Don't be Mean, Go Green

How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice…or is global warming already doing this?

Global Warming
We have all heard it before but what is it really? 

Global Warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth's atmosphere caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide and air pollution.

Carbon Dioxide is produced when animals, plants and bacteria breathe, by the natural decay of organic matter, by volcanic activity, and when any material containing carbon is burned such as oil, coal, natural gas, or wood.




What Causes Global Warming?
Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide and other air pollution is collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to warm up. There is proof that the Earth is actually getting hotter each year. Over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. 

Recorded Proof:
In 2002, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon had their worst wildfire seasons ever, and in Montana, Colorado, and Kansas droughts created severe dust storms. Floods in Texas, Montana and North Dakota, also caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage.

Facts about Global Warming:
-Global Warming makes hurricanes much more dangerous. Since the ocean is getting warming, tropical storms are able to pick up more energy and they become more powerful.
-Global warming contributes to melting glaciers, early snowmelt, and extreme droughts. These droughts will eventually cause more of a dramatic shortage of water.
-The United States is the largest source for global warming
-Americans produce 25% of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuel burning.

Before doing research on this topic, my family and I were never too strong about going green. We never recycled and we never once thought about anything that had the label: "Eco Friendly" But I can tell you now that I am going to make my family recycle and that I will be more conscious of the energy that I use.

Benefits of recycling:
1. There is too much garbage in the world and recycling reduces the amount of garbage sent to landfills. Today, we dump more than 100 million tons of trash into landfills annually.
2. Landfills cause a toxic soup called leachate which creates huge amounts of pollution that contribute to global warming.
3. Making brand new products without any recycled materials causes natural resources to deplete.
4. Recycling sometimes uses less energy. Making something from recycled materials means using less resources
5. Recycling can save companies and cities money. Cities have to pay for the amount of garbage they have. Often times a companies source of income comes from recycling.

What should be done?
-More companies should switch to natural gas to fuel their electricity plants instead of burning fossil fuels. 
-The United States should use more renewable sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, water energy, etc.

What can you do to help stop global warming?
-Consider buying energy efficient products such as refrigerators that use 15% less energy than the federal requirement
-If you plan on buying a car, consider an eco-friendly car
-Recycle
-Join the National Resources Defense Council in their campaign against global warming 

Saving a tree is great, but saving the world is even better. For more information on global warming and going green visit these links.
http://www.nrdc.org
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html
https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-global-warming
http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green