Reduce your |
| shorter hunting seasons and are venturing further | | | | demand for paper products. |
| and further south in order to survive. | | | | Explore green forms of alternative transportation |
| 11 of the last 12 years have been the hottest | | | | like walking, jogging, bicycling, scootering or using |
| ever recorded in terms of global temperatures. | | | | mass transit systems. |
| In the summer of 2003, record heat waves killed | | | | Go meatless at least one or two days per week |
| over 26000 people across Europe. | | | | Grow a garden. |
| Record high temperatures are causing hundreds | | | | Start a compost pile in your backyard. |
| of billions of dollars in damages in the forms of | | | | Lower your thermostat 2 degrees in winter and |
| forest fires, agricultural damage, droughts and | | | | raise it 2 degrees in summer. |
| health problems. | | | | Conserve water around your home and office. |
| Ice shelves are breaking away from Antarctica. | | | | Cut back on orders that require product shipping. |
| Some are the size of Rhode Island. Sea levels are | | | | Buy locally whenever possible. |
| continually rising around the globe. Booming coastal | | | | Spread the word! Stop talking about the weather |
| communities are being flattened and the residents | | | | and bring up the topics of protecting and |
| are scared to stay. | | | | preserving our limited natural resources. |
| Average global temperatures have climbed over | | | | We can all join together - just a little here and |
| 1.8 degrees since 1880 - the majority of that in | | | | there - to reduce global warming and help to |
| the past 3 decades. | | | | restore our planet. The result of continued apathy |
| The last 2 centuries of the 20th century were | | | | will certainly lead to a very grim future. We can |
| the hottest in 400 years and perhaps for several | | | | simply address environmental issues today by |
| thousand. | | | | choice or be forced to address them in the near |
| In 1910, Montana's Glacier National Park had 150 | | | | future with great difficulty. |
| glaciers. Now there are less than 30. | | | | Take your stance to reduce global warming |
| Coral reefs are very sensitive to temperature | | | | today! |
| changes. The coral reefs are dying off due to | | | | |