how to save the World from Global Warming? The most effective way?

Since ancient times, people have believed that human activity could affect the environment. The discovery of past ice ages shows that Earth's climate is in constant flux and that throughout history, scientists have searched for the cause of these changes. Though scientists discovered the greenhouse effect in the late 19th century, the theory of global warming wasn't accepted as a scientifically proven fact until 1992 when the United Nations held a Conference on Environment and Development. Today, global warming is a widely accepted reality and speculation about its effects range from the hysteria to the acceptance. Newspapers chronicle the slowly changing climate and the actions that have affected that change. The Global Warming Archive provides access to thousands of articles on the environment and the scientists who documented its change.

A study done by the University of Alabama in Huntville disputes the widely, but not completely accepted theory that man-made global warming will accelerate itself by creating more heat-trapping cirrus clouds. According to Dr. Roy Spencer, individual tropical warming cycles that served as proxies for global warming saw a decrease in the coverage area of these cirrus clouds. During month-to-month fluctuations of the tropical climate system they noticed that as the atmosphere warms, cirrus clouds decreased. This is opposite of what the leading climate models forecast, which is as the atmosphere warms there should be an increase in these heat-trapping cirrus clouds. Spencer expects these finds to be controversial. "I know some climate modelers will say that these results are interesting but that they probably don't apply to long-term global warming, but this represents a fundamental natural cooling process in the atmosphere. Let's see if climate models can get this part right before we rely on their long term projections."

If we want to help lessen global warming, change must start within ourselves. From the food we eat and liquid we drink, in our personal hygiene and everyday lives we must be vigilant and aware enough whether we contribution or ease the global warming and the condition of our mother earth. Anything positive we have planted will bears good fruits. We shall reap what we sow... hehehehe. spread the good news

27 Small Things You Can Do to Stop Global Warming

Global warming is not too big of an issue for you to tackle. There are tons of small things you can do on your own or encourage others to do to help stop the threat of global warming. The important thing is to raise awareness so that everyone takes responsibility NOW to make small changes in their life. Lots of small changes = big change over time. Here are some small changes you can make to your everyday life to do your part to stop global warming.

Energy Conservation- the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere appears to be the most important cause of recent warming. How can you help, you ask?

1.) Turn the thermostat down by 2 degrees in the winter. Reduce CO2 emissions by 0.62%.

2.) Stay in town for the weekend. Drive 100 fewer miles per week and reduce CO2 emissions by 4.11%.

3.) Replace the incandescent lightbulbs in your house with compact florescent ones. These use less energy and last longer and cut down on CO2 emissions. It's a win-win-win situation.

4.) Dry your clothes outside on a clothesline or inside on a rack instead of putting them in the dryer.

5.) Only turn lights on in the evening or early morning when the sun doesn't come in through the windows. Turn lights off as you leave rooms.

6.) Going on vacation? Make sure the heat or A/C is turned down and the water heater is turned off before leaving.

7.) Use cold water when doing laundry whenever possible.

8.) Carpool next time you and your friends are going somewhere together.

9.) Unplug! Unplug power strips and appliances that you don't use that often or only at certain times of the day (chargers, cordless tools, etc). Even though they may be turned off, the "standby" energy used is equal to that of a 75 watt lightbulb running continuously.

10.) Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu.

11.) Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The "hibernate mode" turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch.

Water Conservation- humans can live up to a month without food, but no more than approximately 7 days without water. While there is a LOT of water on this planet, only 3% of it can be used as drinking water. Let's do something now to ensure this lasts us!

12.) Shorten your showers to less than 10 minutes. Already doing it in less than 10 minutes? Make it 7.

13.) Turn off the water while you're brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.

14.) Leaky faucet or shower head? A dripping faucet can waste up to 2,000 gallons/7,600 liters of water a year. Check the plumbing in your house and repair the leaks as soon as possible.

15.) Ask your parents if they'd like to invest in low-flush toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators. You'll save thousands of gallons of water each year and your parents' water bill will be lower!

16.) Call your water utility and ask for a copy of their latest water quality report. Public water utilities regularly test the quality of the drinking water they provide to customers.

17.) Lawn and garden pesticides and fertilizers can pollute the water. Reduce your use of pesticides and fertilizers and look for safer alternatives to control weeds and bugs. For example, geraniums repel Japanese beetles; garlic and mint repel aphids; and marigolds repel whiteflies.

18.) Make the most of the water you use outdoors by never watering at the hottest times of the day or when it's windy. Turnoff your sprinklers when it's raining. On average, 50% - 70% of household water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens.

19.) Have a garden? Use mulch in it to help conserve water (the earth stays moister longer).

Pollution Prevention- We all know that we are supposed to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but what exactly does that mean? It's not just putting your soda bottles out every week and using grocery bags as lunch bags. Here are some other ideas that are easy enough for you to do and encourage others to do as well.

