Why I Supported Climate Strike

View original post

Before I get started, I'd like to offer one fundamental truth. I hope that we can all understand and agree that the climate on earth has always and will continue to change with or without man's activities.

All we know is ice age

This little rock that we affectionately call earth is no stranger to wild temperature swings. Scientists broadly agree that earth has experienced 5 major ice ages, the earliest of which began well over 2 billion years ago. Our most recent ice age began about 3 million years ago and, interestingly enough, it continues to this day. Really, you're living in an ice age!

So, why do I support climate change activism? It's not a political perspective. I don't belong to a party. To a degree (pun intended), it's due to scientific studies. I do believe science is the best tool for interpreting the language of mother nature, but it's not science that convinced me to join. I joined the strike, because of a preponderance of evidence, personal experiences, and one other reason I'll share later.

The problem with the scientific method is that it doesn't often yield a conclusion as quickly as we would like or need. Such is the case with climate change. There's so much that's inconclusive, but the change is happening at an alarming rate. It's the rate that should have all of us concerned.

Within each ice age there are events referred to as "glacial" and "inter-glacial"

periods. We're in the latter, a warmer period, which began about 11,000 years ago. The ice age we're living in was at its peak around 20,000 years ago when the earth was estimated to be about 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. For perspective, the industrial revolution began only about 260 years ago. So, we should begin our evaluation of human impact starting around 1759 and forward. Okay, man has been burning forests for much longer, but we've seen those same forests swallow most signs of our activity by regrowth. Still, our industrial activity represents no more than a few seconds in earth's geologic time.

There are numerous potential contributors to earth's climate variations including changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns, changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide, and certainly volcanic eruptions. We can easily assume that the ever changing positions of earth's continents, caused by tectonic plate movements, significantly altered ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns.

Climatologists commonly believe that today's ice age began when the land bridge between

North and South America (Isthmus of Panama) formed and ended the circulation of tropical waters between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. 

What's does all of this have to do with global warming today? Little at most. You see, these are events that aren't happening today or they're events that take millions and, more likely, tens of millions of years to unfold. Our impact has been so great in such a brief amount of time that there is now heated debate among noted scholars as to whether we've created a new epoch. Did we create the Anthropocene in a geologic blink of an eye?

Allow me to back up. An epoch is a definable unit that geologists and paleontologists use to break down the broad concept of "deep" time. These units of time are defined by stratigraphic layers that are chemically or biologically distinct. Now, imagine that you're a geologist 10 million years from now. You're digging on an desert island in an area that was once one of LA's 4 major watersheds. How difficult do you think it would be for a scientist of the future to identify stratigraphic layers that are chemically or biologically different, and significantly different, from surrounding layers before and after our time? One thing is for certain, he or she should be wearing gloves.

I'm neither a geologist or a paleontologist, but I do know that we've moved mountains, piled trash hundreds of feet high over many thousand of square mile, flushed billions of metric tons of soil into the oceans, drilled millions of holes thousands of feet into the earth surface,

burned millions of acres of forests to the ground, spread plastic debris to the deepest depths of the ocean and the highest peaks on earth, drove hundreds of species to extinction and many more to the brink, and we've even introduced nuclear waste into earth's global oceanic and stratospheric currents on too many occasions. There's literally no place on earth untouched by our waste. Get this, it's estimated that there are 230 billion square meters of paved road on earth. In the US alone, we've covered more than 100,000 square miles with asphalt. Have you noticed how hot that stuff get's in summer? I'm not concluding anything here, it's part of the preponderance of evidence for cause.

I know, I won't change the minds of those who won't believe that man has played a role in the changing climate. Some folks just won't trust the scientific community. Perhaps, it's because they recall incidents when politicians have coerced a scientist group to modify the  results of one study or another. I agree, there are reasons to be skeptical at times. For those, I can only suggest to put emotions aside and do more homework, just not on Twitter.

What are your observations? Have you ever noticed how difficult is is to walk barefoot on concrete or blacktop on a hot summer afternoon? Did you look for some grass or dirt to relieve yourself of pain from the scorching heat? Have you ever felt the hot air coming off the heat exchanger from your air conditioning unit? Why's it so much hotter than the air in the area you're trying to cool? Who's searched for a parking spot under a shade tree and wondered how many shade tree's were removed to create the parking lot? Have you ever wondered what life forms used to live where there's only blacktop and concrete today?

What I find most alarming is the way in which many folks arrive at a position or conclusion on the topic. In fact, both sides are guilty of dismissing any form of logic or reasoning at times. Case in point, I posted to several Facebook groups the day before the strike event asking who was going. Here are a few naysayer responses (I didn't correct spelling or punctuation):

• Yay New GREEN DEAL, no cow, planes,... cost trillions!
• I wonder when the last time any of them planted a tree?
• Sadly, they are indoctrinated.
• Who organized this crap? George soros?
• idiots
• First it was "global Cooling" but then it started getting warmer. Then, it was "global warming," but then it started getting cooler. Now, it's "climate change," so we're covered either way.

