Climate And Gardens On My Mind

I've read a couple of things about the United States withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord and am puzzled by most of the reactions, which border on hysteria. Our previous president got us into it rather arbitrarily, if my recall is even halfway accurate. That's neither here nor there in what puzzles me. I just threw it in because I felt like it.


Here's an article that's not from any of the 'usual' sources:



ACCUWEATHER has this to say:

"The manner in which the U.S. leaves the Paris agreement is still up in the air and it could be several years before the exit officially happens. There are three ways in which the U.S. could leave the agreement, according to Climate Central.

[A] One scenario is that rather than executing a formal withdraw, Trump and his administration could simply stop efforts to limit greenhouse gas pollution.

[B] If the U.S. does formally withdraw, the treaty requires a country wait three years after joining the agreement before they can file the necessary paperwork to leave the accord, meaning the U.S. wouldn't leave until near November 2020.

[C] A third and more aggressive option would be if the U.S. pulls out of the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). According to Climate Central, the Paris Agreement states that any country that withdraws from the UNFCCC is also considered to have left the Paris accord. The waiting period in this scenario would be one year."

The timeline/s involved give/s us a window of at least a year to come to terms with the whole thing, so the flustering and blustering seems a bit overdone.

The billions of dollars on the line aren't pocket change, you know. You and I can pretty well guess that the pockets those billions were probably slated to fill aren't American ones, and the projects they would have funded probably wouldn't have been American ones. Just sayin'.

The rebuttable presumption seems to be that the United States is going to just disregard anything to do with the climate. [option A above]

While that could conceivably be true, I honestly have my doubts that's the intent here. With the United States and China (China's staying in at least for now, by the way) apparently the biggest pollution-makers in the world, does it make sense for us to be spending billions on other parts of the world when we could probably put those dollars to better use right here on our own 'home turf'?

I'm typically a 'pie in the sky' optimist about a lot of things other folks see only gloom and doom in. Not always, mind you, but a lot of the time I am. I will happily own that.

So let's play 'What If' for just a minute here.

What if we not only spend those billions on developing alternative energy sources and alternatives to most of the things we're currently using non-renewables for, but add an incentive for our own (and other) corporations to invest a hefty hunk of their profit margins in said developments and training for the associated jobs? It will pay off for them before too long I should think. That ought to make everyone happy, right? The world better not gripe either, because we'll be doing what they say they want (only in our own way).

Being as we're right up there at the top of the 'guilty party' list, you'd think the rest of the world would be kicking into the kitty to help us get off of that list. Why do I not think that's happening, or going to happen? I wonder. No, I don't wonder at all about that. I may be an eternal optimist, but honestly ... I just don't see anything like that happening, do you? Didn't think so. Betcha it hadn't even crossed your mind. Or theirs.

Be that as it may, given that we're apparently 'guilty as charged', it certainly behooves us to be taking steps - on our own as the rest of the world isn't going to suddenly become givers instead of takers - toward removing ourselves from the 'bad list' and doing what America does: be the best as whatever we choose to do. Are we going to stand still while the Scandinavians are kicking our behind on this stuff? I think not.

I've said it before and I'll preach it until the cows come home (there have been several preachers on both sides of my lineages, of whom more than one have been women, so yes I can and I will preach) ... 

Reforest.

Recycle.

Re-purpose.

Renewable Resources.

Use our available resources to develop the ones that will replace them, or at least supplement them until we get to where we don't need them any more.

Use some of those billions to provide American individuals, farms, small towns, bigger towns, cities, counties, and states with both the resources and the practical knowledge to pick up a bit of the energy load by using renewables. Give us what we need, starting with individuals and working up to states, to become responsible contributors to our own benefit and the benefit of everyone else.

You don't think that could happen?

You might be right, but we're playing 'What If' here remember.

I wasn't born yet when Americans were apparently gung ho on growing Victory Gardens during the WWI years. I wasn't born yet when American Women stepped up to the plate to work in factories when their men were away fighting. But I spring from the ones who were gung ho, who did step up. So do you if your family's been in the United States for any length of time. They did what they had to do when they had to do it. So can we. So WILL we.

