"Self-sufficiency does not mean 'going back' to the acceptance of a lower standard of living. On the contrary, it is the striving for a higher standard of living, for food that is organically grown and good, for the good life in pleasant surroundings... and for the satisfaction that comes from doing difficult and intricate jobs well and successfully." John Seymour ~ Self Sufficiency 2003

Sunday 3 November 2013

"Time is fleeting..."


I just received this in an e-mail and can't wait to share it.

It's brought on one of my soap box moments...

If this doesn't make everyone who only looks at the images / reads the info below and go no further, or those who visits the site via the links I've provided, stop and pause, and think really hard on their contribution to these statistics, then I fear that this gorgeous, amazing, imited planet we call home is doomed.
http://www.poodwaddle.com/clocks/earthclock/

http://www.poodwaddle.com/Stats/
click on Energy

http://www.poodwaddle.com/Stats/
click on Population
"The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has created several computer models to estimate global warming rates. These various models project from a 1.1 to 6.4C degree rise this century. We have chosen to use their A1B scenario (2.8C/century). We display 10 decimal places only to show the rate of rise. We do not wish to suggest that we can project with this level of accuracy. Please read the Global Warming page for more information.

CO2 levels are continuing to rise and so is the ocean. The population is growing, forests are shrinking, deserts are growing, and thousands of species (mostly insects and mostly in shrinking rain forests) are going extinct each year. These issues and many more face our world as we struggling to balance the needs of nations with the needs of the planet.


We at Poodwaddle.com consider ourselves journalists, not scientists or activists. It is our job to report the data, not take sides in controversial issues. Global warming is one of these issues. We do not advocate for global warming, or against it. Doing so would violating our professional integrity.


SOURCES: IPCC | Global Carbon Project | Earth Policy

DETAILS: Global Warming | Deforestation"
http://www.poodwaddle.com/Stats/
click on Environment

http://www.poodwaddle.com/Stats/Sources/
If this didn't shock you - what kind of member of our human society are you?

Would it really hurt you to make a few small changes to your lifestyles, especially if it could help heal our planet?

It's the small things which count.  The small things which a add up and CAN make a difference.

Would you be prepared to:

~ significanty adjust your electricity consumption (put on another jersey / wrap yourself in a blanket for warmth or dress in cool cotton when the temperatures rise, use candes instead of light globes, save up for a solar oven instead of switching on those power guzzling electric ovens);

~ walk or cycle or share a lift in order to reduce your petrol (gas) usage;

~ be more aware and conserve our most prescious resource, water (shower more frequenty, instead of bathing, fix leaking taps, think as your hand touches the tap, turn off the tap whist you're brushing your teeth, use a cistern filler to reduce the amount of water used when you flush the loo - better still, "if it's yellow, let it mellow..."), and install rain water storage tanks for use in your gardens;

~ try growing something you can eat, instead of just filling your gardens with pants which are beautiful to look at - research "forest gardens" to see how you can grow vegetables in between your "flowering" plants, or in pots on a patio or small balcony;

~ try and limited the number of goods you purchase which are wrapped in plastic;

~ buy local instead of imported;

~ prepare more completely fresh meals, as opposed to pre-packaged ready-made convenience (including junk food) meals (try aiming for once a week, then twice a week, etc.) - honour your body instead of just filling it with whatever is easy;

~ use less chemicals in your home and advocate using less in your work place (trust me, our house is only cleaned with vinegar and bicarb, and I'm proud of the shine / level of cleanliness that I achieve);

~ do more housework / garden work / wash your own car / play with your children, instead of travelling to your local (hopefully) gym to get your exercise, or dumping your kids off at the local movie house / games arcade in order to "entertain" them;

~ recycle whenever, and wherever, possible, and pass on anything which is still useful to those less fortunate than yourself...

... to mention just a few of the small, but active steps you can adopt that will significantly assist in planet Earth's healing process.

I'm not asking you to chivvy your local member of parliment to do what he should be doing as your representative in government - such as taking your requirements and God given rights to the highest powers in the land to make them change laws for the immediate benefit of our planet, biodiversity, animals and mankind, instead of for the immense monetary considerations which are dictating their actions.

