Save the Planet: Have Fewer Kids

From LiveScience, via Yahoo News:

livescience.com – Mon Aug 3, 12:18 pm ET

For people who are looking for ways to reduce their "carbon footprint," here's one radical idea that could have a big long-term impact, some scientists say: Have fewer kids.

A study by statisticians at Oregon State University concluded that in the United States, the carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of an extra child is almost 20 times more important than some of the other environment-friendly practices people might employ during their entire lives - things like driving a high mileage car, recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.

"In discussions about climate change, we tend to focus on the carbon emissions of an individual over his or her lifetime," said study team member Paul Murtaugh. "Those are important issues and it's essential that they should be considered. But an added challenge facing us is continuing population growth and increasing global consumption of resources."

Reproductive choices haven't gained as much attention in the consideration of human impact to the Earth, Murtaugh said. When an individual produces a child - and that child potentially produces more descendants in the future - the effect on the environment can be many times the impact produced by a person during their lifetime.

[ read more ]

The little things that all add up

Hidden amidst the doom and gloom constantly surfacing about our current environmental crisis, occasionally a little tidbit of ingenuity catches my attention and makes me marvel at humankind's capacity for invention and creativity - case in point. Too cool! Hey, every little bit helps, right?

Deep Thoughts

{WARNING: Rambling and possibly less than coherent writing ahead. Proceed at your own risk.}

I've had a lot of heavy thoughts rolling around in my little brain lately, and I'm sure I'm going to do a terrible job of articulating them, because they are the kind of deep thoughts that don't necessarily lend themselves well to written expression. Still, I want to try.

I think, as a vegan, I go through phases in my life where my vegan beliefs and lifestyle choices are more of a background component of who I am (I always practice them, I just don't always think about them so much; they feel more like habit). Then, there are other times, like now, when thoughts about animal rights and veganism seem to consume a lot of my mental and emotional energy. And it's not just animal stuff; I find myself thinking a lot about all kinds of social injustices and terrible things happening to people all over the world too.

I feel weighed down by all of the suffering in the world (both animal and human), and part of me feels helpless to make a difference. But then another part of me tells the first part, "That's bullshit. Quit being such a lame ass." I think what this sophisticated conversation between my two brains actually means is that I need to take on some kind of concrete, tangible task(s). I'm hoping if I do, I will feel useful and more hopeful.

As for what the tasks should be... well, that's a good question. As you may have noticed, I'm rather swamped with life as-is, and would probably be insane to take a bunch more stuff on. So I need to be smart, but still find a way to create more peace within myself. Matt and I have a couple of acres here; I'd love to provide a home for some rescued farm animals... chickens, turkeys, who knows... but I worry about keeping them safe from the dogs. We would need to make an investment of time and money to do some fencing or something I guess. I honestly have moments where I think I should uproot my entire life and go live in some far-off place where I can work with a sanctuary like Best Friends or Peaceful Prairie. I won't do it, but wouldn't it be great if I could? Or maybe direct animal contact isn't what I need to do - maybe I need to find ways to do more outreach and education? Ack, who knows. Suggestions are welcome.

I think part of my problem is I'm feeling very isolated and alone in the way I perceive the world and choose to life my life. None of my family is vegan, including my husband, which is tough sometimes, as much as I love him. I don't have any vegan friends (at least in real life, although I love all my bloggy pals) and I feel like it would be really empowering to be able to plug into some kind of network of like minded people and get involved in some kind of activism. But I live in the boondocks...

And moving beyond veganism and animal rights (the topics I am the most drawn to on a deep, instinctual level), I've been thinking a lot about politics and how much I hate feeling like I have to choose the lesser of two (or ten) evils. I'm sure I'm going to piss some people off here, but honestly the front runner Democratic candidates don't seem all that much better than the Republicans (okay, a little better, but really not much). They are all in the pockets of big corporations, and aren't liberal enough for me. I find myself feeling apathetic and avoiding watching or listening to any national news, because I'm so sick of hearing the same old crap over and over. I feel like most politicians' priorities are severely out of whack, and unfortunately that's probably true of most of the general population.

Consider this information, which I found on the No Impact Man blog some time ago...