20.) Reuse bags and containers: brown paper bags are great for wrapping packages. Wash out plastic containers and glass jars you buy food in and use them as Tupperware.

21.) Use old newspapers as wrapping paper and jazz it up with pretty ribbon or a bow. If you're lucky you might get Sunday's color comic section.

22.) One person's trash is another person's treasure. Instead of throwing out old clothes and toys, donate them to a local shelter or a secondhand store like Goodwill or Salvation Army.

23.) Organize an in-home recycling center and teach your family how to use it. Have separate bins for glass, plastics, and newspaper/cardboard. Make a deal with your family that if they put their recyclables in the bins that you'll take them to the curb.

24.) Be fancy! Replace the use of paper napkins at dinnertime with cloth napkins. You can wash these a couple of times a week, or whenever they are dirty. Use dish towels to wipe up messes instead of paper towels. These, too, will help cut down on the amount of garbage your household produces.

25.) If you're having a party and want to use disposable plates and cups, skip the plastic and get paper ones. These break down easier in the environment and don't deplete the ozone layer as much (although it's better to nix the disposables and use washables!).

26.) Ask the dry cleaners if they will take back their wire hangers and use them again.

27.) Paper or plastic? Neither! When grocery shopping, take your own reusable canvas or cloth bags (or ask your parents to).

Plant a Garden

A garden is a great way to get fresh food every spring and summer while improving your neighborhood.

Dig In!

Planting a garden can be a great way to transform that bare spot in your backyard or local schoolyard into a perfect plot for fruit, nuts and veggies. You can donate what you grow to soup kitchens in your area. Also, cultivating your own food supply is a great way to save money on groceries and a fun way to get some exercise.

Pick your Spot

First you have to find an area where your garden can grow. Choose a sunny spot not larger than 6' x 6'. You should start small so you don't overwhelm yourself with work right away. You can always go bigger once you get the hang of it.

Cleaning is Key

Before you plant or start adding good soil. Pull all the weeds in your area, clean up glass or other garbage and make the area fit for growing food-you don't want a garden ruled by weeds because nothing will be able to grow.

Farming Time

Use a shovel to turn the dirt over in the plot in order to loosen up the soil. If the dirt is extremely hard, chances are plants will have trouble growing through it. If so, you should pick a new location. If the soil is just kind of hard or not hard, water it and work in organic compost with a spade to a depth of about 1 foot. You can buy organic compost at a local store or you can make your own-for tips on how to make your own compost, click here.

Time to Plant

Time to plant some seeds. It is very important to select seeds that you know will grow well in your area. You can check with someone at your local nursery or consult sources online for ideas on what to grow. When you have the seeds, read the packages carefully for any special instructions. Sow your seeds. Check packages for planting depths. As a loose rule, the bigger the seed, the deeper you must plant it.

Water

As soon as you are done planting so the soil settles around the roots of the plants. However, don't drench the ground. After this first watering, water your plants only when the soil around them is dry to the touch. Add organic mulch only after you begin to see some growth in your plants.

Maintenance

Enjoy your garden. Watch it grow and measure it. Make sure you take care of it and that it gets enough sunlight. Soon you will have an array of fruit, nuts and veggies to donate or snack on.

Message boards

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Exchange ideas with other Do Something members concerned about these issues. Discuss

In the News

Report says Chesapeake Bay threatened by global warming (NBC 12 Richmond)

July 19, 2007

The Chesapeake Bay faces more problems than just pollution and development. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will release a report today that says the bay is also threatened by global warming.

GSPI: Algae, The Misunderstood Answer To Our Fuel And Global Warming Problems (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

July 19, 2007

SAN DIEGO----Green Star Products, Inc. President, Joseph LaStella, stated "Today we are closer than ever before solving our energy and global warming issues. The solution is 'ALGAE', one of the oldest forms of life on Earth."

Global Warming Commission Could Begin Work Next Month (The Morning News)

July 19, 2007

LITTLE ROCK -- State Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, says she feels honored to be one of the first people named to serve on Arkansas' first global warming commission.

Take action by recycling!

Did you know that you could recycle things to help prevent global warming? Recycling is a response to global warming because it reduces the emissions of fossil fuels. That, in turn, leaves U.S. to prevent the smelly greenhouse gases and pollutants from entering the air. Here are some helpful hints taken from DoSomething's website to get you and your friends started on bettering the world:

• Do you have techno-trash? Find out how to recycle it!
• Start your own recycled gift store.
• Make a recycling program at your school.
• Write an eco-friendly summer/winter shopping guide
• Write an article about an environmental issue
• Make your own neighborhood sign campaign for recycling techno trash.

