It is clear to see that our climate is changing due to the damage that we, as humans, have done to our own home, Earth. So what can you do and how easy can these be done? Here are some ways in which you can help the environment, some are simple day-to-day changes and some are more long-term.

Biofuels

The use of biofuels is a great, natural way to help the environment. The idea is to use natural fuels that are either a waste product or a natural substance from living things. Examples include methane from animals, liquids made from wood and wood itself as well as wood chippings and straw. Ethanol, biodiesel and other liquids are becoming more and more common in this day and age. Modern transport are ever-increasingly using this type of biofuel to help the environment. Hybrid cars are almost becoming a trend in society in doing your bit to aid sustainability. In the US, it is stated that the Renewable Fuels Standard aims to double the use of biofuels in the transport industry by 2012.

Turn Things Off

Do you really need that light on when you leave the room? Who is going to benefit from it? If the answer is nobody, then simply turn it off, since there is absolutely no reason to leave it on. The only thing you’re doing is using up essential energy that has an impact on the environment. Not only will you help the environment but also reduce your bills. Do you leave the tap running whilst brushing your teeth? Turn the tap off. Don’t forget, this includes electrical goods such as DVD players, TVs, your Playstation or Xbox360 – don’t even leave them on standby, since that little red light takes energy to glow, too. Saving the environment and reducing your bills at the same time, what could be better?

What Lightbulbs Do You Use?

Have you heard of CFL bulbs? Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs last 10 times longer than regular bulbs, give off less heat and use up to two-thirds less energy. Over the life of the bulb, you could be looking at saving $30. Think about what you could do with $30. Again, not only are you reducing your electricity bill, you’re helping the environment.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!

Local authorities are constantly pushing for homeowners around the world to recycle and reuse where possible. In the UK, supermarkets are charging for plastic bags and encouraging the use of reusable and recycled bags, so why should you be different at home? Recycle those cardboard boxes that hold your cereal. Don’t throw your glass and plastic bottles in the bin anymore, put them out for recycling and you’ll be doing your bit to help the environment.

Drive Less And Get Fit

How many times have you driven into your local town to pick something up, when you could have easily walked for those 10 minutes? How about driving to work? Could you walk or share a vehicle with a co-worker or neighbor? If you have to drive, there are some things you can do still to reduce car emissions. Ensure your tyres are properly inflated and take out anything in your trunk that you don’t need, improving your mileage per gallon and you will also help the environment.

With all the things that have been happening lately around the world weather wise, many want to know what is going on. There are tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, record high temperatures, and more. So, what is the cause for this? While some are saying that the end is near based upon things read in the Bible, there are many who would agree that the end is near on a scientific level and they are blaming this all on global warming.

According to studies, it has been said that we will see a lot of things all thanks to global warming. The reason for the hurricanes is because of global warming. According to scientific evidence, the reason for so many hurricanes is due to the fact that global warming heats up the oceans. This creates them because this is where their power comes from which creates such things.

Another thing is that wild fires are increasing due to some areas are becoming dry which normally aren’t. Many scientists trace the link between warmer climate and the picking up of wildfire. Due to the climate change you might also see more things than usual. It is said that the intensity of things such as tornadoes, storms, and floods will only increase as it gets warmer because of the fact that warmer weather often times creates these things.

It is said that more droughts are expected as well. The reason for this as told by scientists is that with the warmer weather, this dries up the water faster. This creates dried up soil. However, on the flip side of things, you will find that warmer weather will bring some areas to experience more water. It creates more storms as well as making them heavier and again, this is all due to global warming. There are some states and other places which used to be cold and dry which are experiencing some hot and moist weather. So, as you can see, it might get a whole lot worse and we don’t know how worse it will get.

This is all said to be caused by the bell curve. As the curve shifts, so is the weather going to shift. Those areas which are used to one thing will find that as the heat waves keep coming due to all this pressure, then they will experience conditions which they have never experienced before. This is due to how much heat is breaking through the ozone as the ozone layer weakens. This is why we are seeing the things that leave us to wonder if the end is very well near. So, what is predicted for future years? Well, according to those of science and with looking at the bell curve, they have predicted this.

The first thing you will see more of are forest fires. Since 2006, there has been double the amount of forest fires due to the intense heat. As heat intensifies, you are going to see a whole bunch of natural disasters. Some of the rising heat are hurting individuals other ways as well as those who suffer from asthma are being effected by the intense heat plus the humidity.

