RENEWABLE ENERGY REVOLUTION NOW!

The oceans are getting warmer, there are many more droughts and ‘super’ storms happening around the world.  Water and food shortages are becoming realities in many parts of the world.  Brazil is considering cancelling their Carnival celebrations due to the worst drought conditions that country has ever seen.  What is happening?  Could 95% of environmental scientists be right?  Could the Pentagon be right, when they indicated that climate change is the current biggest threat to humanity?  

The Pentagon released a report in October of 2014 indicating that climate change poses an immediate threat to national security, with increased risks from terrorism, infectious disease, global poverty and food shortages. It also predicted rising demand for military disaster responses as extreme weather creates more global humanitarian crises. 

Chuck Hagel, US Defense Secretary, addressed key issues from their report, here are some of his quotes:

“The loss of glaciers will strain water supplies in several areas of our hemisphere.” 

“Destruction and devastation from hurricanes can sow the seeds for instability. Droughts and crop failures can leave millions of people without any lifeline, and trigger waves of mass migration.”

“We should worry about climate change like we worry about ISIS.”

You can read more about the report here:  http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=123393

The climate change deniers feel there is not enough proof in order for governments to act on this initiative.  Here are some of the things people are saying:

“This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has got to stop.  Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice” – Donald Trump (tweet) @realDonaldTrump January 2, 2014.

“Every cow in the world, you know, when they do what they do, you’ve got more carbon dioxide.” – Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH)

“The ice caps are melting, which we see over and over again.  Yeah, they’re melting on Mars, too!” – Congressman, Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

“The government can’t change the weather.” – Senator, Marco Rubio (R-FL) 

“All voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax.” – Congresswoman, Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

If this is how our politicians are treating climate change – what hope do we have?  Here are what some authorities on climate change are saying and doing:

GREENPEACE

Greenpeace has listed some very interesting and positive statistics and facts surrounding renewable energies, here is that list:

• Europe decommissioned more coal, fuel oil and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009.
• Solar energy is now working at night on a commercial-scale.  A plant in Spain has seven hours of heat storage.
• In the space of just 5 years, Portugal’s electric grid leapt from 15% to 45% renewables.
• Price Waterhouse Cooper says Europe and North Africa could now run on 100% renewable energy by 2050.
• Subsidies to fossil fuels worldwide outweigh renewable energy support by a ratio of 12:1.
• West Virginia could replace all its electrical capacity with just 2% of its geothermal power potential.
• Solar photovoltaic could account for 5% of global power demand by 2020, and up to 9% by 2030.
• Iceland’s power supply went from 75% imported coal to more than 80% local geothermal and hydro in 30 years.
• China built (roughly) one windmill an hour in 2009.
• Our energy needs can be met by 95% renewable energy by 2050

*The above can be found on the following:  www.greenpeace.org

350.org

350.org is a group of individuals that have come together to demand environmental action.  What is the significance of the number 350?

“If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from [current levels] to at most 350 ppm.” – Dr. James Hansen

Our current levels are at 400 ppm.

Here is a paragraph from 350.org:

Independent studies show that in the United States a sustained investment of public and private dollars in clean energy would generate 1.7 million new jobs in industries like construction for making homes and office buildings more efficient with new windows, lighting and cooling systems – and in manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.

Some of 350.org’s projects and campaigns include; Global Divestment Day, Start a Climate Petition and Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline.

For more information, receive updates, donate, or get involved – please visit www.350.org – Get the facts!

The David Suzuki Foundation

David Suzuki has been a defender of the planet, our environment and world reknowned scientist.  Here are a few points from their Energy Overview blog post regarding renewable energy and the potential Canada has in becoming a world leader in renewable and sustainable energies:

Wind and solar are the fastest growing sources of energy in the world.  These low-polluting energy industries are creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs in countries as diverse as Germany and China.  In fact, the renewable-energy sector generates more jobs per megawatt of power installed, per unit of energy produced, and per dollar of investment than the fossil fuel-based sector.

Canada, the second largest country in the world by area, is richly endowed with renewable energy, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and marine (e.g. tidal, wave energy) sources.  With the right policies, Canada can use renewable energy to satisfy its energy needs and become a world leader in sustainable technologies.

Some of the current projects of the David Suzuki Foundation include; Race to the Top and Trottier Energy Futures Project.

For more information about the David Suzuki Foundation – please visit, www.davidsuzuki.org

Canada will have a federal election in October of 2015.  Canada must elect a government and Prime Minister who speaks to a new generation of individuals who are concerned about our land, lakes, rivers, parks, forests and the environment in general.  We need to elect a leader who wants to show that world that Canada can be a leader in renewable and sustainable energies, growing the economy with green jobs and building a better and cleaner Canada.  We must vote for new priorities and government policies that create a better Canada and a better world.

The fossil fuel sector/industry realizes that a revolution for a better and sustainable future is gaining momentum and will do anything to ensure their profits remain intact.  Governments shouldn’t answer to big conglomerates that only want to maximize their profits.  Government officials should not be bought in order to pass legislation that would only be in the best interests of the fossil fuel conglomerates.

It is time for a new world order – but not a world order that is driven by profits and instilling fear into their citizens.  It’s time for the grass roots movement to grow into a revolution – and it will, with organizations like Greenpeace, the David Suzuki Foundation and 350.org.

Resources:

1. www.greenpeace.org
2. www.davidsuzuki.org
3. www.350.org
4. www.skepticalscience.com
5. www.defense.gov

Together, we can make the world a more positive one! 

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples (indigenous peoples in North America).  They comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis which have helped to shape Canada’s cultural identity.  The name Canada comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word kanata, meaning “village” or “settlement”.

