B.O.L.D member Rashaun “DJ Reezey®” Williams is putting a spin on sustainability with swag and expertise.
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Let’s be honest: climate change scientists are boring; with the exception of Bill Nye and Neil Tyson of course.
So it’s no wonder one in four Americans aren’t concerned at all with global warming. In my opinion, scientists need to jazz up the way they deliver information about the environment.
Governments, well they need to change their act, too; they can start by respecting what environmentalists say, and standing up to big business with better waste regulations, caps, and trade.
And for those citizens, who don’t think twice about climate change, can’t comprehend how the world is warming when it’s freezing outside, or unaware of how to engage the climate action movement, LISTEN UP!
Don’t Believe or Care
Asthma, cancer, birth defects, and agricultural destruction are the result of human actions like polluting the water and air. Environmental scientists and activists believe that greenhouse gases – like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide – cause the planet to warm. We all need to address the pollution in our air and water, which are the results wasteful practices and over-consumption. If we don’t, ecosystems will continue to die because of it.
FACT: 7 million people DIED in 2012 from Air Pollution
Don’t Understand
Sunlight hits the Earth and creates energy. This energy bounces right back in the form of infrared light. Sometimes when this energy is leaving the planet, it gets absorbed by greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. When GHGs like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are in the atmosphere, they keep the energy and heat on the planet longer. The more greenhouse gasses us as humans put into the atmosphere, the slower the energy and leaves the planet. This is what raises the temperature on the Earth; this is global warming.
Let’s put this into context: the atmosphere can hold 4% more water for every 1°F rise in temperature. So when a storm passes through our warming area the potential for torrential rain rises. Melting glaciers disrupt the flow and energy of jet streams, changing the climate patterns. Rain, wind, and other weather episodes become more dramatic, changing the environment of an area; this is climate change.
Don’t Know How to Help!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Let’s start with the basics here: purchase less; use less; and recycle more – this is how you lower your personal carbon footprint. Other options include things like carrying a water canister instead of water bottles. This saves the environment and money. Another smart choice would be to purchase water filter pitchers or purifiers that connects to your faucet instead of buying gallons of water.
Compost
The U.S waste about 40% of their food; this is terrible for the environment, as wasted food often enters landfills and creates methane gas, which has an effect on climate change 20 times more than carbon dioxide! If we develop a culture of composting food waste – and yard trimmings – not only would we reduce the amount of GHGs in the air, but we’d create healthy fertilizer for plants and gardens.
Vote
Pay very close attention to what environmental policy recommendations candidates and elected officials are pursuing; if these individuals have no eco-centric policies than they are detrimental to the planet and they don’t deserve your vote. I understand that politics is much broader than econology, but it’s of the utmost importance that elected officials understand how to build communities and economies that are socially and ecologically sustainable, which in part means clean energy policies, cap and trades, and innovations in energy creation and consumption.
Educate
Learn green, live green! When you come across information about how to be better stewards of the environment, read it and pass it along to your friends, family and community. This is where social media plays a big part: share, retweet, re-blog, and tag away!
Climate change is a complex issue, but keep reading media outlets like PhreshPhilly.org and Techbook Online and you’ll soon be an expert! Find the “go-green machines” that are in your living in your neighborhood and learn from them; knowledge transfers are critical to bolstering the message of climate responsibility! The time for action is now, so join the climate action movement; remember its phresh and cool to be green!
Looking for a fun and easy way to explain composting? DOWNLOAD: What Rashaun Learned While Greening His Community’s Garden™
Be Great & Stay Phresh! Until next time, I’m DJ Reezey® & that’s the DJ’s drop!™
The post Cooling Up the Conversations on Global Warming appeared first on The Good Men Project.