But we aren't going to do it because some 'outsiders' tell us we have to. We'll do it because we want to, because it's common sense, and because we're just ornery enough to do it to spite those who think we can't or won't.

*laughing*

November 8, 2016 comes to mind. God Bless Deplorables!

We really ought to be doing 'Victory Gardens' anyway, on general principles. Some of us are, and I think Yard Gardens are great for those who have them (and their friends and relatives who get the surplus). Do a web search for Front Yard Gardens and see what you can see. If you don't think the everyday ordinary American family/individual can make a difference, you're flat wrong.

If you're wondering what possible impact such small things as planting gardens and trees and getting a solar panel can have, consider the effect of thousands of us (or millions) doing our own small bit, for ourselves yes but for everyone else's benefit too, could generate. 

We do NOT have to always leave it all up to somebody else, and sit around feeling like there's nothing we can do about anything.

Pffft.

What if Americans really did start planting gardens again (including apple trees, or plum, or whatever), for example, and eating what they themselves have grown? Such a simple thing as that.

There would be a great big impact right there.

Psychologically and intellectually, the pride would make people feel better. They'd have to plan, prepare, and implement their ideas for the kind of garden they want, and then feel accomplished and proud when they prove to themselves and everyone else that they could do it.

Physically, the home grown produce would make people healthier (and better cooks), not to mention the being out of doors on a regular basis, and the exercise. The pharmaceutical companies might not like it, but what the heck. They're already in hot water; let's let them simmer.

Spiritually, reconnecting with and nurturing the natural gifts we've been blessed with might bring us all closer to reconnecting on a bigger scale.

Many of us don't feel much connected to the society in which we live in, sad but true. We each have our own lives to get through as best we can, and most of us are too busy and perhaps too isolated within ourselves. Too many of us don't have the time or the energy to get to know many other people, even the ones who are right next door. 

Think about it for a minute. If you're out in your yard, trying to plan what you might want to plant where, and your neighbors are too, guess what. You're likely to actually have conversations, compare notes, get and give advice. You might be as different as night and day as individuals, but you've found something you have in common.

CLICK

There you go.

Let the healing begin.

Believe it or not, We The People really can set the bar for our own selves. 

And we can set it as high as we want. 

If you think your City Council won't notice if everyone starts planting vegetable gardens in their yards, you're wrong. If you think the media won't notice, you're wrong. If you think our government at all levels won't take notice and take heed, you're wrong. If you think our corporations are insensitive to our wants and needs, you're wrong. If you think that We The People can't send a message on up the line by taking the reins into our own fists, you're wrong. 

What if American families and individuals started planting trees and gardens, whole neighborhoods and communities and towns together with a goal they've set for themselves?

What if American families and individuals and neighborhoods and communities and towns got together (for once) and made sure everyone got some kind of renewable energy source and the knowledge to use it?

You think we can't or won't do it?

Think again.

Nobody has to make a great big deal out of it. It's an individual, family, neighborhood, community, town thing - not some mandate from anyone. That's one of the best things about it: that We The People can just quietly go about making some really positive changes in our own sweet time, in our own sweet way, in our own sweet lives, by our own sweet choice, all by our own sweet selves.

Somebody tell Melania, okay? (no 'first name familiarity' intended but she's kind of our awesome collective Mother Figure now) Our First Lady needs a vegetable garden. And we need someone who cares enough about us to encourage us in making healthy choices. Healthy for us as individuals, and healthy for our nation when neighbors are once again neighbors instead of strangers. Some of us have such families, neighborhoods, communities, and towns, and I'm fortunate to have experienced it. It's something worth sharing. And it's something we can all participate in, whether we have acres or square feet to work with. You can always grow a tomato plant or something in a bucket on your kitchen counter, you know. Pumpkins might be a bad choice for that, but lots of things would be perfect.

It's time for our nation to grow up and to grow into something that's good for all of us, and I mean that literally.

PS: the farmers won't mind; they might laugh, but they won't mind

PS2: I don't need two scoops of ice-cream, but could I please have seconds on those home-grown green beans?