I was born in Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal but immigrated to Canada in 1973 just before turning 4 years old.  I really don’t have any memories of the country I was born.  I really consider myself to be Canadian and made it official on my 20th birthday in 1989. 

Frequently referred to as Canada’s birthday, Canada Day is the national day of Canada celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North American Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire.

In celebration of Canada Day and my 25th anniversary of becoming Canadian, I thought I would share some interesting facts about Canada, here they are:

WILDLIFE

• 850 meters, the length of the world’s longest beaver dam found in Northern Alberta.
• 2.4 million Caribou live in Canada.
• 15,500 of the world’s polar bears live in Canada.
• 130 km north of Winnipeg, Manitoba – is the Narcisse Snake Dens Conservation area, where each spring, tens of thousands of red-sided Gartner snakes come out of their dens for weeks from mid-April to early May.

PEOPLE

• More than 42% of Canadians identify as Roman Catholic.
• 1/5 Canadians were born outside of Canada.
• Canada is the best G20 country in which to be a woman.

GOVERNMENT

• The Prime Minister has no term limit, meaning that as long as a leader keeps winning, they can keep ruling.
• John A. Macdonald (Conservative) was the first Prime Minister of Canada for two terms, 1867-1873 and 1878-1891.  He was born in Scotland.
• William Lyon Mackenzie King (Liberal) was Prime Minister for 21 years.
• Currently, there are five parties that have elected representation in the federal government: the Liberal Party of Canada , the Conservative Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada and the Bloc Québécois. 

ENVIRONMENT/GEOGRAPHY

• Canada consists of 10 provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia) and 3 territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut).
• Canada has the largest coastline in the world.
• It is the second largest country in the world (Russia is the largest).
• By land area alone, Canada ranks fourth.
• Canada has around 31,700 large lakes.
• 20% of the world’s fresh water is in Canada.
• 31% of Canada is taken up by forests.

FOOD/DRINK

• 77% of the world’s maple syrup is made in Quebec.
• Macaroni and cheese is the most purchased packaged grocery item in Canada.
• Canada produces 1.5% of the world’s food but only consumes 0.6%
• Canada has more doughnut shops per capita than anywhere else in the world.

INVENTIONS

• Montreal pharmacist, Marcellus Gilmore Edson created peanut butter, patented in 1884.
• Montreal’s Canadian Lady Corset company first licensed the trademark ‘Wonder-bra’ in 1939, and then renamed the company Wonderbra in 1961.
• Scott Abbott, a Montreal sports editor, and Chris Haney, a photo editor, when they couldn’t find all their Scrabble tiles, invented Trivial Pursuit in 1979.
• Other notable inventions: the odometer (1854), the egg carton (1911), IMAX (1967), McIntosh apples (1811), the walkie-talkie (1937), insulin (1922), the paint roller (1940), the wheelchair-accessible bus (1947), the electric wheelchair (1952).

ENTERTAINMENT

• Porky’s (1982) is the most successful Canadian film ever made.  It was the 5th highest-grossing film of 1982.
• Shania Twain’s album, Come On Over, is the best-selling album by a female artist of all-time.  RIAA certifies worldwide sales of the album exceed 40 million units.
• Alanis Morissette’s, Jagged Little Pill, is the second best-selling album by a female artist of all-time.  RIAA certifies worldwide sales of the album exceed 33 million units.
• Other notable Canadian celebrities:  Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Bryan Adams, Pamela Anderson, William Shatner, James Cameron, Drake, Jann Arden, Rush and Nickelback – just to name a few.

I am a proud Canadian and am love the country that I live in.  I may sometimes be critical of our government but only because I want to ensure that our policy makers protect the Canadian people and the wonderful environment that Canada provides us.

Here’s to you Canada!

 Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

 

 

IT’S TIME HUMANITY TAKES A STAND ON PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT and OUR PLANET

How many of us have really looked at the impact we have on the environment and our planet?  Do you know how many coffee cups you put in the trash bin daily?  How about all carbon dioxide that is released into our air as you sit in a drive-thru waiting for food that will only cause you sickness?  Have you thought about the amount of garbage we produce on a daily basis?  Will we have enough food and water to feed 9 billion people in the very near future when there isn’t enough food already?  Will you continue to turn a blind eye to the devastation humans are creating on animals, the environment and our planet?  It’s time to wake up and demand better for the planet, for the future and for our existence.

In Ontario – Justin Trudeau just won the Liberal Party Leadership vote – Justin is considered to be the voice of a new generation.  A generation whose priorities are not about capitalism but activism and sustainability.  The future generation has a daunting task – to save the planet and humanity from extinction.  Hopefully, this generation – along with Justin Trudeau’s leadership, can and will act to protect the planet and work towards sustainable and renewable energies.  It is said that if humanity continues to deplete the earth’s natural resources as we are today – we will need 9 earth’s in order to survive.  We don’t have an additional 9 earth’s.  What we need to do is engage the future generation to demand better of our governments and to act to ensure the survival of the planet and of humanity.

Rob Stewart – award-winning director of the amazing and inspiring documentary – Shark Water, spoke at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto Canada about the devastation we are creating on the environment and our planet.  He asked the youth of today to become engaged and to be inspired to create positive change for the planet.  Here is that presentation:

Robert Stewart and Gus Van Sandt have created a new documentary called, Revolution about the plight our planet and humanity faces.  Here is the official trailer and interview with Rob Stewart about this very important documentary:

I urge everyone to watch this film and become inspired to act.  Demand better of our government!  Remove the blinders and understand the consequences that your actions have on our planet and do better.  Stop allowing media and BIG CORPORATION to lull you into a false sense of security – they only want your money.  Education is the key – educate and know what is happening and then be inspired to act for our future and for the future of generations to come.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one.