Like the Olive tree, our planet symbolizes fruitfulness, purification, strength, victory, and reward. Climate change caused by negligent human actions threaten to take that all away. Saving the planet from global warming is one of the most important issues we face in our lifetime. It is vital that we keep this planet livable for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The choices we make everyday have a huge impact on the environment. If you want to live on earth then all of us need to start living a "greener" lifestyle. Each and every one of us plays an important role in the fight against global warming. If you think the problem is too big and feel that you can't play a role in the solution then think again. Each and everyone of us leave a carbon footprint. Every time we fly, drive, run appliances at home, keep our houses light, cool and warm, we emit carbon dioxide trapping heat in the atmosphere. Going "green" only requires a little effort and will save you money as a bonus. Let's all pitch in to keep our planet looking and feeling green!!! My mission is to educate others about the serious reality of climate change along with other environmental issues by sharing my research with you.
Get great-tasting water on the go, without the cost and
waste of bottled water. The reusable Brita® Bottle filters ordinary tap water
as you drink.
BPA-free
Dishwasher safe (top rack)
Recyclable
Brita® has teamed up with Preserve, a leading maker of 100
percent recycled household consumer goods, to collect and recycle Brita®
filters. Preserve’s Gimme 5 Program will transform the plastic from pitcher and
bottle filters into new Preserve products.
Increased carbon dioxide is changing the chemistry of the
earth’s oceans, threatening marine life
Earth’s atmosphere isn’t the only victim of burning fossil
fuels. About a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the
earth’s oceans, where they’re having an impact that’s just starting to be
understood.
Over the last decade, scientists have discovered that this excess
CO2 is actually changing the chemistry of the sea and proving harmful for many
forms of marine life. This process is known as ocean acidification. A more
acidic ocean could wipe out species, disrupt the food web and impact fishing,
tourism and any other human endeavor that relies on the sea. The change is
happening fast -- and it will take fast action to slow or stop it. Over the
last 250 years, oceans have absorbed 530 billion tons of CO2, triggering a 30
percent increase in ocean acidity.
Before people started burning coal and oil, ocean pH had
been relatively stable for the previous 20 million years. But researchers
predict that if carbon emissions continue at their current rate, ocean acidity
will more than double by 2100. The polar regions will be the first to
experience changes. Projections show that the Southern Ocean around Antarctica
will actually become corrosive by 2050.
The new chemical composition of our oceans is expected to
harm a wide range of ocean life -- particularly creatures with shells. The
resulting disruption to the ocean ecosystem could have a widespread ripple
effect and further deplete already struggling fisheries worldwide.
Increased acidity reduces carbonate -- the mineral used to
form the shells and skeletons of many shellfish and corals. The effect is
similar to osteoporosis, slowing growth and making shells weaker. If pH levels
drop enough, the shells will literally dissolve.
This process will not only harm some of our favorite
seafood, such as lobster and mussels, but will also injure some species of
smaller marine organisms -- things such as pteropods and coccolithophores. You’ve
probably never heard of them, but they form a vital part of the food web. If
those smaller organisms are wiped out, the larger animals that feed on them
could suffer, as well.
Disappearing Coral Reefs
Delicate corals may face an even greater risk than shellfish
because they require very high levels of carbonate to build their skeletons. Acidity
slows reef-building, which could lower the resiliency of corals and lead to
their erosion and eventual extinction. The “tipping point” for coral reefs could
happen as soon as 2050. Coral reefs serve as the home for many other forms of
ocean life. Their disappearance would be akin to rainforests being wiped out
worldwide. Such losses would reverberate throughout the marine environment and
have profound social impacts, as well -- especially on the fishing and tourism
industries. The loss of coral reefs would also reduce the protection that they
offer coastal communities against storms surges and hurricanes -- which might
become more severe with warmer air and sea surface temperatures due to global
warming.
What Can We Do About It?
Combating acidification requires reducing CO2 emissions and
improving the health of the oceans. Creating marine protected areas
(essentially national parks for the sea) and stopping destructive fishing
practices would increase the resiliency of marine ecosystems and help them
withstand acidification. Evidence suggests that coral reefs in protected ocean
reserves are less affected by global threats such as global warming and ocean
acidification, demonstrating the power of ecosystem protection. Ultimately,
though, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed into the oceans may be
the only way to halt acidification. The same strategies needed to fight global
warming on land can also help in the seas. The acidification of our oceans is
the hidden side of the world’s carbon crisis, says Lisa Suatoni, an NRDC ocean
scientist, and only reinforces that we need to make changes in how we fuel our
world -- and we need to do it quickly.
