Global warming trumps AIDS, Avian flu, poverty, pestilence, let's see, what else?

The Independent: "Climate change could have a devastating impact on Africa, wiping out all the benefits from the measures to help the continent agreed by the world's richest nations last year. The warning will be issued by the British Government today when it announces plans to bring poor countries into the next round of international discussions to combat global warming."

This touches on a theme in Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," where he debunks the notion that we cannot address global warming because it would hurt the economy.

Gore shows a counterbalance scale with a bunch of gold ingots in one pail and the planet in the other. Now let's see, he says. If we don't have a planet...

You be the judge!

This is also the one caveat I've long held over the professed goals of Bill and Melinda Gates through their Foundation's efforts to cure AIDS. They're pretty smart people, but I've never seen either of them say anything about global warming. There was an innocuous reference around the time Warren Buffett threw in his lot with the Gateses, where Bill said he had to study the issue or something. Um Bill, could you maybe drop by your local theater (it's playing at the Guild 45th and selected other outlets here) and get the Quick Study version?

Because if we cure AIDS but don't have a planet...well, you decide!

-- Paul Andrews, GreenforGood

global warming ecological footprint carbon footprint GreenforGood sustainability green lifestyle

What About Watering the Lawn?

Triple Pundit: "People in Arizona have finally begun to accept that lawns are rather ridiculous in their part of the world and indeed, entirely new fashions of landscaping have resulted that are generally much more appropriate. California clearly needs to learn the same lesson..."

Here in Seattle, it's a no-brainer. Our soggy climate most year round makes lawn care kind of moot. The flip side is that grass roots need grow only shallow, so once the weather turns dry (i.e., July and August), lawns turn brown if not watered.

I used to worry about the lawn dying till a landscaper told me with a laugh that it can't happen. True: No matter how tan the lawn gets, it's back to verdant green by the second or third rain.

One more thing you don't have to think about living in the Grey Duvet.

-- Paul Andrews, GreenforGood

global warming ecological footprint carbon footprint GreenforGood sustainability green lifestyle

Organics: The Explosion Continues

Playing off our Monday post, the organics boom just keeps on keeping on:

Marin Independent Journal: "Disputed organic farm stand OK'd for San Anselmo." "This would be our small contribution to saving the world," Councilman Peter Breen said.

Fishupdate.com: "Organic marking booming in Britain."

MeatProcess.com: "Organic meat market growth sparks supply shortage." I didn't know there was such a thing as MeatProcess.com and probably will never visit it again, but there you have it.

-- Paul Andrews, GreenforGood

global warming ecological footprint carbon footprint GreenforGood sustainability green lifestyle