I’m Perplexed

I’m Perplexed was Originally Posted on November 2, 2009 by lavarock

At times I’m perplexed.

For years I have heard about the decimation of the rainforest. I have yet t ohear WHO is decimating them (I assume developers) and WHERE these rainforests are.

Here in Hawaii we have rainforests and they appear to be doing pretty well, thank you. We have a tendency of not doing that much development here. We try but are stopped by all sorts of issues. There have been cases of development stopped by finding bones, rock walls (religous sites), birds, rock carvings, land ownership going back to the King and so on. Out island is 4,000 square miles and mostly undeveloped.

So I guess South America has these rainforests. Yes, of course we can help save them, but what are the local communities doing to save them and do they really want OUR help? Sometimes our “do good” mentality is not always welcome around the world.

There are starving jids in Africa and other places overseas. We send food and people to help, yet their own rulers ignore the peoples need.

Then I keep hearing about “carbon footprints” but some of the information is babble. For example, read this:

Air travel is a major source of the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. A single cross-country plane flight burns about 100 gallons of fuel per passenger. That’s as much as most people use in four months of driving.

Ok, so lets look at that statement. It all makes sense on the outset, but they divert your attention to make their point and get you to donate to their funds. So let’s take a closer look at what they are saying.

To travel across country by plane burns 100 gallons of fuel per passenger. OK, I’ll assume their numbers are correct for the sake of this argument. They then say that is the equivalent fuel that people use in 4 months of driving. OK, I’ll assume that too is correct. EXCEPT and UNLESS those same people drive across the US instead of taking the flight!

They talk about flying cross the country vrs driving locally, but those people flying across the country would make a lot larger footprint if they had driven instead of flown. This is comparing apples to oranges.

My truck het 15 miles per gallon. (I wanted to trade it in in the clunkers deal, but had just bought a tractor and could not afford a new truck). Anyway, for me to drive across country in my truck I would use what, 188 gallons and fuel cost would be $565; so it seems that the airline may do a better job at getting me there than driving.

As for going green and saving earths resources, as a Ham Radio operator, I used a solar panel to power a radio before most peopl know what they were. This was just a year or so after Solarex started making panels in Maryland.

I specifically joined the NRCS and USDA project to capture and use rainwater to irrigate crops rather than use valuable county water and deplete our aquifers.

I’m not perfect and don’t always do the same thing, but at least for the past few decades I have mnaged my trips to town and shopping. I can tell you it costs me $8 or more to drive to COSTCO and back, thus I bought a freezer and try to stockpile food to avoid extra trips. I renew my prescriptions via mail and have cut down on the massive amounts of junkmail I used to receive.

I have begun feeding my dog real food instead of packaged kibble. It is healthier for him and there is a great deal less processing that has to be done to it.

I have 1 air conditioner running to keep my coffee beans dry before roasting. In the next month I’ll switch to special grainpro bags which don’t need special air conditioning or humidity controls. Other than that, I have the windows open 24 hrs a day. Only when the temperature drops do I close them to hold in the heat.

So if you want to help the environment, here are a few simple things to consider. Some will help alot, some a little, some just help you think each time you do something.

If you keep turning the A/C up and down, consider adding or removing layers of clothes. Use shades or curtains (lined if appropriate) to keep out heat.

A skylight might help bring in light without having to use electric.

A solar-powered exhaust fan could remove hot air up at the ceiling and exhaust it.

Limit hot water useage and perhaps see if an on-demand heater might save you money. Why heat water all night when you only need it for short times during the day.

Appropriately cover your water heater and pipes. Have the water tank drained (remove power source while draining and filling). That will clean out sediment and make it work better.

If you can, switch to CFL’s or LED lights. Unplug power charges that are not being used.

Brush your teeth with cold water.

When replacing an enclosed bathtub or jacuzzi, perhaps insulation abound the tub might reflect heat back in.

Fix dripping faucets.

Carpool. Call stores to see if items are in stock before driving there.

Consider flinging instead of driving