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Connecting People to the Nature of Climate Change

Much has been written in recent years about how our species, living in the information age, has lost any meaningful connection with the natural world. Few would deny that this is so. Yet the central focus of current education – No Child Left Behind – further exacerbates that loss by trying to train students as automatons for business.

Efforts by Richard Louv, author of The Last Child in the Woods, and others to make a persuasive case for reconnecting ourselves to Nature have, as nearly as I can see, fallen on electronically clogged ears. Therein lies a tale of woe.

The best and brightest minds in the world are telling us that a catastrophic climate change is happening. These same scientists are telling us that we must act quickly and decisively if we are to avoid a calamity the likes of which no sentient being has experienced. We have responded with a collective ho-hum, or at best, “yes, but I’m powerless to change what is happening.” To this last point I’d say – NOT SO!

Science teaches us that things don’t just happen. Happenings are the “effects” part of cause and effect. Climate change is being caused largely by various greenhouse gases being spewed into the atmosphere by human activity. Carbon dioxide is one such gas that you can do something about. Here’s how.

Do a little digging and find the figures to fill in the chart at the bottom of the page. This will tell you, approximately, how big your household impact is.

Well, how’d you do? If your household is producing 55,000 pounds per year, that’s average for the US and at least six times what the planet can stand.

If you would like to do something very positive to lower your CO2 emissions in four simple steps, contact Pat, Chuck or Keith and we’ll get you started on the 5000 Pound Carbon Dioxide Diet, a program designed by author David Gershon.
The program includes four 2-hour meetings where a small group of interested folks examine ideas to save energy, dollars and CO2 emissions. Participants then select from various options those things appropriate to their situation. The program is both informative and fun.

Up to now some 25 families have participated in the program as offered by the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society, and we’ve reduced CO2 emissions by some 160,000 pounds, a pretty impressive first step, I’d say. Let’s do more! Call Pat or Chuck at 244-1289 or Keith at 939-3204 and begin shrinking your household carbon footprint.

—Keith Blackmore