Two 2006 studies reported the following statistics:

• 58% believe climate change as a result of global warming has already begun
• 58% also believe that increases in Earth’s temperature over the last century are due more to human activities than natural changes
• 85% say global warming is probably happening
• 88% think global warming threatens future generations

Sounds pretty good, right? Everybody's getting on board, realizing we have a serious problem here that needs to be dealt with... but wait - a 2007 poll by CBS news asked "What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" and got the following responses:

• 28% say War in Iraq
• 16% say Economy/Jobs
• 8% say Health care
• 6% say Terrorism (general)
• 5% say Immigration
• 4% say Foreign policy
• 3% say Poverty/homelessness
• 3% say Defense/military
• 3% say Misc. social issue
• 3% say Misc. government issues
• 16% say Other
• 5% say Unsure

Whaaaaaaaaaat???? Where is 'Environment'? or 'Global Warming'??? In my mind, the environment and the problems we're inflicting on it are absolutely the most critical issue facing this entire planet's population right now. I just feel like I'm on a totally different page from 99% of politicians and 'Average Americans'. (God, that sounds smug and superior. I don't mean to sound that way, I really don't.)

Well, as far as politics go, I've decided rather than drop out completely, I'm going to do what I can to support the one candidate I actually respect and admire. Dennis Kucinich seems to me to be honest, straightforward, and about as liberal as they get on the national level. Plus, he's vegan, which certainly can't hurt! So, GO DENNIS!!!

And to throw another one at you, I've been reading Enrique's Journey during the last couple of days, and have found myself deeply affected by it. I don't know how anyone could read this book and not be changed by it, but in my case I have been drawing some parallels between certain characters and situations in the book and certain things I know or suspect about Carlos' birthfamily, so it all hits pretty close to home.

So, to add to the list of sadnesses weighing on my mind lately, I've now been thinking a ton about the plight of would-be illegal immigrants, both those who make it to the US and those who don't. The lives they lead, the people they leave behind, the horrors they endure on their quest for a better life, the brutal deaths that many ultimately face... well, it puts any little problems in my life in perspective, that's for sure.

Okay, okay, you are probably thinking I'm crazy by now, if you've actually stuck with me throughout this whole rambling post. I guess I just needed to get some things off my chest. If this is your first visit to my blog, come back again sometime, I usually post about pretty beads and jewelry and silly little pictures of my adorable son.

A Truly Inconvenient Truth

Today's vegalicious blog entry brought my attention to a new article (http://www.atrulyinconvenienttruth.com/) on the Vegan Outreach website (my chosen charity for June 2007, by the way). It ties in with the post I wrote the other day and it's something I am really passionate about so I'm going to quote it here. If it interests you (and it should!), please read the full article.

To fight global warming, it is easy to insist the government implement new laws and
policies. It is also relatively easy (albeit expensive) to change to a more fuel-efficient car. None of these affect one's personal life in any significant way, however.

If one takes the threat of global warming seriously, the most powerful personal step you can take may well be choosing a vegetarian diet. As pointed out in the Baltimore Sun (July 19, 2007; reproduced here):

We're getting "greener": Recycling, energy-saving light bulbs and fuel-efficient hybrid cars are now a part of our culture and economy. But most people are neglecting one of the most important steps toward stopping global warming: adopting a vegetarian diet.

It is not just animal advocates making the connection between what we choose to eat and the future of the Earth. In November of 2006, the United Nations issued a press release that stated:

Which causes more greenhouse gas emissions, rearing cattle or driving cars?

Surprise!

According to a new report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent – 18 percent – than transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.

Says Henning Steinfeld, Chief of FAO’s Livestock Information and Policy Branch and senior author of the report: “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems. Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.”

[ read full article ]

Stuff & Things

Just a quick post to let you know I'm still alive (just not making much jewelry and therefore without much to post about) and pass on this information, which I found on the No Impact Man blog, explaining the environmental impact of eating meat...

Why eating less meat helps the environment
By Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man

According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization’s November, 2006 report, “Livestock’s Long Shadow–Environmental Issues and Options”:

• 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock (more than from transportation).
• 70 percent of previously forested land in the Amazon was cleared to pasture cattle.
• Two-thirds (64 percent) of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and acidification of ecosystems, come from cattle.
• The livestock sector accounts for over 8 percent of global human water use, while 64 percent of the world’s population will live in water-stressed areas by 2025.
• The world’s largest source of water pollution is believed to be the livestock sector.
• In the United States, livestock are responsible for a third of the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus into freshwater resources.
• Livestock account for about 20 percent of the total terrestrial animal biomass, and the 30 percent of the earth’s land surface that they now pre-empt was once habitat for wildlife, in an era of unprecedented threats to biodiversity.
• These problems will only get worse as meat production is expected to double by 2050.