And the best one:

• Just wondering how we ever made it through the last 5 or 6 ice ages and climate change without you all

Can we attribute these kinds of responses to political influences, religion, fear, ignorance or something else? One thing is for certain, they're emotional.

I'm convinced there's no single cause for global warming, although it seems clear that burning fossil fuels has been a major contributor. Plus, we just can't seem to keep from spilling the stuff everywhere. Still changing energy sources, however clean they may seem, won't stop the rise. We need to rely on less energy, focus on limiting manufacturing and growth for the sake of profit. We need to stop buying things to replace things that don't need to be replaced. We don't need a new phone just because Apple came out with a new one.

It's not that we all want to be hunter-gatherers or live a permaculture existence; well some us want to give it a try. Most of us understand that Mother Nature isn't dying. We're eternally incapable of killing her. She's physics, chemistry, biology, the moon and the stars. She doesn't care about us, only the processes. Of course, we're able to influence these processes. That's the issue at hand and, unfortunately, we haven't learned how to improve them.

There's so much that we/I don't understand, but it's clear that one day, for any number of reasons, the processes on earth will no longer support human life.

Now I have to ask if we can agree on one more thing. Can we agree that we all want to extend the processes that support our existence and that of future generations? This is the basis for my support. Well, that and I like the people.

As Gaylord Nelson once stated - 

“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”

Are You Going to Eat That?

5 Best ways to reduce food waste

View original post

How you ask? By:

Compost this

1. Planning
2. Proper Storage

3. Preparation

4. Donation

5. Composting

Most people don't realize how much food they throw away every day — from uneaten leftovers to spoiled produce. About 94 percent of the food we throw away ends up in landfills or combustion facilities. In 2015, we disposed 37.6 million tons of food waste. By managing food sustainably and reducing waste, we can help businesses and consumers save money, provide a bridge in our communities for those who do not have enough to eat, and conserve resources for future generations.

Benefits of Reducing Wasted Food

· Saves money from buying less food.

· Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.

· Conserves energy and resources, preventing pollution involved in the growing, manufacturing, transporting, and selling food (not to mention hauling the food waste and then landfilling it).

· Supports your community by providing donated untouched food that would have otherwise gone to waste to those who might not have a steady food supply.

PLANNING

Planning, prepping, and storing food can help your household waste less food. By simply making a list with weekly meals in mind, you can save money and time and eat healthier food. If you buy no more than what you expect to use, you will be more likely to keep it fresh and use it all.

· Keep a running list of meals and their ingredients that your household already enjoys. That way, you can easily choose, shop for and prepare meals.

· Make your shopping list based on how many meals you’ll eat at home. Will you eat out this week? How often?

· Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping and buy only the things needed for those meals.

· Include quantities on your shopping list noting how many meals you’ll make with each item to avoid overbuying. For example: salad greens - enough for two lunches.

· Look in your refrigerator and cupboards first to avoid buying food you already have, make a list each week of what needs to be used up and plan upcoming meals around it.

· Buy only what you need and will use. Buying in bulk only saves money if you can use the food before it spoils.

STORAGE

· It’s easy to overbuy or forget about fresh fruits and vegetables. Store fruits and vegetables

for maximum freshness; they’ll taste better and last longer, helping you to eat more of them.

· Find out how to store fruits and vegetables so they stay fresh longer inside or outside your refrigerator.

· Freeze, preserve, or can surplus fruits and vegetables - especially abundant seasonal produce.

· Many fruits give off natural gases as they ripen, making other nearby produce spoil faster. Store bananas, apples, and tomatoes by themselves, and store fruits and vegetables in different bins.

· Wait to wash berries until you want to eat them to prevent mold.

· If you like to eat fruit at room temperature, but it should be stored in the refrigerator for maximum freshness, take what you’ll eat for the day out of the refrigerator in the morning.

PREPARATION

Prepare perishable foods soon after shopping. It will be easier to whip up meals or snacks later in the week, saving time, effort, and money.
When you get home from the store, take the time to wash, dry, chop, dice, slice, and place your fresh food items in clear storage containers for snacks and easy cooking.
Be sure your containers are reusable and not one-time use disposable bags or containers. Befriend your freezer and visit it often. For example, freeze food such as bread, sliced fruit, or meat that you know you won’t be able to eat in time. Cut your time in the kitchen by preparing and freezing meals ahead of time.
DONATE

If you can't reduce wasted food, divert It from landfills. Nutritious, safe, and untouched food can be donated to food banks to help those in need. Perhaps surprising to some, our EPA is a good source for connecting to the right organizations for feeding those in need.

By redirecting unspoiled food from a landfill to our neighbors in need, individuals can support their local communities and reduce environmental impact. Non-perishable and unspoiled perishable food can be donated. Donated food can also include leftovers from events and surplus food inventory.

Food pantries, food banks and food rescue programs are available across the country to

Food Recovery

collect food and redistribute it to those in need. Food banks are community-based, professional organizations that collect food from a variety of sources and save the food in warehouses.

The food bank then distributes the food to hungry families and individuals through a variety of emergency food assistance agencies, such as soup kitchens, youth or senior centers, shelters and pantries. Most food banks tend to collect more non-perishable foods such as canned goods because they can be stored for a longer time.

