raise awareness about global warming

I just learned that Wal-Mart is planning on getting into the business of selling E85 (ethanol) fuel for cars. Given the power of Wal-Mart this could be fantastic news for the environment.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/08/news/companies/pluggedin_gunther.fortune/index.htm?cnn=yes

Never in my life would I have thought I would have said anything nice about Walmart, but this is pretty good news.

So besids the record heat her in the US – it snowed today in Johannesburg South Africa. Sounds like somebody is messing with the planet….

This picture is of Children frolicing in the snow in Clarens on Wednesday as South Africa endures the harshest winter weather in years.

Walking in Brookdale Park again today. Designed by Frederick Law Ohlsted who also landscaped Central Park in New York.

Several weeks ago there was a huge wind storm, trees that were over a hundred years old were toppled. Trunks so thick 10 children holding hands would not be able to circle them. On their way down branches, limbs, and entire trees were knocked down. As crews still clean the damage, a scent that is a mixture of wood mold and pine pops up ever now and then in the air. Walking in the park reminds me of the power, and fragility of nature.

I came across a small tree, a douglass fir, maybe a meter tall. A small marker dedicated the tree to Walter Salvatore. No idea who he is. There was something hopefully about this tree, about the shade it will bring, and the children who will play nearby, and of course the dogs who will mark it as their own.

I opened my bottled water and shared it with Walter’s tree. More than half my water.

Then continues on my walk.

I guess one of the ways I can create some awareness about global warming is to actively do things that will slow it down – like recycling. It takes a whole lot less energy (and produces less greenhouse gases) to make a product from recycled material than from new material. I was thinking of getting one of those blue recycling bins for my office, one made from recycled plastic. I currently used a corrugated box. But if I buy the blue bin, I will help create demand for recycled material. BUT, will I be failing at my goal of “save more, spend less” ? ? ?

Maybe if I make entries about this subject every day those people who read Zeitgeist on a regular basis will learn just a little bit more about global warming and the things that they can do to help prevent it.

So maybe I’ll start making entries about little things that people can do in their daily lives to slow down global warming – little things like planning your weekend errands so that you drive less (and reduce your errand time so that you have more time for fun).

Steal this goal. How many of us have added “drink more water” or “walk every day” to our lists of goals after seeing them on someone else’s list. Why not add this to your list of goals.

Little things that each of us do – everything from recycling (including donating old clothes to charity) to planning the trips in our cars will reduce the impact that each of us has on the goal.

It’s a great example of stewardship – and a great goal for all of us to share.