I don't know about you, but to me these are shocking and disturbing facts (and I was even aware of most of it already!) - I was especially upset by the last point - how disheartening... I hope as a society we can get past this strange meat addiction that is harming not only the planet, but our own health and (obviously) animals.

And on another note, I need some last-minute charity ideas for September; the group I was hoping to donate to has not responded to any of my emails so I'm going to pick something else. Perhaps in light of today's posting topic, I will donate to an environmental charity. Anyone have any favorites?

What I'm Excited About Today:

1. I found out that our local recycling center has a big stash of used bubble mailers that they give away for free. I've been troubled lately by the wastefulness of buying box after box of new bubble mailers that will probably all end up in someone's trash, and now I don't have to fret anymore! The larger ones will be cut in half, and I'll stick a new label on and probably enclose a small note for my customers explaining my environmental reasons for reusing envelopes. I know it's not as pretty but hopefully people will appreciate the motive behind it.

2. Every so often, I eat something without it even dawning on me to check the ingredients for non-vegan substances (such as Planters dry roasted peanuts - who would ever think to check for gelatin???) - anyways, a few years ago I met and fell in love with Altoids cinnamon mints... that is, until I found out that they too contained gelatin. I was disgusted and never at them again - blech. But today at the natural foods store, I found these.

Yum!!! (And in case any of you non-vegetariand are confused about why gelatin is a no-no, it is made from animal bones and tendons and things like that.)

Plastic bags are evil

Okay, apparently I'm on a 'green' kick today. I may have to add that as one of my official topics for this blog! As if I don't have enough already. I have been reading the No Impact Man blog lately and came across an entry about how horrible plastic bags are. Of course I already knew they were horrible, but this gave me even more information than I had previously.

I've already come a long way in reducing my plastic bag use, but I want to do more. So far, I use my own (cloth) bags when I go shopping about 95% of the time, and the bags that come home with me the other 5% of the time (either paper or plastic) get re-used as garbage can liners in the kitchen. I've all but eliminated my zip-top bag consumption by relying more and more on reusable plastic containers for leftovers and lunches. I have still been using plastic bags for produce at the grocery store (I try to reuse them if they don't get too icky, but still...not good). That's what I'm going to cut out next. I just ordered these to use in the store instead of plastic bags and these to use once I get home to reduce the amount of produce that goes bad before I get around to eating it. Yay!

Now, if only I could find a way to eliminate the plastic bags I use for my jewelry without compromising quality... my beads go out in little plastic bags, and so does much of my finished jewelry. It's important for keeping the sterling silver from tarnishing, and to keep loose beads contained. Any ideas, anybody???

PG&E Launches ClimateSmart - A Green Energy Option for Californians

I was excited to receive this information from Pacific Gas & Electric today!

Dear Tamara,

I am pleased to announce the public launch of ClimateSmart today. ClimateSmart is a first-of-its kind, voluntary program that allows you to make your energy use "climate neutral.” Designed to be a best-in-class program, ClimateSmart will invest 100% of the funds in independently certified greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in California.

We are all responsible for climate change due to the lifestyles we live. Many of our daily activities – including using energy in our homes and offices – generate greenhouse gases. The most cost-effective way to reduce these emissions is to use energy more efficiently. Take advantage of PG&E’s energy efficiency, rebates and programs at pge.com. While doing what you can to reduce your energy use, ClimateSmart lets you make the rest climate neutral.

We invite you to return to pge.com/climatesmart. We have recently launched new tools and information on the program including:

· ClimateSmart cost estimator – use this online tool to estimate your ClimateSmart amount based on your use of electricity and natural gas.

· Learn about the competitive bidding process we are using to select independent, high quality ClimateSmart greenhouse gas emission reduction projects.

· Discover your carbon footprint with our online carbon footprint calculator.

Enroll online today!

To learn more or to sign up, please visit: pge.com/climatesmart

Yay! I've been waiting for this for a while. They say it will cost the average household under $5 a month to participate - well worth it if it truly delivers on its promise to effectively neutralize your home energy usage. I just tried to go sign up but I need my PG&E account number and I don't keep my bills, so I guess as soon as the next bill comes I'll be signing up!