Those in the south part of the United States will find that it’s going to be warmer than expected in years to come. The droughts that many are experiencing is said to continue. Those in the northern states will see many active hurricane seasons. This means they will see wetter weather. The reason that we are going to see a lot of this happening is because scientists don’t think they will see a drastic change with greenhouse gas emissions. This changes the clouds and the gases in the air. Unless we see more climate changes, we are going to see more tornadoes because of the fact that warmer weather is here and is absorbing the precipitation which is what causes the tornadoes. It is up to the people living on this earth to see to it that these things don’t happen and a lot of it has a lot to do with the greenhouse gas emissions that we all are responsible for.

More over, the weather conditions in areas like the Arctic are changing as well. Scientists have seen a warming in the weather there as well. As you look at this, it is suggested that all the ice and the glaciers and such are to be gone and be melted by the year 2070 if things continue to go the way they are with global warming. If we fail to reduce the emissions that we let off into the world, then it is said by scientists that the earth could see some warming. The earth could warm some 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit should we keep burning the fossil fuels at the rate which we are currently burning them. These fossil fuels are coal and oil just to name a few. This will have greater effects which leave scientists looking at current trends and estimating of the things which we could see happening in the United States and around the globe. It is scary reading about this, but more so, this is the reality of it all.

For many, it amazes them as they read of the impact that global warming has. Some know to blame global warming for the things which are happening. Others are just learning about this. There is much to understand and scientists keep researching more and more the impacts of global warming on the weather which we are experiencing. The way things are going though, if we don’t do more for Mother Nature, the more violent Mother Nature will be to us. This could go about to affect many as elderly, children, and asthma sufferers cannot deal with the intense heat. Then, there are those lives that will continue to be lost from floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and more. With all that being said, many will find that global warming has a lot in store for the weather we experience in the years to come.

The ozone layer is something that many have wondered about. There are all sorts of studies and theories that are out there about this. However, you might have heard that if we don’t start doing all we can, then the ozone layer is going to be in more trouble than it is already in. So, what can you do in order to help save the ozone layer starting now?

If you have not started looking into the ways in which you can save the ozone layer, then you have a lot of catching up to do. Those who have been actively doing these things have been reported to be making a difference. They seem to be helping. One of those things that you can start doing is sweeping away soot. This would mean trying to get rid of the emissions of that black stuff in the car exhausts as well as fireplaces that you use. The reason for this is because it heats the atmosphere. The way that it does this is by absorbing radiation from the sun and then releasing it into the air.

Another thing that you can do which can help the ozone layer if you don’t already try to do so would be to watch things with CFC. Air conditioners and refrigerators often times have this in them. Insulation might have this in them as well. Try buying things that don’t have this in them. If you find that your air conditioner or your freezer aren’t working right, have them looked at. This is to make sure that they don’t have a leak.

You can help the ozone by limiting how often you drive. There are many people who have opted to ride their bikes or to walk a bit more. While some did this due to the rise of gas prices, there are more who find that they do this for the pure fact that they save money and are saving the ozone all at the same time. If you have to drive, then you should make it so that you time manage how often you use your car. The same is true about the lawn mower and other things that you use which might pollute the ozone layer.

Some people use all too much energy than what is really needed. More and more things are being created to save energy. Some are using more natural products than chemicals which also pollute the ozone layer. You might spend more money in getting these things, but when you really stop to look at it, and then you might notice that it is well worth it and you might get tax reductions for doing this. That would be the plus side for using energy efficient cars and bulbs. Do your research. There are a ton of other things for which you can do to help the ozone and truly make a difference for the Earth that we live on and for future generations.

When the realization hits you that an average of 13% of your electric bill is caused by heating your water every month, it may behoove you to look into cheaper options. One of those options is buying one of the new fandangled tankless systems. Unfortunately they don’t come cheap and with the rise in living expenses and many other every day costs, that option may not be feasible. An alternative option to investing in a whole new system is to insulate your water heater tank.

The benefit of taking this step is fairly clear. By wrapping your hot water heater tank in an insulation jacket or blanket, you can reduce the cost of heating your water by 20%-40%. The use of an insulation blanket helps retain the heat within the walls of the tank further maintaining the temperature of the water inside. With just a few easy steps you can make this happen for you.

First thing is first, check with the manufacturer of the unit to verify that you are allowed and/or recommended to make this change to your tank. Once you’ve contacted the manufacturer or checked with the original paperwork of the unit, you can proceed to save some money. For as little as $15 you can by a sealed fiberglass insulation blanket. You’ll need to remove notches in the insulation for placement around the nozzles and pipes. After you find a good fit securely tape the blanket ends together. That’s it. If you do not have the means or the time to do this then you have another option. Make sure your heater is set below 120 degrees. Anything above that is a waste in energy. Otherwise, you can find a kit to proceed with the insulation process. You’ll definitely find you have significant savings shortly after the correct insulation.

