Kilowatt Ours.... Change is Needed for Clean Energy

Sadly I am one of the many "ignorant" people who have no idea where our electricity actually comes from, I just never really thought about it.  Kilowatt Ours was a very educating video on where electricity comes from, I would recommend it to everyone to watch to educate themselves.  The largest source of energy in the United States is the use of coal.  The process to get coal stars by destroying mountains to collect the coal that lays underneath.  This alone is causing mass amounts of damage to the surrounding mountain towns including major destructive floods.  Once the coal is mined it is taken to be burned for energy.  The burning of coal to generate electricity produces extra Co2 in the air contributing to global warming.  The second largest source of energy in the United States is nuclear power.  Nuclear power is an "emission free" power source but it's polluting radioactive waste into our environment.  Neither of these options are "clean energy sources."  We need to take more advantage of the natural energy sources available that do not cause pollution or global warming or do not affect our planet in a negative way.  Sources are available such as wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal heating and so many more.  We need to take more advantage of these clean energy sources so we can live more Earth friendly and not have to worry about polluted air or dangerous, radioactive waste. 

The Human Footprint

The journey of the human footprint through a single person's entire life is one of waste and disruption of our natural ecological systems.  The Human Footprint video was a huge eye opener on the real affects we Americans have on our planet.  Even from birth we contribute to the slow demise of our environment.  A human baby alone will go through 3,796 diapers in a 2.5 year period, and what do we do with these diapers, throw them away.  This creates a non-biodegradeable cocktail of toxins including crude oil and plastic.  The toxins are left on the Earth long after these babys are grown and gone.  There is an estimated amount of 18 billion diapers thrown away every year.  Thats a lot of waste being contributed to the environment and thats only the beginning.  As a human grows from infant to child to adult they leave behind a devestating trail of waste approxamently 64 tons of it throughout a single lifetime in America.  These statistics are sad, if we are to continue living on our planet we need to change our ways.  We need to become a less wasteful country and a less wasteful planet.  We should shift from a society of consumerism to a society of sustainability.  If we can do that there may be hope to reverse the damage we have already caused to our planet and decrease the amount of waste we contribute every year. 

A girl who silenced the world

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0

"If you don't know how to fix it.... Please stop breaking it."

This was a powerful statement from a very brave little girl.  When I watched this video I was moved by the concern and the passion the young Severn Suzuki has for our planet.  Her observations and accusations were dead on.  We do need to figure how to fix our planet and while we do that we need to stop destroying it.  She admits to the UN that she does not have the answers to solve the problem and she knows that many do not, but she offers awareness with her speech.  Awareness is the first step to fixing the problem, without awareness there is no problem to be fixed.  Instead of further destroying our planets with war and greed, let's work together as one, united planet and find a way to save our only home.  We need to take Severn Suzki's  words to heart and start living for a sustainable future so that the generations to come can experience our wonderful planet Earth.

Beginning the Journey Known as Colloquium

I refer to Colloquium as a journey because I believe it to be an important step in my quest towards a sustainable lifestyle.  With that said I am very excited about the course and the nest 6 weeks to come.  I am very fond of nature and enjoy learning as much as I can about it.  My initial reaction to the course is to dread the time requirements but to look forward to the learning experience.

Heres to hoping for a great semester and furthering my ability to live sustainably...

Cheers