I'm just asking you to make a few simple changes to your lifestyle.

Would it really hurt you????

Chivvy-ing your local member of parliment comes later... LOL

10 comments:

  1. They're sobering stats aren't they? And we're not just consuming steadily at the same consistent rate. The green house gas emissions keep rising!

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    1. Linda - The entire range of stats is scary. And they emphasize to me excactly how selfish we, as the supposed "superior beings" on this planet , really are...

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  2. Totally agree with your suggestions! It also could help to makes each a little less fat/lazy/out of shape, etc.

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  3. Well. You just turned me on to a whole new website! Thank you for the information!!

    I'll take it a step further...and probably get some flack for this. Would people be willing to stop having so many kids and support efforts in developing countries to make family planning easily accessible?

    Disregarding all the serious problems associated with enforcing a "one child" rule, because those are legion. Not to mention the ethical quagmire, I'm just saying...

    Maybe it's time to take a more serious and sobering look at our exploding population?

    I'm pinning your post and links! Thanks, lady!

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    Replies
    1. Lindsey - You're very welcome :)

      Yeah - reckon that is a controversial topic - and one with which I totally agree. One or two children - OK, but more...? How on earth do the parents manage to educate, feed, clothe, etc them??? Never mind give them each proper quality time in order to make them completely fit for their futures in modern society?

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  4. Our government is so dysfunctional it isn't able to address issues of this nature. Most people in America are struggling so hard to get through today that they don't have time to worry about tomorrow. The people here who are really concerned about global warming are movie stars and other "celebrities" looking for a little free face time on television. Our economy is in the trash can and people just aren't putting long term issues at the head of their list. We had recycling at our county dump, but they quit doing it because they were losing money on the recycling. I think Malthus was right. We'll keep on increasing the population and using our resources until we reach a tipping point and then nature will take care of the issue by creating a massive die off.

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    1. Harry - America isn't alone in the dysfunctional government problem... ;)

      But, the whole point of growing as much of your own vegetables, rearing your own animals, etc as possible, is to relieve them the added cost of buying them from the shop.

      If, as you say, Nature creates a massive "die off" it won't just be the human race which will suffer, the planet will suffer first, and more. Would you want to live in a drastically changed environment? With all the ramifications that will carry...?

      Take away the "glamourous" side (movei stars, etc) of the global warming situatrion, and get the common man involved - it's the only way we can really make a difference en masse. But, we have to care enough to make the effort - for the long term benefit for ourselves, our families, their futures and their future generations, and for this amazing planet we all call Home.

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  5. I've done my part - I chose not to have children and live as energy conscious as I can. Ever watch an old movie, say from the 60s. Notice that the city location scenes seem so clean and fresh? I watch them now and think - back then there were only 3+ billion people when I was in high school. Now there are 7+ billion people. When the oil/gas/coal run out (and it will), I can't imagine the horrible consequences (no transportation, no mega-farms, no manufacturing, no work, no money, etc.) Yet while they (governments) have all this cheap energy at their disposal, they do not invest it in sustainable energy projects for the future. Just a burn it all now and forget about the future. I (hopefully) will not see that, but your grandchildren might and my concerns are with you. *hugs*

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    Replies
    1. Kris - Every little individual action helps...

      Yeah - tell me about the old movies - nothing to beat them! Ditto regarding the music from the 60's...!!!

      Only when governments are forced to consider the environment before their greed, and wasteful ways, will any meaningful progress be achieved. But, it is also our individual attempts which are going to assist in their wake-up - and the first politician who truly embraces a "greener way", will be amazed at how welcome he / she is. (I fear it will be a she LOL) And, once the other politicians see "her" success, they will rush to jump on the bandwagon.

      I live in hope...
      (And I've always been a glass half full kind of person, as opposed to a glass half empty.)

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Thank you for taking the time to comment - it makes my day and removes the "loneliness' of sitting at my screen blogging supposedly to myself ;) I try and reply as quickly as possible so please forgive me if sometimes my response is delayed.