Christmas Problems

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well… apart from the fact that the weather is more autumnal. There isn’t a hint of snow. We basically don’t get those cold winters that we used to when I was growing up.

Global warming is having a massive effect on everything. Currently Australia is suffering from extensive forest fires and the hottest days on record, well above 40 degrees C. England is suffering from extensive flooding which is being repeated more than ever. I cannot recall many days when the road between my city and the neighbouring town has been open lately, due to a continually flooded road.

I try not to be too negative about the whole thing but it really is time we all woke up to global warming as the impact is massive. I read articles everyday about the increasing speed at which ice caps are melting in Greenland and down in the Antarctic continent. At the same time I see coastal villages sinking into the sea. Not because of land movements but due to the fact that sea levels are visibly going up.

Christmas is a time of reflection. Remember we can make a difference by following the lead of Greta Thurnberg and making choices about the way that we travel and use energy.

Maybe next year we can go on holidays without using planes. Perhaps we can walk or cycle to work more often. I guess one of the easiest things that we can do is look at packaging and not buy anything flown into the country by air.

I try to be positive and believe we can make a massive difference if we act now.

Happy Christmas! Please think about a small change you can make to help the environment next year.

Environmental Truth

Let’s go back to basics.

When I was a geography student at university twenty years ago, the issue of environmental decline was a subject that we were well aware of but hardly ever seemed to make headlines.

I studied environmental transport management as well as environmental change in the biosphere. I was made aware of projections which included sea level rises, mass extinctions of animals and dramatic weather systems. It has been known about but so many people held back and waited for the evidence.

Let’s be honest. We waited. The evidence is now smacking us in the cheeks. We cannot let people undermine this issue. I read some influencers who say that Greta Thunberg is trying to guide policymakers. That is fine with me. She is not inflating the truth. It is unavoidable. The future she describes is visible on the horizon.

Do I need to justify the level of concern? No. We don’t have time to deliberate. We need to start to act and ignore the ridiculous naysayers who seem to think money-making is far more important than saving animals from extinction and protecting coastal towns etc.

Yesterday reports confirmed that the UN is warning people not to buy low-lying homes on the coasts. So many islands have suffered from unusual floods and many have already become partly submerged due to sea level rises. Nuatambu Island is part of the Solomon Islands and has already suffered partial submersion, losing half of its inhabitable lands since 2011. It is just one example and the impact of more floods is already highlighting how this process is increasing in pace.

Ice sheets are melting at a faster rate than before. A well known glacier, Sermilik, in Greenland has depleted by 9m this summer alone. This is upsetting and we know that the thinner the ice gets, the more warming affects the lower layers, especially those covering up land. Less ice also means less reflection of solar energy, contributing further to a general warming of the local climate. This spiral of events now presents with habitat threats for polar bears, seals and penguins as well as other creatures which exist within their food chains.

I intend to continue highlighting and analysing the information which is forthcoming and hope that you will engage with me as I endeavour to find out how we can move forward, support Greta with her cause and spread the word about the facts which surround the utmost significant event of our times. Forget Brexit and Trump. Climate change is dangerous, REAL and undoable. Help us to undo it by joining the debate, emphasising ways we can make a difference and encouraging governments to make environmental policy changes that will stave off climate change.

Stop The Crazy Gun Laws!

Let’s Act Fast and make a difference.

It is worth thinking about the gun problem in America. It feels kind of numb. How can we seriously be watching all of these atrocities without somehow trying to overcome them? I saw an article today which suggested that Trump refused to comment on the issue after last night’s awful shooting at the newspaper office in Maryland. It disgusted me. It is as if some people don’t bat an eyelid at such horrific events.

Golly, America really does need to act fast. The political system there needs to recognise the vulnerability of its citizens and put measures into place quickly to remedy all of this. Everyone needs to make the democratically voted for Senators set policies to over turn the right to bear arms.

I was so concerned to see how many terrifying shootings have taken place this year alone. So widespread and affecting all ages. If you read this article please consider lobbying elected officials to begin the process of eradicating this crazy freedom to own and use firearms. We have to save lives by proactively overturning such a ridiculous law.

Please comment and spread awareness of this awful problem and help make it top news!