Whether or not you believe global warming is man-made, it is a clear fact that global warming is real. Just a few weeks ago, tropical storm Ketsana (known to locals as Ondoy), hit Metro Manila, Philippines with a month's worth of rain in under 24 hours, damaging over 80% of the city. This is the worst flooding the capital has seen since 1967, and the death toll has reached over 300. Days later, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake felt in the Pacific near the Samoa region caused a tsunami reaching the American Samoa coastline.
If you're still not convinced that these natural disasters have anything to do with Climate Change, consider:
- In 1910, Montana's Glacier National Park had 150 glaciers compared to the 27 that we see today. Scientists predict these will soon disappear by 2030.
- The ocean "conveyor belt" acts as a heating and cooling system to help regulate the Earth's climate. The melting of icebergs in the Antarctic, and the rising in sea levels, resulting in fresh water flow into the Atlantic, could decrease the salinity and disrupt the current flow thereby leading into another ice age.
- Record breaking heat waves are happening within the past two decades. And more and more extreme weather and natural disasters are happening each year; a four-fold increase in the past two decades.
Buy Local
Many of you have heard it being said: support local agriculture and business. Buy local. But, do you know why? Aside from the amount of gas and carbon emissions due to the transport of imported goods, there are other reasons why supporting local business, such as your local farmer's market, is a good idea: corporations.
Multinational corporations, such as the agricultural company, Monsanto, exist to rule the market. Their main goal is how to make the most amount of money in the most "efficient" way possible; a model of maximum efficiency brought on by the Industrial Revolution. In doing so, they control agricultural crop by using their products and patents to their advantage. Genetically modified corn crops create a monocultural landscape that is used for food shipped to stores worldwide. The problem with this is that it's bad for the environment and it creates a consumer dependency on a model that, while efficient, is at risk for larger epidemics when supplying to larger areas.
Hybridized crops mess with the ecological system, as plants removed by tillage could harbor natural habitats for insects and birds that act as natural pesticides. Furthermore, plants help prevent erosion and stabilize the soil. While the modern agricultural model takes away from this natural process, and turns to pesticide use which only creates stronger resistances and more use of pesticides, polluting the air. It's a cycle that's hardly efficient. Supporting local farmers and businesses means to support not only less fuel to get to your home, but also less unnatural pesticide use.
Sources:http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/number_of_natural_disasters.php
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761567022/Global_Warming.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html
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8 wandering stars:
bleh i finished this at around 3am so if its not coherent, that's why :P
It really is crazy how many natural disasters there have been. The question is whether they are the result of or the cause of climate change. There seem to be good arguments both ways. Either way, we're in a time of major climate change and a lot of shit is hitting the fan.
Supporting local is a big deal. They need regular, frequent consumers/customers to stay afloat and they don't get the marketing benefits corporations get. Word of mouth is huge.
ahhh that so sad. and scaryyyyy
I especially like the bit where you call an earthquake a climate change-related natural disaster...
Well this year is El Nino which explains why the weather has been so crappy as of late.
The main cause of green house gas emissions is deforestation. So more funding should go here. Genetically modified plants have actually been proven to help green house gas emissions. Especially since they help reduce soil erosion, soil degradation, and are actually remove CO2 when proper tillage methods are used. So, given the right facts I think you could argue either way (for or against corporate farms, gentically modified plants, etc.)
I only know this because I am a nerd. And I spent 8 months this year researching Carbon sequestration last year.
it's real i tell you. Our home is on the fringe of the calamity area. We were barely spared. this is why i stopped blogging about food for 3 weeks. I sort of felt guilty about it.
It's more than coherent!!Don't know if u will win but u deserve 2b the winner Floreta!
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