What better way to celebrate than with some terrifying facts about what we are doing to our environment, courtesy of C.S. Goldsmith, author of UNINHABITABLE: A Case for Caution. 

Just kidding. But seriously, folks.

Instead of focusing on the negative and scaring everyone to death, I’m going to give you a list of things you can do to help reduce global warming: 

  1. Recycle!
  2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs!
  3. Use less heat and air conditioning!
  4. Turn off lights, appliances and the water faucet!
  5. Plant trees!
  6. Drive less and get some exercise!
  7. Use less hot water!
  8. Ask your utility company for a home energy audit to see in what areas you can improve your energy efficiency!
  9. Buy products that are energy-efficient and recyclable!
  10. Spread the word!

I use exclamation points for a reason. Global warming is a huge threat, and it’s not going away any time soon. Goldsmith claims the problem is worse and more immediate than has been publicized. The problem is not only ours; it is our children’s as well. 

“We have 5 to 10 years maximum to find a way to tame global warming. Otherwise, we risk methane-induced temperature spikes that could push us into temperature zones that would make adaptation unlikely and much of the plane uninhabitable,” Goldsmith said. 

I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty awful. 

So, to the powers that be, I am officially declaring every day to be Earth Day. The way things are going, we’re going to need more than one day a year to reverse our destructive path and make sure that our children will have an Earth on which to live.

Anybody with me?

- Lisa