All over the world, people celebrated the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Earth Day was the child of former senator, Gaylord Nelson. They gathered together to show how they felt about the way that the earth was being polluted and to encourage others to take a stand. It was after this momentous occasion that business and lawmakers began to pay attention and laws like the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were passed.

Earth Day continues to be celebrated all over the world today, with around 500 million people in attendance in about 175 different countries. Each country has its own special way of celebrating and inspiring others to do their part to make the Earth a safer place to live that will last a little bit longer. This year was the 41st celebration of Earth Day.

Ethiopia is one of the newest countries to celebrate Earth Day and they will be learning about how the natural environment is a necessary for community health and well-being. Some of the special events that are planned include panel discussions and businesses will present on green business at the Awareness Fair. Addis Ababa University will also be hosting a lecture series. Ultimately, the country of Ethiopia hopes to build a “Green Generation” that will lead to healthier lifestyles. People will be more able to advocate for a natural environment and learn how to be less wasteful.

Monaco celebrates with the Monaco Earth Day Swim. This open-water swim takes place in the Mediterranean and is 2.5 km long and those who participate are able to raise more money for environmental causes. Those who complete the swim get an olive tree, too.

On Earth Day in Thailand more than 100,000 Buddhist monks gather to encourage inner peace as a means of building on world peace. Mass meditation will be led by PraRajpavanavisuth, the Abbot of Dhammakaya Temple. The event will be followed up by casting the last of 300,000 personal Buddha statues in a sacred tradition.

This year in Spain they will be celebrating the 14th Fair of the Earth (Fira per La Terra) at the Parc de la Ciutadella. This is a 2 day celebration that takes place outside on the weekend before Earth Day and features events like music, dancing, and singing. There are also discussions on topics like composting, alternative health, ecology, and fair commerce. The Forum on Sustainable Energy is one of the highlights, as is the visual arts concert, ORIGENS.

Costa Rica is a country that puts social media to use to celebrate in their own unique way. Twearth Day (a combination of Earth Day and Twitter) is the creation of Project Green Jungle. Those who use Twitter and follow Project Green Jungle can follow along as they take part in various Earth Day events in the Costa Rica jungles. Some of the events that followers can expected to see tweeted about are the Beach Cleanup in Puerto Viejo and the biodiversity survey at the Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve. They will also be testing the waters of the Sixaola River.

Those who have organized the World Energy Forum will be hosting events on April 22-24 for the first time, in Bulgaria. This will be a major event with at least 20 countries sending their heads of state. They will be meeting in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia.

In Shanghai, the big event takes place at the Shanghai Zoo, in partnership with the Rainbow Bridge International School. Environmental education activities take place and children and families from 31 countries will learn to design fashions from recycled material and plan seeds. There will be loads of fun with games and activities that draw attention to the environmental initiatives that are taking place around the world.

Earth Day is the marker for many events in the United States. In New York, Grand Central Terminal is the place to be with a whole week of activities. Artists like Keith Haring and Andy Warhol present Earth related artwork in a display called The Giant Earth Images. These beautiful and inspiring images are to be projected onto the north columns of the main terminal in a dramatic presentation. National Park Week also will take place during the week of Earth Day. Between April 18-26, there will be special events in almost all of the National Parks. There will be presentations by local schools, guided nature walks, organized cleanups, and more.

Canada also makes a big deal of Earth Day. Every major city has exciting and fun Earth Day events with things like concerts, discussions, and music and dancing. Schools, museums, and community group0s are eager to do their part to help teach adults and children alike how they can be more eco-friendly in their daily lives. Some of the events that will take place include a Recycling Awareness seminar in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and the Plant-A-Tree campaign in Ontario at Kawartha Lakes. Winnipeg, Manitoba makes a big production of Earth Day at the Forks with speakers and dancers. All over the country, people gather for cleanups of their local towns and parks.

Children are especially enthusiastic about Earth Day. They have been learning all their school lives about how important it is to take care of the environment. They learn how to recycle, reduce, and reuse from their first day of kindergarten and the learning continues as their progress through the grades. They practice earth friendly habits all through the year but Earth Day is almost as big in the schools as any other holiday. Cleanups are common activities and the children enthusiastically bring out their parents and other family members to participate. Concerts to raise funds for charities, presentations, and other activities are also common. If you cannot get to one of the larger events taking place across the country, look to your nearest school for interesting activities. Children around the world are taking extra steps to protect that Earth that the someday will raise their own children in and we can learn a lot from talking to them and watching what they do.

