And I would Bike 10,000 Miles…
Ton Snyders, the Biking Comedian makes The Proclaimers “I Would Walk 10,000 Miles” song sound wimpy. This guy loves a good bike ride. In fact he loves it so much he’s turned it into a living for himself. He broke the 150,000 mile bike touring record recently on a trip ( a mere 8,000+) to Mexico. This guy is dedicated.
He is also a comedian though, so his comedy is inspired by his bicycle travels on the road. From crazy road signs to just plain funny, he is a one of a kind show. He is currently on “bike tour”, a wopping 11,000 miles around the United States. So check him out to see if he is coming to a venue near you, or you can even book him at one of your events!
So how good is this guy? Good enough to have biked to his shows (and make a living off of it) for the past 20 years. He’s been on Good Morning America, Comedy Central, and ESPN. He also gives motivational speeches at business conferences after a near fatal accident. Funny enough…he even biked to Hawaii! He boarded a cruise boat in Canada and cycled 8 hours a day on a stationary bike until he reached Hawaii, all the while doing comedy as well.
Tom Snyder’s Bicycle Comedian Website.
Everest’s New Landscape
Mount Everest, one of the most famous peaks in the World, is getting new neighbors thanks to climate change. The USGS has confirmed that the glaciers throughout the Himalayas are receding (melting) at a shockingly rapid pace. There are a few scattered ones due to unique local conditions that are advancing, but the majority are receding. This is of great concern to the Himalayan region, which depends on these glaciers for their water sources. As their melting rapidly increases, it is unknown how the water will advance, many fear flooding of villages and cities. The Himalayan region would join the increasing list of countries affected by “Climigration” or migration due to climate change.
The water supply of literally tens of millions of people is being impacted by this shift. These receding glaciers add to the growing list of concerns that climate change is happening at a far more rapid pace than originally predicted. Greenland’s ice shelves are disappearing faster than the most aggressive estimates, and regions around the world are starting to feel the impact.
Unfortunately, a recent study done on the United States found that 40% of the population does not “believe” in climate change. The contiguous United States is not at as great of a risk of some of the major threats associated with climate change other than coastal areas or deeply impoverished countries, where moving towns and ways of living to other regions can be complicated and require entirely new survival skills. What many American’s fail to recognize are the multiple signs of climate change in their daily lives.
How many have heard the saying “If global warming was real, I would be wearing shorts right now.” Or perhaps “2 degrees? Its not THAT much hotter! What is all the fuss about?” Unfortunately, since the majority of people are not earth scientists, we may have a hard time connecting the dots. As Naomi Oreskes pointed out in her and Conway’s book “Merchants of Doubt” we are often vulnerable to the status quo, or the doubt, in place of the facts.
Now ask yourself if you have heard of the Emerald Ash Borer that is ravaging City and National forests alike? Or the new invasive specie on the block, the Longhorn Japanese Beetle? How about unusual weather patterns, like an increase in the intensity of storms? Or areas that typically have snow having none, and others like Georgia suddenly getting a few inches?
Our minds are not necessarily trained to know the intricacies of climate change, but we can use common sense to deduct that these are not just isolated events. That something more significant is changing. Many individuals with access to newspapers, money, and lives of luxury relative to the 6.8 Billion human inhabitants on this Earth may not feel this difference immediately. We have built out or own ‘environment’ of buildings with controlled temperatures, created fertilizers to make things grow to the best of our knowledge, and other ‘wonders’ that we are missing these large scale cues to what is really happening.
So take a look around. You may not notice a glacier crumbling in your own backyard. You may not see your house flooded with water, and native region turned into a modern day sea. The individuals that have experienced these things already due to ‘climigration’ aren’t knocking on your door (Alaska is a long way for most of us). But see if you do notice changes. If this “hottest summer since 1922″ is combined with the “coldest winter since 1894″…we may want to start cueing into what is happening around us.
So best of luck on your own nature hunt to see what new neighbors climate change has brought you to date. Then consider what steps you can do to perhaps keep your old neighbors…trust me these new guys like the Emerald Ash Borer have no manners!
Himalayas Photo Credit.
Global Warming Predictions Photo Credit.
Air Pollution by Chris Madden Photo Credit.
Vote for a Home Renovation!
Now you may heard of Habitat for Humanity, where volunteers and staff alike go in and help construct a home for someone in need. But have you heard of Rebuilding Together? This organization focuses on a similar segment of the population, but specifically does home renovations. An important part of green renovations is working within the current constraints of the home, so they are truly making a large impact.
EconoLodge and Rodeway have teamed up to help sponsor a home renovation and you get to vote to see who the most deserving participant is! The big renovation will kick off October 28th, so read the four finalists’ stories and vote to support one of their dream renovations.
You can read the official Press Release here.
Or check out the competition and learn about the rules here!
Antibiotics with your Tap Water, Madam?
In a recent study by the University of California, antibiotics given to cows were traced throughout their waste stream. Although not the first study to be done on the extensive use of antibiotics, especially on dairy cows, this study found that most antibiotics broke down before reaching ground water. This is good news for individuals who use well-water and live near dairy operations. The study did not look into the effects on surface water, marine life, or other species and areas of the environment impacted by the antibiotics.
Filtering your water and occasionally having it tested can also help keep your tap water safe and clean. The EPA recently released a study that reviewed the safety of municipal tap water. Depending on where you live, contamination risks may differ. The EPA found that water quality (for the US) was disappointingly low and came up with a list of suggestions. So it may be worthwhile to see just what lurks in your tap water!
You can read the summary of the dairy study here.