Climate Change and Renewables

I haven't really paid a whole lot of attention to all the brouhaha regarding climate change, mainly because I'm of the opinion that yes the climate is going to change. It's been changing for as long as Earth has been around; why would it stop now?

Frankly I'm somewhat relieved that our President is apparently opting us out of the Paris Climate Accord. In my opinion, there might be better directions for the nations of Earth to take. (that's my polite way of saying it's dumb and a waste of time and resources that would be better used elsewhere)

While I am absolutely in full support of developing renewable energy sources, I'm not quite sure what that has to do with climate change. I'm in favor of renewables because they're ... well ... renewable, as opposed to non-renewable. Hello. Non-renewable stuff runs out eventually. Just because it ain't likely to run out in our time doesn't mean we ignore the fact that it will run out in somebody else's time, and there's no reason for us to not develop renewables now so our future folk will know that we at least thought about them. We can't adjust the way Earth's climate works, but we could maybe start getting some tools ready for those who are going to be coming along behind us so they (or we, for that matter) might have a better chance of adjusting TO said climate.

That being said, I don't think humankind is actually affecting any climate change that's going on, and can't imagine us being able to reverse it, stop it, or even slow it down any.

If we're going to talk about climate change we'd be better off figuring out how to cope with it rather than dicking around trying to influence it.

When humankind can control volcanic activity, which probably isn't going to happen any time soon, we might have a shot at controlling climate change - as just one example. When we can stop impact events, it might be a good idea to do that. When we can control tectonic plate movement and glacial advances and retreats, good for us - but that day is not today, nor any time soon.

We can't do those things, and we cannot control climate change any more than anyone before us has been able to.

Focusing on the renewables makes sense.

So does planning and preparing ourselves ahead of time for what we might need to cope with.

No, I don't know what's going to happen so don't even ask.

But we've got a whole lot of information about what has happened in the lifetime of Earth. Somebody out there has probably got a darned fine idea of what might be going to happen. The sooner they clue the rest of us in, the better.

We are not going to impact whatever climate change is going on with Earth, but we could and should at least pay attention and devote as much as we possibly can of those non-renewables to the development of the renewables that are going to replace them. That just makes sense. Having almost all of our energy eggs in the same basket is just as dumb as thinking we can control the climate changes of Earth.

Before I get off on a tangent about energy, I'm going to rein myself in and spare you and myself (for the moment) an energetic discussion that's both the most simple and the most complex thing ever.

Climate change is going to happen. What I'm interested in is knowing what direction it's going to take, short term and long term (relatively speaking, as in during the next few generations), what the effects are going to be, how the changes are going to impact us as human beings (along with everyone else), and what we can do to prepare.

And yes I know full well that a random impact event could obliterate us in pretty much no time flat, but that's not what I want to know about right now. At the moment I'm just wanting the smart ones among us to talk to the wise ones among us so that maybe the ordinary ones among us (like me and probably you) can at least have some kind of understanding of what all the hoop-la is about - and maybe go about educating our young folk in a way that's halfway sensible.

It's not, in my opinion, sensible for anyone to think we can effectively control climate change. Put stoppers on the volcanoes? Can't do that. Put thermostats on the glaciers? Right.

We could, and really should, replant our forests, though. And get those renewables moving right along. That might be halfway sensible.

If the nations of Earth want to cooperate in something, reforesting would be a great place to start. It's probably not as lucrative for some people, but it would help ALL of the occupants of Earth. It doesn't take a lot of regulation, you know. Just start planting trees. What kind goes where is already pretty obvious.

Whoever makes the investment in developing renewables is going to reap some mighty big profits, which really is such a no-brainer that even I can figure it out. The non-renewables are plenty lucrative but ... there are alternatives and the ones who take the lead are going to benefit even more than the rest of us.

Think on this for a minute.

We HAVE to use the non-renewables for the time being because our world has become dependent on them. We'd best be using them to get the alternatives ready to roll.