The out of control reactors at Fukushima have proven one of the most serious nuclear reactor accidents since Three Mile Island or Chernobyl. Those words get thrown around a lot, including words like ‘airborne radiation’ ‘nuclear fallout’ and ‘radioactive iodine’. The facts are there are radioactive elements that have reached the upper atmosphere, and those radioactive particles have made it to the United States. Environmental monitors have also determined that a sizable amount of Iodine 131, the radioactive cousin of standard Iodine has made it into the drinking water and milk supplies around the hazard area.

What does that mean, environmentally? On a fundamental level, it does not mean a lot to the environment as a whole. Iodine 131 has a half-life of only 8 days, so it dissipates from the environment very quickly. When they get the reactors fully contained levels of this material will drop you will likely see detectible levels of the radioactive materials disappear relatively quickly. Those that can live off safe bottled water during that time will most likely see no effect, and relatively little exposure.

The problem is that the liver absorbs Iodine very easily because the Thyroid gland requires Iodine to function. That means consumption of contaminated materials will saturate the Liver and Thyroid with the radioactive material. That is why the standard preventative treatment for this time of contamination is massive doses of the harmless variety of Iodine. If your body is all ready saturated, you will not collect the radioactive variant. There are medical uses for Iodine 131, but they have found that massive doses actually cause fewer problems then moderate doses. High exposures simply kill cells, where moderate doses can cause cell damage, which can lead to cancer, especially Thyroid cancer where the Iodine is used by the gland to function. This risk is especially elevated in children, and seems to decrease over time and age.

This means that overall impact of this substance is hard to gauge in the long term. Immediately you will see very few issues, unless small children are allowed to consume large amounts of contaminated material. Long-term exposure is likely a more complicated affair, as contaminated water means that there will be a higher rate of mutation, sickness and cancer in all wildlife that is exposed to it. That also means that anyone that has no choice and has to consume the contaminated water and milk will be at significantly higher risk for cancer, especially children.

The company in charge of the Fukushima has repeatedly stated that there is no significant elevated risk to Japan as a whole. They contend that the damage to the plant is under control, and that the presence of this radioactive element is low impact due to it’s short half-life. Both of those statements are true, as long as they can prevent the Iodine 131 from reaching the environment, which right now looks like they are unable to stop. Effectively, the longer the nuclear reactors leak, the greater chance of unrepeatable environmental danage on the land and waters around the plant, and even perhaps Japan as a whole.

With all of the natural disasters that our Earth has seen this year and in the past couple years there have been a lot of questions that have come to the surface. People are wondering what the cause of all these natural disasters is and what we can do about it if anything. While there are many theories that have been discussed the one that seems to come up again and again is global warming. Some think that those who look at global warming as the cause of our many recent natural disasters are just alarmists, but is there some value behind the theory?

What is known is that three new chemicals are directed into our environment every day. For the most part, people are not considering the consequences of what the combination of all those chemicals can do. It is becoming increasingly believable that they are affecting the air and water that we breathe, so it there might reason to believe that it is also affecting global warming. And global warming is causing the glaciers and ice caps to melt, which raises the sea level and it is possible that this could contribute to natural disasters.

There are still some who do not believe that global warming has any affect on the frequency of natural disasters. Those who do not believe this say that there has not been enough global warming to have any significant effect on the water levels in the oceans or seas and so it cannot possibly be affecting things like cyclones, tornadoes, and earthquakes. They believe that there simply is not enough evidence to know for sure what has cause the increase in natural disasters.

Global warming already affects many things in our lives but it will likely be many years before scientists can determine exactly how much it will apply to natural disasters. Science is very precise and those who work in the fields of science will remind you that it is based on facts that must lead to empirical evidence, which means, repetition with same or similar results.

When folks think about being eco friendly, they look to reduce their animal consumption, recycle their metals, plastics and papers, and maybe even do their best to reduce their impact on the environment by finding alternate ways of disposing of their harmful toxins. Something that often declares a person’s independence, individuality, and adherence to an alternate lifestyle may be something else on the list of non-eco friendly lifestyle habits, that is the practice of getting tattoos.