Energy Use Down Due to Recession
A recent study was done by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that asserts Americans are using less energy in 2009 than in 2008. The main attributing factor: The Recession.
Energy use tends to follow the level of economic activity, and that level declined last year. At the same time, higher efficiency appliances and vehicles reduced energy use even further. As a result, people and businesses are using less energy in general.
Reducing energy use is such an easy way to reduce our monthly bills. It’s a shame that people only use less energy when forced to cut back their spending. Just because we aren’t forced to cut back our costs doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concern with our energy consumption.
Another point that was mentioned in this study is the reduction of coal as a fuel source. Luckily it was renewable energy sources and natural gas that filled the void. There’s no real surprise wind and solar were on the rise with the various energy credits being provided by the government.
We can only hope that as the economy recovers, people will continue to conserve energy and there will be a continued support to move to renewable sources of energy.
Canadian? Watch your BPA Intake
In a recent study by Statistics Canada, 91% of all Canadians had BPA in their bodies. Now this is not a growing issue specific to Canada though, so consider your own Country’s products and your personal rate of BPA exposure and intake.
So just how bad is this and what can we do about it in our own locations across the globe? First, the study provides an important baseline for understanding BPA exposure. But is BPA really bad for you? And since it is so prevalent in consumer products, is this number of concern? Let’s take a quick look.
What and Where is BPA?
BPA, or Bisphenol A, is most commonly used in plastics and to coat things like shopping receipts and food cans. For the scientifically minded out there, it is most commonly used in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. It is a synthetically-made chemical that does not naturally occur in nature, but due to its persistent use in consumer products, can be found in water, aquatic animals, and humans mainly. The 2002 BPA market saw 2.8 million tons produced globally, and the numbers have only increased until recently. Some of the most common products can be found in our food plastics including baby bottles.
Should I Be Concerned?
According to the American Chemistry Council and industry trade groups, No.
According to health officials worldwide including the FDA and health scientists, Yes.
Take a minute to reflect on the different sources of information.
So, Why the Controversy?
Mainly, different mindsets. The chemical industry and chemical trade groups are taking the approach that until it has not been proven to cause immediate harm to human health. Resulting with the approach that there is little need to address the situation, so business continues as usual. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally deemed low rates of BPA exposure as safe. The chemical industry is first to tell you that BPA is highly regulated and tested and has been studied for over 40 years.
Unfortunately, there is a growing body of evidence that is proving that BPA exposure is not safe. Its effects on the brain, diabetes, prostate gland, and in particular the reproductive system and children is of great concern. In February of this year, the FDA made a public announcement encouraging households to limit their exposure to BPA. Now the FDA has not made a formal announcement that BPA should be publicly banned, but countries like Canada have decided to review whether this should be done until we learn can be certain there is absolutely no health risk.
The real health concerns arise when BPA levels increase, and since manufacturers have no control over what their consumers eat and are exposed to in conjunction with their product, the responsibility lays with each of us to decide which approach we will take.
CBS News Video on the 2010 FDA Announcement to Limit BPA Exposure
CBS News Reviews FDA Warning on BPA
Tips for BPA-Free Living
The Mayo Clinic offers these tips for reducing your potential exposure to BPA:
- Choose glass or BPA-free plastic baby bottles.
- Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids.
- Avoid plastic containers with the No. 7 and No. 3 recycling label — they’re made with BPA.
- Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Instead, use glass containers designed for microwaving.
- Reduce your use of canned foods — many cans are lined with a BPA-containing resins
Please note that BPA is not required to be listed on food products or consumer goods, so it may be hard to find and eliminate all together. BPA can be flushed out of the body within 6 hours according to current research, so cleansing your body of BPA quickly is an option.
So it is up to you to decide which approach is best for your lifestyle. Either the wait and see method or the precautionary principle. Best of luck with your decision.
Sources include: Reuters, Chemical Market Associates, Inc (CMAI), Mayo Clinic, American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division Business Group
Is Wind Energy Not Worth The Investment?
Robert Bryce from the Wall Street Journal thinks that wind energy could actually be causing more carbon emissions than often advertised. Bryce found research that suggests because wind is not a consistent source of energy, coal plants have to pick up the slack. The research found that it requires more energy to start coal fire generators than if left running. Hist entire piece called Wind Power Won’t Cool Down the Planet can be found on the Wall Street Journal.
Not Thinking Ahead
The major flaw with Bryce’s argument would have to be the fact that he is only thinking about now, without looking ahead into the future. Wind may be the most popular now, but there are so many other sources of energy that we can invest in that could help us eliminate our need for coal and oil. I may be a little naive, but I would hope that America would one day rely on only renewable and clean energy sources.
That could be 50, 75 or even more than 100 years down the road. The fact is that we cannot continue to rely on the current sources of energy that we are without causing further damage to our planet as well as shortage of those sources. The only way we are going to see long term reduction in carbon emissions is if we keep investing and continue to incorporate wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable sources available to us.
The cost of investing in renewable energy is high at the moment, but it could help reduce future energy costs. Research can also be done now to help reduce that cost and help make it more efficient in the future. The cost will be drastically reduced and electricity can be generated a higher percentage of the time.
Another point that he brings up is that natural gas is a solution we should consider. There is enough natural gas to meet our needs, but what happens when that runs out? It’s only a matter of time before we have to go back and start considering renewable energy sources again.
To answer the original question of this post: Yes. Some of the points that Bryce brings up in his article are valid. People may be pocketing incentives from the government and wind energy is currently expensive. The major problem is that all solutions we currently have are only short term. We need to continue investing in renewable energy and get over these initial speed bumps to one day be using a source that will not leave us in a bind in the future.
What are your thoughts?
