the green dream
bringing back the healing beauty of nature
Astounding Facts
o The Earth's climate system has changed, globally and regionally, with some these changes being attributable to human activities
o The Earth has warmed 0.6± 0.2 oC since 1860 with the last two decades being the warmest of the last century;
o The increase in surface temperatures over the 20th Century for the Northern hemisphere is likely to be greater than that for any other century in the last 1000 years;
o Precipitation patterns have changed with an increase in heavy precipitation events in some regions;
o © Greenpeace
o Human activities are increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases that warm the atmosphere and, in some regions, sulfate aerosols that cool the atmosphere; and
o Most of the observed warming of the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.
Effects and Sources of Pollution
The definition of pollution is the introduction of substances into the environment that results in harmfu
l consequences to it. It causes water pollution (right now at a rate of 14’000 deaths per day), release of sulfur dioxide and some nitrogen compounds (that form acid rain), infertile soil that diminishes the amount of flora in the world, smog, haze, migration and reduction of many species worldwide.
Important sources of pollution include:
-Motor vehicle emissions
-Chemical plants
-Coal-fired power plants
-Oil refineries
-Petrochemical plants
-Spills from nuclear plants (eg*- Homer Simpson’s job in the cartoon “The Simpsons”)
-Cattle in farms (cows, pigs, etc.)
-PVC factories
-Heavy industry factories
-Plastic factories
-And many, many factories.
-Natural disasters (like hurricanes)
Source: Wikipedia
Cattle?!
Yes, cattle.
Nowadays, pigs, cows, poultry and other common cattle species are herd until they reach the adulthood. Then, they are chopped and sent to important organizations (like Mc Donald’s) to be eaten by us, human beings. One important fact many ignore is that cattle excrements release massive amounts of methane to the atmosphere. Methane is a hazardous compound that threatens the Earth’s biodiversity. This is occuring at an increasing rate because many human beings are eating more meat per day, and even some of them become obese (while in other regions people are dying due to starvation).
The cattle problem should not be occuring because, if we focus on the food chain, by eating the same plant biomass as meat biomass, we really obtain more energy from the plants! This happens because, according to Biology’s common processes, the following animal in the food chain does not absorb the energy produced by autotrophs (plants) completely. The next animal (this would be us, humans) receives far less energy. By eating a vegetable, we are obtaining the energy we need by faster and with fewer quantities.
This does not mean we all have to become vegan, of course, as some important proteins we need come from meat. However, many should really consider reducing the amount of meat they eat per meal, and start eating a lot more veggies!
The Kyoto Protocols
According to Wikipedia, the "Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory emission limitations for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the signatory nations.” The main objective is to reduce the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, which is reaching dangerous levels. A hundred and forty-one countries accepted the agreements. However, the
It was first set up in 1997, trying to find a solution in order to avoid major climate changes in the next 50 years. It became international law on
What is the green house effect?
Click here to enter a site with a great animation that will help you understand the basic knowledge concerning the greenhouse effect.
Deforestation
This is a factor that increases the levels of greenhouse gases, and the reason for this is that less carbon dioxide is absorbed because there are fewer plants. Deforestation is caused by agricultural expansion, wood extraction and urbanization. Many areas are affected worldwide, such as the Amazon, where industrial-scale cattle herding and slash and burn cultures, demanded by the market nowadays, is reducing the amount of flora and fauna there. This is especially drastic in
Some Predictions
- Melting of the ice poles. When
- Increase in temperature of 2°C over the next 8 years.
- The number of hurricanes will increase (as it already has happened).
- Floods will be continuous.
- Many species of plants and animals will become extinct or move to other areas.
- Increase of viruses and deathly diseases (in about 25 years).
- The
- Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.
Global Cooling?
The melting of the ice caps will cause a freeze of the warm water currents throughout the world, besides the raise of the sea levels. This will mean that, after global warming reaches a
Why isn't anyone doing anything?
It seems strange that, after all these astounding facts and almost daily news of floods and draughts throughout the world, noone is doing anything. It is the gigantic blur the media is providing, the stuborness of some politicians and conservatives and the confusion received by the citizens that makes us remain in this position. This has got to stop and you can put an end to this. A small step is to join the different Webpages that encourages you to join the cause and sometimes, sign petitions, such as:
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/
http://stopglobalwarming.msn.com/
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/
http://www.change.org/changes/change_page/12
And many more!