That’s right, the ink that you wear to show how much you love mother earth may be one of the things that contribute to harming her. Have you looked into how your tattoo ink is made? Have you looked at the ingredient list for the product that you are implanting into your skin, never to be removed? This non-fda regulated product, this unregulated coloring may have a few ingredients that are distinctly not the most eco-friendly.

Planet Green discovered that the FDA does not do any regulation for “any tattoo inks for injection into the skin, and many ink pigments used are industrial strength colors suitable for printers’ ink or automobile paint.” That’s right, industrial colors you might see in your computer’s ink tank, or sprayed onto the next hummer that you see drive past might just be residing in your skin.

The ingredient list in tattoo inks, as researched by The American Academy of Dermatology is not exactly the most organic or waste free. They found that, “Tattoo pigments may contain industrial organic pigments, including azo and polycyclic compounds, sandalwood and brazilwood, as well as aluminum, cadmium, calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, silica, sulphur, titanium dioxide and barium sulphate, each of which may be the cause of a skin reaction like a rash or be toxic.” In addition, some derivatives of black ink use ground down bone burned to charcoal and carried by a glycerin derivative produced from animal fat. Not exactly the vegan-friendly choice if you look to stay away from harming any of Mother Nature’s children.

So next time you want to express yourself, and your allegiance with the green movement, you may want to take a moment to consider how exactly that expression is going to show in your relationship with the planet. Are you willing to make an exception to your low-impact lifestyle choice in your quest to show how much you love that choice?

The world is filled with extremists and just plain crazies. All of which have some sort of cause or agenda. By legal and moral right you are allowed to have beliefs and opinions, but the way in which you act upon them makes a world of difference. It is common knowledge that our planet needs our care. Even though it has survived millions of years of other turmoil and tribulation, we have a responsibility to take care of it in a safe and positive manner.

Be an activist, but do it with some semblance of sanity and moral obligation. An easy way to help and get your feelings out there is to start with yourself. Change the way you eat, the way you live, the way you are towards other people. Enact those beliefs and feelings into your own life by helping in your direct surroundings. Switch over to green power and grow your own food. Simple things like this reflect upon personal impression. Especially if you want to take your thoughts to the big stage.

Another good way to be an environmental activist in a positive way is to teach other people about what’s going on and what they can do to help, even on a small scale. Educating the future generations of what needs to be done and how they can do it does miles more than chaining yourself to buildings or trees. The key is to phase out the negative thinking over time through this process of opening the eyes of the caretakers of the next 100 years.

On a much larger scale, use your knowledge and your passion to write about it or paint about it. Start an online blog or newsletter promoting good practices and environmentally safe products. Warn people of products that degrade the environment and suggest safer things to use. Spreading negative propaganda about a company or government institution can lead to hate and violence not positive awareness. The credibility behind your movement is based on how you are perceived. Following through with your beliefs in a positive “role model” type fashion will get you more attention.

Global Warming is no longer a debatable topic, or a myth. Too many scientists have come out with facts that support that the global temperature on this planet is going up, and that one of the major factors to this is human’s contribution to the shifting environment. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported a mean temperature increase of over 1 degree Fahrenheit globally during the 20^th century. This doesn’t sound like much, but when this is combined with a near doubling of the carbon content in the atmosphere, and a potential increase of up to 11 degrees Fahrenheit during the 20^th century, the question becomes not, “is it happening,” but “what does this mean for us?”

Global Warming Affects Sea Level

According to many client models, what this means for us is exactly what we have seen this winter. We have not necessarily seen higher temperatures, but we have seen more extreme weather patterns and behaviors. The massive, national winter storm that blanketed the country this winter could be one result of the client change resulting from Global Warming. Glacial formations in the north that have shrunk are also considered a direct result of the overall warming patterns. Glacier National Park recently reduced their named glaciers to 22 due to the overall shrinkage of the ice formations there; this means much more trapped water is entering the ocean, potentially disrupting sea life and patterns there as well.

Environmentalists have found differing ways to help curb the continuing trend of global warming through one of the major factors to the increase in carbon in the atmosphere, greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The Kyoto protocols are a call globally to decrease the emissions of greenhouse gasses. The pushes to find alternate fuels that are not as polluting are among the efforts to curb the spread of these planet-warming contributors.

One of the best methods to combat Global Warming though is simply education. There are several countries, particularly less developed, but most at risk countries such as Africa and the Middle east that still attest that they do not believe that Global Warming is happening. This is unfortunate because these developing nations are the ones most likely going to be affected by the change in the climate, as their lives become harder due to more extreme climate, hotter conditions, and increased difficulties in making a living on a planet that becomes more hostile to those living with it.