The Basis of Sustainability

I certainly proved it in my garden this year.

REAL Economics

The Consequences of What We Take for Granted

CAUSE AND EFFECT /// The Consequences of What We Take for Granted from videosbygus on Vimeo.

We don't ever think about this. Until now and now and now and.....

What we can do about climate change......

This is long but worth the listen if you want to know how we can heal our damaged planet.

Do it for your planet, do it for your yard

“We Can Solve It” – Solutions for Climate Change

People like us want to leave our children and children’s children a clean, livable planet. We will have to educated them to have “a range of critical-thinking skills to deal with an unprecedented future,” said Susanne Moser, Ignition, and “the ability to cooperate with others under stress to deal with the challenges.”

Medical and public health professional are “taking responsible, ethical action to protect human life,” said Bob Musil, Ignition and we need to help them. We all want healthy homes and communities and right now our laws do not adequately protect us, much less our children.

Climate change not only effects the environment around us but the environment within us – toxin levels, deformities, disabilities and the spread of disease. In 1962, during open-air nuclear testing, John F. Kennedy said, “We all love our children. We all breathe the same air. We are all mortal.” And we all need to do what we can to stop climate change.

Bob Musil, Ignition says climate change “will create serious negative effects from … flooding, wetland destruction and spread of waterborne … diseases.” Not to mention the effects of increased heat. There is a close relationship between dirty air (high particulate levels from vehicles and power plants) and natural disasters, asthma and heat related deaths. There is also a close relationship between dirty water (pollution from pesticide runoff) and mercury poison, fish advisories and “boil” orders.

Most of us have a part of the natural world we hold dear – woods or mountains or lakes or rivers or even urban garden plots. What happens when those places of spiritual solace disappear? Who is responsible? Aren’t we Earth’s stewards?

Find a place in our community to revitalize – plant trees and involve diverse groups. Eat locally grown food and walk or bicycle to get it. Write your local, state, and federal officials to pressure them for clean energy and strong emissions policies. Speak up for your family’s health. VOTE – vote for those who have individuals’ best interest at heart and not big business’.

Stand up for your right to clean air, clean water and a sustainable planet. Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescents and your appliances to Energy Star and turn them off when not in use. Caulk your windows and weather-strip your doors. Fix leaky faucets and don’t waste water. Combine driving trips and don’t idle. You are part of the solution!

Funding for grassroots organization can dramatically shift national energy policy by banding us together for a louder voice. It is ALL our individual responsibilities’ to help make giant strides against climate change for the generations to come. We can solve it! Start now.

LIVE GREEN Carrollton!

After spending thirty years as an interior designer, I understand waste. “It’s ours, we don’t want anyone else to have it; put it in the landfill.” “That old thing, why would I want to reupholster it?” “That was my grandmothers, refinishing it would never make it nice enough to go with my new things.” I just couldn’t do it anymore.

I’ve been a proponent of the Earth ever since I can remember. My Dad used to take us out all the time. Just park the car along the highway, go under the barbed wire and walk up to the house to ask the owner’s permission to show his kids the wonders of nature. Being there was the magic. Surrounded by nature and sounds and smells, we learned the names of trees, flowers and animals. He talked about their habits and who would eat who – all the important stuff. We were hooked.

Since starting Keep Carrollton Beautiful in 2004, we’ve had a myriad of goals. With our new board of directors, we’re on to something that makes a lot of sense. We’ve always educated the public about environmental issues, but there are so many! Now we are taking federal, state, regional and city environmental goals and simplifying them into everyday actions to preserve our AIR, our LAND, our WATER and our COMMUNITY. Breaking it down into ways to LIVE GREEN helps everyone understand that there’s something they can do to be part of the planetary solution.

Felicia Weiss in a recent issue of the Holistic Networker summed up our thoughts. She said, “I recently saw "The 11th Hour", a film produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio… Over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders present the facts and discuss the most important issues that face our planet. I found this film to be a wake up call to all of us about what is happening to the home we share…It is so easy to believe that our individual actions…don't make a difference…Yet, multiply these actions by 365 days in a year and by billions of people and I'm sure you get the picture.”

You and I and every citizen can make a difference. We can preserve our AIR quality by combining our errand trips and driving less. We can plant a tree to absorb the carbon dioxide we generate. We can preserve our LAND by practicing “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy” and find a proper receptacle to dispose of trash. We can preserve our WATER quality by being chemical-free in our yards, composting all our waste. We can invigorate our COMMUNITY by becoming knowledgeable about what is going on and voting in favor of positive change. We can also volunteer for organizations that are improving our surroundings. The little steps go on and on.

Our most recent action is to make plastic bags obsolete in Carrollton with reusable grocery bags. They are green, strong, washable, made from recycled material, have our logo on them and reduce the need for plastic. Our new board of directors’ treasurer, Kris Marohn, says it perfectly, “By using this (our) bag, you will preserve our natural resources, reduce land fill, prevent the untimely death of marine animals, wildlife and birds and help to keep Carrollton beautiful.”

Make your own decision to be part of the solution for your community, your state, your country and your world. The Internet is filled with easy ways to help get carbon emissions under control. Choose some for your LIVE GREEN life!