Last year there was a big deal about pipelines and that big deal isn't going to go away. It would ease the minds of a lot of people if they knew those pipelines aren't going to be necessary forever. Solar, Wind, Water ... and others ... don't require pipelines for energy distribution. We in the United States are going to be working on our infrastructure anyway; why not make accommodations for renewable energy distribution a part of the plan so we don't have to try to mess with it later?

You know those quantum computers we've been hearing about? We've got some really smart folks among us. Put those smart brains to work figuring out renewable energy sources and how to get them into use.

Just sayin'.

Our world is changing and we might not have time to evolve to meet the demands those changes will put on humankind.

We can buy ourselves some time maybe if we give ourselves more options than we have at the moment. When all is said and done, the nations who are best prepared are in the best position to both survive and to thrive, no matter what the climate does.

I think I might plant a couple of trees in my yard, just because it would be a good thing to do. Maybe one that grows fast, like a poplar, and one that grows slow, like an oak. One for me and one for the generations who aren't even born yet.

Arbor Day was April 28th this year so it's past.

Who says every day can't be Arbor Day?

Plant some trees.

It's one little something we can all do, while the smart folk are figuring out our energy issues and the rich energy folk are finding more baskets for their eggs and the engineers are planning distribution options.

For that matter, install a solar panel or two if you can afford it. Actually, we ought to get them for free, or almost free, and installation too. And every farm and small town ought to have a wind turbine or two or three. Get yourself one if you can, or go in with neighbors for one. There's scads of information on line about them, even plans for doing it yourself. Just don't put the turbines too close to the trees you're planting, or the solar panels either for that matter (putting them in the shade might defeat their purpose).

If enough of us start doing stuff like this, it might get the ball rolling.

And to heck with the Paris Climate Accord for cryin' out loud. If we have to do it ourselves, we can do that. The entire population of our world is made up of individuals, remember.

'Elder-Speak' : Renewable Resources

Mm-hmm ...

Here I go again.

Why am I so all-fired dead set on yammering on about renewable resources?

Because I'm all-fired sick and tired of being told we have to be involved in the conflicts of the Middle East on account of the oil.

What - we don't have our own oil? We do. So why on earth are we fussing about what's going on over there? 

Setting aside for the moment other reasons (equally nuts in my opinion) we might continue said involvement, the oil thing can and should be irrelevant.

I read that we now have three towns in the United States fully functional using renewable power sources.

Whoop whoop.

Every town ought to be fully functional using renewable power sources.

Here's an ARTICLE about some cities that are heading in the direction of renewables ... so we're at least beginning to think ... 

  is where the link will take you for said article. There are any number of related articles on line.

The point here is that we are beginning to think. And we're beginning to act on our thoughts.

It's finally starting to dawn on people that we can't just keep putting carbon into the air, and ain't that a *duh* moment.

So we're at least getting a bit of a start on using solar and wind energy, and for that I say 'THANK GOD!'

What I don't quite understand is how come small towns like the one I happen to live in aren't, every last one of them, producing their own energy needs instead of depending on 'outsiders' to provide. How come individual farms aren't?

We don't know how - well, find out. Do a simple Search and find somebody who does know how - ask them.

It's too expensive - really? It's getting cheaper every day.

It's too risky - riiiiight ... all of life is risky and getting riskier all the time.

We don't have anyone who knows how to set up and run those things - find somebody.

It's too complicated, and the existing power companies would object - are you sure about that, because big cities are a lot more complicated than our little towns and they're doing it. And, unless they're run by total morons, the existing power companies will be the ones taking the lead on this - they'll likely have people on board who could and would guide us through the transition. If not, ask those big cities.

Now, another thing we have to pay attention to is that Tesla has come up with a battery - a storage unit - plenty big enough to meet the needs of our individual homes as well as municipal needs. They're not even all that expensive and are likely to become downright affordable as things develop.

Here's a LINK to Tesla information that's an 'off-the-grid' site called Inhabitat. It's a few months old but you'll get the drift.

There are other energy storage units in the works, so don't think Tesla is the only one in the game here. 

One thing about these batteries is that you can set up where their 'charging' energy comes from - solar panels, wind turbines, or already existing sources of electricity (then you use them for emergency or high-usage times). 