Food Rescue

Food rescue programs take excess perishable and prepared food and distribute it to agencies and charities that serve hungry people such as soup kitchens, youth or senior centers, shelters and pantries. Many of these agencies visit the food bank each week to select fresh produce and packaged products for their meal programs or food pantries.

A Food Bank Network

Many also take direct donations from stores, restaurants, cafeterias, and individuals with surplus food to share. Remember to contact your local food pantry, food bank or food rescue operation to find out what items they accept. Also, food banks will often pick up donations free of charge.

COMPOSTING

What is composting? Is it truly beneficial for the environment? How do I do it? Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. It enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests. Compost also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and it encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.
Composting Leftovers
Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. It enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests. Compost also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and it encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.

Composting Basics
All composting requires three basic ingredients:

• Browns - This includes materials such as dead leaves, branches, and twigs.
• Greens - This includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds.
• Water - Having the right amount of water, greens, and browns is important for compost development.

Your compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens. You should also alternate layers of organic materials of different-sized particles. The brown materials provide carbon for your compost, the green materials provide nitrogen, and the water provides moisture to help break down the organic matter.

Backyard Composting

Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin. Add brown and green materials as they are collected, making sure larger pieces are chopped or shredded. Moisten dry materials as they are added. Once your compost pile is established, mix grass clippings and green waste into the pile and bury fruit and vegetable waste under 10 inches of compost material.

Live Green & Save Money

Learn more about composting and other money saving, green living tips in our free eBook “Live Green & Save Money".

Visit us and sign up at Bishop’s Green Home.

The Power of Good Deeds

Best Friends Dog Park

View original post

Two years ago, it never occurred to me that I would start writing a blog. For that matter, two years ago I had little understanding of what a blog was, why someone would write one or why anyone would have interest in tuning in.

But this story isn’t about blogging. It’s about acts of discovery, self determination and how people feel when they discover stories of selfless acts and generosity.

Oddly enough, it was me who introduced a prospective buyer (I’ll call him Gomer) to Dave, my boss and CEO. Dave was ready to retire and was seeking a buyer for his company, not just any buyer, but one that would retain his employees. Devotion to his employees ran deep. In fact, it was hard to imagine how deep at times.

Gomer’s pitch started with just the three of us in the large conference room. The pitch was polished and entertaining, at times goofy, even comical. Still, it was clear that the acquisition made sense. Within a few days the offer arrived and my 16 years with the company would soon be marked with an expiration date.

It was about three years prior, when I volunteered to direct the development of the company’s new web site. The old one had so many issues, not the least of which was not having administration access. Another story for another time. Worst of all, the site wasn’t generating any traffic. Our SEO was archaic.

Directing or developing a new website wasn’t something that I was well equipped to do. After all, my job was selling custom engineered manufacturing systems, managing my capital projects and a territory covering Western North America. Still, our new owners wanted me to continue with the project.

I was given unlimited access to the consulting services of their former IT director, who was now contracting with them (I’ll call him Hank). An avid fisherman and a joy to work with, Hank instructed me on the importance of SEO and social media from his private fishing dock (I’m just a bit jealous). Together, we agreed to award our website development contract to an outfit local to us in Tustin, CA. To help us get on track with our SEO we contracted with a search optimization group and their local expert Steve. Once I had these contracts in place, I felt that most of my work would be complete. Oh, how wrong I was.

Together, Hank and Steve would remind me of the importance of social media and the connection to our website’s SEO. They had me convinced, but I felt that writing articles, re-posting, and tweeting while managing LinkedIn and Facebook pages would just take too much time away from my sales activities and current projects. I was already overloaded and besides, traffic on our site was way up and we were beginning to get leads again. By this time, my sales were suffering from lack of attention. I reapplied myself to my true responsibilities and watched the site’s traffic become a trickle.

HB Best Friends Dog Park

Leaping forward, unemployed, I was spending more time volunteering. I’m a dog lover with two rescues that visit dog park regularly. Our local one “Best Friends” in Huntington Beach, operates entirely from donations. So, when a board member mentioned the need for new park benches, I offered to build them.

This is where I began to understand the meaning of engagement on social media. Once our first bench was completed, my oldest son Cody and I carried and placed a new bench at the park’s highest slope. Proud of my work, I took a few photos and left for home. For some reason, the next night I decided to post a photo of the bench on our local community’s Facebook group page. I had never posted to a group before, although I was following a few of them.

What happened next blew my mind. The group has about 18,000 followers and apparently, many of them like dogs or benches or volunteerism. Whatever the case, in just 12 hours it had been re-posted on multiple pages, the original had received 939 likes and 74 comments (many more today).

Bench Project Donation

On top of that I’ve received multiple friend requests and two, not so serious, job offers.

So, here’s how the pieces of this story tie together? I volunteered at work and learned some new skills. It cost me my job. I volunteered in my community, made new friends and learned a valuable lesson about what others value. The experiences lead me to start a company doing something dear to my heart, one that spreads positive messages and spread good in community and beyond. I may never make a living from it, but it feels right. I certain that good news is going to travel fast.

By Mac Bishop

Live Green & Save Money