Monthly Archives: July 2015

Trees

What They Are Not Telling You

CowI started watching a very insightful film, “Cowspiracy”, the other day and it really made an impression on me. As an environmentalist, I know a lot about climate change and its causes, and I know a lot about the solutions. Yet I was taken aback by the things I did not know. Did you ever have that happen to you? You might have re-read a book you had read long ago, or you meet someone new and you realize there were nuances you had not picked up.

We all know, the climate is changing and our global environment is suffering. And many people can tell you climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels which add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. But what many leaders and organizations are not telling you is that animal agriculture is the number one cause of environmental destruction and devastation. Raising cattle produces more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation sector. In numbers, livestock and their byproducts produce 51% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and transportation produces only 13%. So, what we really need to talk about is diet.

A meat-eater needs 18 times more land than a vegan does in order to eat for one year. Plus, animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of the destruction of the Amazon forest. Did I mention the following fact? The waste from 2500 dairy cows equals the entire waste from a city of 411,000 people. So, you can help save the Amazon and our rainforests simply but changing how you eat. Instead of a hamburger eat a veggie-burger. Instead of whole milk try soy milk. It may seem hard at first but once you get the hang of it you will feel better, and make a positive difference for the planet.

Birds

Leadership

Over the weekend I was quietly sitting on the beach and had the good fortune to see a parade of geese walk in front of me. It was amazing. I had never before seen anything like it in my life. I always thought geese stayed near ponds and did not hang out by the ocean. As you can see from the video, there they were, magically walking across the sand. As I watched them I figured out they were on their way towards a marsh-like area of the park. I felt so grateful they were not scared of me, or any other beach goers for that matter, and there was a place for them to go to in the evening.

That experience at the beach was a stark contrast to the one I had at an outdoor art festival where I saw a very sad and disturbing sight. Just so you get a feel for the situation, the temperature was 94 degrees and it was burning hot. A popular weather site said it felt like 108 degrees. As I was wiping sweat from my forehead, I turned my eye and saw a woman walking her very small dog on the black pavement. The dog was whimpering, panting, had her tongue hanging out, and was pulling on her leash. As the dog owner walked past me the dog tried to get closer to where I stood on a small patch of green grass. Obviously, the dog needed water and probably had burned the pads on her paws. I tried to speak with the woman but she said the dog was fine and did not need anything. Everyone standing within a few yards of me was concerned for the dog.

It is so important for us to show concern for others and to appreciate the gifts nature bestows upon us. Animals are so very precious and we need to respect and care for them. How many times in our lives do we stop caring for others? How often are animals harmed? How many times do we see someone throw trash out of the car window or waste precious resources? We can all stand up and be leaders. We can make the world a better place.

Oceans, Trees

Solutions for Flooding

MarshWe know the climate is warming and that floods and heavy downpours are getting worse. We also know icecaps are melting and sea levels are rising. Many people around the world are affected, especially Bangladesh. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and one that is hardest hit by flooding. Sea levels in the open ocean are rising three millimeters per year but are rising six times faster along the estuaries of southwest Bangladesh.

New Jersey’s beaches and nearby towns are also affected by rising sea levels. Think of Superstorm Sandy and the destruction and loss it caused. One of the reasons coastal towns and cities are being devastated by storm surges is because they have lost their natural defenses. Sand dunes, salt marshes and mangroves have been removed to make way for housing, amusement rides, or hard walled barriers.

Engineers, designers and ecologists now know it is imperative to keep and plant more sand dunes, salt marshes and mangroves. Those soft barriers and natural defenses are necessary. They break up wind, reduce wave heights, and soak up tidal surges. Physics makes it clear, hard barriers (flood gates or sea walls) cannot soak up water. They just push ferocious water back somewhere else. Soft barriers can move with water and soak it up. Mangroves reduce the number of deaths from tsunamis and actually thrive on rising sea levels.

Sadly, we are destroying one percent of mangroves each year, a tragedy which goes unreported. As for salt marshes and sand dunes, I know we have already lost too many. Time is of the essence. Nature can be one of the best defenses against the worst storms and devastating flooding. It is time for us to respect nature, protect it, and work with it. Only then can we avoid unnecessary tragedy and loss.

Oceans, Trees

Beauty and Courage

I recently went to a picnic with some buddies who are environmentalists like me. As we sat around talking we shared some of our frustrations and some of our joy. It made me wonder about my next blog. What is beautiful to you? What are the positive things happening in your life? Did your son or daughter make you laugh? Did you take a walk in the park or in the forest? Perhaps you helped someone do something she could not do alone. Or maybe you looked up at the stars and recognized a constellation or two.

Sadly, there are many people who have never experienced the beauty of nature. They have never put their arms around a tree or walked in a meadow of wild grasses. Some have never seen an ocean or swam in a lake. Others just know the smell of diesel gasoline, and polluted air. Recently, I had the chance to visit Arkansas and Missouri. I was amazed by the beauty of the rolling hills and hay bales, and by all of the lakes and streams. I was happy to go swimming and breathe in some clean, country air.

Luckily, there are so many people making a positive difference in the world and inspiring others to do the same. While I was at my picnic I met Steve Posselt, an Australian who is raising environmental awareness by kayaking around the world. If you look at Steve he has the build and energy of a young man. When I asked him his age he told me he was in his 60’s. I was impressed. He is passionate about leaving a healthy planet for his grandchildren, and about ending our dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal.

I hope you can see beauty around you. And I hope you can protect that beauty. Sometimes, it just takes a little bit of courage to do so.