In general, the point is to wean ourselves from the use of fossil fuels and quit putting all that carbon into the air. Vehicles as well as homes and communities can use the energy produced by renewables; some already are.

And onward we go.

Something that I read not long ago stuck in my mind. It has to do with not only quitting with adding carbon dioxide to our atmosphere (which isn't good for it and has to stop) but actively removing it.

A Canadian company called Carbon Engineering has been busy developing and implementing a plan for this, essentially recycling the carbon dioxide taken from the air and turning it into 'synthetic fuel' that can be used ('theoretically' - I haven't checked to make sure it's been verified yet) by our current vehicles.

I realize this might not seem like such a great big huge improvement, because the CO2 does go back into the air in the end - but it also isn't adding any more, just cycling the existing CO2 through the phase of using it for fuel. So we'll give a nod to this concept.

Then there's MIT with an article HERE about a complicated (to me) procedure to take carbon from the air and potentially re-purpose it as fibers and nano-fibers for all sorts of things. It could help speed up the re-balancing of the atmosphere.

For me, the most sensible thing we can do to help speed up that re-balancing is a no-brainer.

Plant trees.

Reforest our world.

Why we haven't been doing this all along is beyond me but there you have it.

I'm actually more guilty than most when it comes to emissions because I heat with wood - and with electricity generated by the use of fossil fuels. Since at the moment my only alternative would be to freeze to death in the Dakota Long Darks, beating myself up over it isn't going to happen. I also use that wood stove to cook and heat water, which significantly cuts down on the amount of electricity I use - so does using my 'cold cupboard' as a refrigerator/freezer, for that matter.

On the other hand, the wood I use comes from people's shelter belts and is deadwood that's long been getting in the way of new growth of young trees. As I gradually clear it out those trees are growing up to replace the long dead ones, adding their contribution to the cleaning of our air. It might not completely balance out, but I can at least have the bit of consolation of knowing we're doing the best we can here.

This neck of the non-woods has been grassland for millions of years; we use it for growing crops and raising livestock to feed the rest of the world so foresting it would be counter-productive. But we still plant lots and lots of trees wherever we can.

Beneath the western part of our state are reserves of oil. Above and around us are the sun and the wind. With the sun shining on about 200 days of our year, solar would be a fairly consistent source of our energy - and the wind blows every single day although not always at gale force (just usually) so that would probably be the preferred choice. The combination would be great.

At any rate, developing these sorts of things and making them the norm would be a very good thing for us to hurry up and tend to. Clean up our world's air, eliminate oil spills that mess up our waters, see if we can get ourselves back into some kind of balance - and use technology to help us move things along our path,  not to further upset what fragile balance we have.

As we go along, reforest everywhere that we possibly can. 

In the meantime, maybe we can try to give ourselves a bit of a boost by being more plant-friendly at home and at work.

Here's a link to an informative article about oxygen producing plants you might want to check out. It's a site called 'Secrets of Longevity' and informs us that some plants are pretty darned friendly to us. The three mentioned in the article are 1) sprouts (yes, sprouts!) 2) snake plant 3) Areca palm ... 

If ever I were to settle myself enough to think I'd remain home instead of periodically taking really long leaves of absence (plants die if nobody is there to care for them, I've learned) it would behoove me to invest in a lot of greenery. Alas for me (and for any plants that should fall into my hands) I too often do leave my home for more than the few days said plants could survive. 

Even so, it might be worth a try ... I'll have to think on that for a bit. It would be doing my own little bit toward greening up my own little corner of the world, and would be good for me besides. 

Meanwhile, it's encouraging to know that at least some of the nations of our world are beginning to take steps to fix what ails us in terms of energy resources. I probably won't live to see the day we're 'independent' of the need for oil, but I don't expect our world to die with my generation - so yeah, it pleases me to know that my grandlings might be able to say to heck with all the synthetic stuff and live in a world that's more it's own healthy self. And the Middle East can maybe just be ignored by the rest of us if they want to keep on fighting their pointless battles for thousands of years longer.