What Can We Do About Climate Change?

If you think our biggest worry when it comes to climate change is a few shrinking glaciers somewhere far off in the distance, it's most definitely time to think again. Everything from the foods we eat to the plants and flowers we enjoy to the way we conduct our lives in general either already are or soon will be directly affected by the ravages of global warming and climate change.


Today, on Blog Action Day '09 people in more than 150 countries around the world are blogging about the importance of climate change and even the White House has gotten in on the act. By spreading the word, sharing ideas, and joining together to find solutions for coping with the effects of climate change that we're already experiencing like dwindling species, strange weather patterns, and altered ecosystems we can all make a real difference.

But what can we do as mere individuals that could possibly effect this vast world of ours? Plenty.

For starters we could consume less as a society in order to cut down on the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere. Cutting back on our consumption of goods, whether it's food, gasoline, or textiles, reduces the amount of fossil fuels needed to manufacture and ship those goods.

We could also make it a point to be more efficient in all aspects of our lives. This could be as seemingly insignificant as simply turning the lights off when you leave the room, using your computer's power saving mode, or something a bit more monumental such as only buying appliances with the Energy Star label or driving only hybrid vehicles.

Remember weatherproofing your home will help to save considerably on your heating and cooling costs, and make it a point to finally get rid of all those incandescent light bulbs that should be replaced with their more efficient counterparts.

Consider going vegetarian. Besides "saving the animals," being a vegetarian saves on countless barrels of oil needed for transporting the feed that cows, pigs, and chickens need to be fattened up before slaughter, not to mention all the fuel used for growing and harvesting the corn to make that feed.

And don't forget to recycle, recycle, recycle. It's certainly not difficult and just about everything can either be repurposed, reused, or recycled.


What Else Can You Do?

Well, just a little more than a week from now on October 24, 2009 people all around the world are banding together for an International Day of Climate Action organized by 350.org. Learn about how you can join in to make a difference.

You could also go to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change's website to read up on the facts about global warming. Or, visit the Center for American Progress' site to read about The Top 100 Effects of Global Warming. And, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website has a great FAQ page on the effects of climate change.

Instead of merely talking about what needs to be done all the while worrying about the impending consequences of not acting it's high time to put our words into motion. I've started, have you?

Mike's Writing Workshop & Newsletter: Mike's 10 Commandments to Writing Success/Complete

Mike's Writing Workshop & Newsletter: Mike's 10 Commandments to Writing Success/Complete

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Think Pink in October!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
Answers to five of the most frequently asked questions about breast cancer

By: Heather Kaefer



1. Q: Does smoking increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer?

A: There are several scientific reports that suggest there may in fact be a link between smoking and breast cancer. Besides this particular type of cancer, smoking also increases the risk for others such as lung, mouth and throat cancer, as well as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and a host of other serious illnesses. If you already have breast cancer, smoking will also seriously increase your length of recovery as well as your survival rate.

2. Q: Does drinking alcohol cause breast cancer?

A: Experts agree that the more you drink alcohol the higher your breast cancer risk will be.

3. Q: I use oral contraceptives, does that increase my breast cancer risk?

A: Studies have shown that women under 35 years of age who have used oral contraceptives for more than 10 years have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than woman who have never used birth control pills at all.

4. Q: Is it true that exercise helps ward off breast cancer?

A: Yes, there’s evidence that women who exercise for at least four hours per week reduce their risk of breast cancer by decreasing the amount of estrogen, the hormone naturally produced by the body that also contributes toward the growth of tumors. Regular exercise is also credited with boosting the body’s immune system, which is always beneficial for helping to ward off any kind of illness or disease.

5. Q: What role does diet play in whether or not a woman develops breast cancer?

A: Eating a diet that is rich in fats tends to increase a woman’s breast cancer risk, which is again attributed to an excess of estrogen. Stick with a diet filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables with the right balance of fiber and “good” carbohydrates, and of course, exercise.


Visit the following sites for more information about breast cancer and how to protect yourself and the women you love:

All About Breast Cancer from the American Cancer Society

More Information: Breast Cancer

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Q & A

Cutest Dog Competition

Soapnet

I have become hooked on the old soap opera Ryan's Hope and fondly remember my mother watching it back in the 70s. Soapnet has brought the show back to life, however, I cannot stand the voice of the woman they have talking before and after the show, and in between a few commercials. What are they thinking? It's like fingernails on a chalk board and I leap on the remote control hitting the fast forward button in a mad panic so I don't have to hear this horrific voice.

I feel much better for getting this off my chest.

Here's a few links on the show I found...

http://www.tv.com/ryans-hope/show/116/summary.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan's_Hope