Write a Letter to help Global Warming

The oil consumption of automobiles is a large contributor to global warming today. However, technology has provided alternatives to the modern day gas guzzler. Hybrid cars, electrical motors, and fuel-efficient cars can travel more miles on less gas. Both are great fuel-saving options.

Raise awareness of these different eco-friendly options in your hometown. Write letters to different parties suggesting changes they can implement to promote a healthy environment.

Who can you write to?

A local official such as a mayor, a governor, or a senator.

• In this letter, you can convey your concerns for the welfare of the earth, citing statistics that demonstrate the damage global warming will have in the future (you can check out our global warming factsheets for some stats).
• Suggest the enforcement of standard air pollution tests and a minimum mile-per-gallon rate for cars in your town.

A local car dealer or company.

• If they do not carry hybrid or fuel efficient models, you can ask them to offer consumers the eco-friendly option in the near future.
• If they do carry such models, encourage the salespeople to endorse such alternatives to uninformed customers.

School officials are also a great audience for environmental change.

• Ask them to consider using hybrid school buses or more fuel-efficient methods of transportation for school trips.
• Another way school officials can help stop global warming is by changing the things we learn in school. Propose the addition of environmental awareness into our education curriculum, so kids can learn more about it at school.

The amazing people who have created mobile buses that run on vegetable fuel.

• There are various people you can contact regarding these veggie-fueled buses. You can find their contact information and other details on their sites. Here are some to get you started:

http://www.biotour.org/

http://www.batmakumba.com/veggie.html

http://www.cleanfuelcaravan.org/

http://www.veggiebus.com/

http://thayer.dartmouth.edu/other/thebiggreenbus/

• Ask them if they can come to your school to show kids the cool side of vegetables-they can even drive up to school in their vehicles.
• You can even ask them to put on a presentation afterwards to feed the interested students information regarding global warming.

Snail Mail or E-Mail?

People check their emails obsessively these days, so emails will probably get read sooner. However, snail mail allows your letter to stand out-they will have to sit down and take time to read it, giving them more time to think about your ideas.

Uh...What Was His Name Again?

• Who are you writing to? Remember to keep a polite, formal tone throughout the letter, as you want them to take you seriously.
• Emphasize the most important points and keep the letter concise. Write only about the things that are relevant to your audience.

You've Just Gotta Feel It

Let the people know just how much you care about the issue, so write with passion and enthusiasm! In other words, don't sound like a bore. Make sure you check out the facts before writing:

Get Bob or Susan to Read It

Reading the letter/email out loud will prove to be worthwhile. How do you sound? If you were the one to receive the letter, would you care about what you were reading?

Sign, Seal, and Deliver!

• Do a little research and find out the exact address of whoever it is that you're writing to. Sign the letter with a flourish, seal the envelope, and deliver it!
• If it's an email, it is generally believed that the best times to send emails are Tuesdays to Thursday mornings. Just a suggestion, though.

Sample Letter:

July 12, 2006

Dear Superintendent William Davis,

I am currently a high school student attending my third year at HillCrest High School. Recently, I have become very involved with the impending issue of global warming through various clubs and volunteer activities. However, as I began to learn more about the matter through these outside sources, I noticed that there was a serious lack of information about global warming and the environment in the education curriculum itself.

For example, the only time the term "environmental awareness" was ever mentioned in school was in biology class, when we discussed the effects of smog on plant life. Even then, it was discussed very briefly, with no mention of global warming. I would love for the other students of my school to learn as much about the environment as I'm learning, and there seems to be a clear solution. If you were to set aside one day in the district schools' calendars as "Love a Green Earth" day, students all across the region will learn more about the environment naturally. No serious changes to the curriculum will have to be made, but everyone can still benefit greatly from this simple reminder.

There are many of us here at HillCrest High who genuinely hold concern for the wellbeing of the earth. It would please us greatly to know that our concerns will be reflected in the school's attitude, as well as in a majority of the student body.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

(Handwritten signature)

Michael Tucker

Message boards

Discuss the causes

Exchange ideas with other Do Something members concerned about these issues. Discuss

In the News

Report says Chesapeake Bay threatened by global warming (NBC 12 Richmond)

July 19, 2007

The Chesapeake Bay faces more problems than just pollution and development. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will release a report today that says the bay is also threatened by global warming.

GSPI: Algae, The Misunderstood Answer To Our Fuel And Global Warming Problems (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

July 19, 2007

SAN DIEGO----Green Star Products, Inc. President, Joseph LaStella, stated "Today we are closer than ever before solving our energy and global warming issues. The solution is 'ALGAE', one of the oldest forms of life on Earth."

Global Warming Commission Could Begin Work Next Month (The Morning News)

July 19, 2007

LITTLE ROCK -- State Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, says she feels honored to be one of the first people named to serve on Arkansas' first global warming commission.