On Global Warming

I first heard about “Global Warming” way back in first year high-school. Back then, I had no idea about what Global Warming really is. Back then, my limited capability of understanding things could only grasp the idea that Global Warming is just a natural phenomenon every summer. I was dead-wrong!

“Is there really something wrong with the weather?”

Well, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research says: "When we observe global weather—the extremes in precipitation, floods, droughts, storms—and note its development, we can rightly say that these extremes have quadrupled over the last 50 years."

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and the oceans since the mid-twentieth century and its projected continuation is believed to be the result of an "enhanced greenhouse effect" mainly due to human-produced increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and changes in the use of land.
- source Wikipedia.com

In other words, human activities are causing this worldwide phenomenon to go amok. Yes, humans are the ones to be blamed. Our planet Earth has been abused to the point that it can’t take anymore. Although this problem sounds too massive for an individual to take on, there is still something that we can do to help in our own ways. So what can we do in our own little way to help prevent Global Warming?

* Drive less. Take bikes, walk or carpool whenever possible.

* Unplug electronics when they are not in use, because they still take up energy. At the very least, turn items off when they’re not being used.

* Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when you have a full load, and if available, use the energy-saving setting.

* Plant a tree.

* Use nontoxic cleaning products.

* I'd like to end my list here. But we still can do a lot more. Please make a research. (",)

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Note: The following information was originally posted by Wilfred at his blogsite.

On the 28th of March 2009, at 8:30 in the evening (local time), everyone is encouraged to participate on the first international election between the Earth and global warming, through the Earth Hour.

Let's all grab this opportunity to take part in this international movement and cast our vote for the Earth by switching our lights off for an entire hour (that's only sixty minutes or three thousand six hundred seconds). Leaving your lights on means a vote for global warming. The goal for this year is to gather one (1) billion votes for the Earth, which will be presented to the world leaders in the upcoming Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The official goverment policies to take action agaisnt global warming and the subsequent climate change that will be determined from this meeting will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Earth Hour was initiated last 2007 in Sydney, and was participated by 2.2 million homes and businesses. A year later, in 2008, it had grown up into a global sustainability movement with up to 50 million people switching their lights off.

This year, Earth Hour 2009 is being taken to a new level, where every individuals, encompassing all races, from different countries, are encouraged to VOTE EARTH. Every one is being called up to take a stand and control over the future of our planet.

Let's all vote because every vote counts.

Again, VOTE EARTH by simply switching your lights off for one hour on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM local time, taking part in the global movement -- the Earth Hour.

Make a single flick at that switch, that's just it!

Should you wish to join, you can register by clicking on the "VOTE EARTH" ad in the sidebar.

PS: However, we all know that we have different circumstances. It may not be wise for some to totally turn off all their lights or their appliances. In my case, since we have a total of 6 electric flourescent lights in my house, I will make sure that at that very hour, 5 of them will be turned off and I will not turn my computer on. We all can make a difference in our own little way! Think about the future.

Sources:

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
Watchtower: http://www.watchtower.org/e/20030808/article_02.htm
Wilfred’s Blog: http://adiklupet.blogspot.com/2009/03/thinking-urchin-supports-earth-hour.html

By the way, thank you Jeszieboy for inviting me to join EARTHHOUR 2009.