The warming planet Earth needs our help! The magnitude of Global Climate Change is so great that it might appear that any individual actions will be inconsequential, and to some extent that is quite true. However acting collectively much can be accomplished. Individually, we should:
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Educate ourselves. Only by becoming, and staying, well informed can we appreciate the problem and undertake meaningful action in our daily lives. Attend lectures or classes and attend local climate change events. Read, there are many excellent books at your book stores, and in your local libraries. The internet has a great deal of excellent information especially on University and government agency sites.
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Teach others. Teach a child about our dependence upon a clean environment and a stable climate for the well-being of mankind. Teach others by your example.
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Act. The most important thing that you can do is to contact your local and national leaders. Let them know that climate change, and environmental protection, is important to you. Ask them where they stand on climate change, and what they are doing about it. Encourage their support of climate change and environmental protection legislation. Write them, call them, or send an email. This is the single most important action that you can take; far more effective than some “green” gesture such as screwing in a light bulb. And then, contact them again. Make the 22nd of each month a "Climate Day" and contact a member of your government. It doesn't take much time, it costs little, and it is far more effective that any other action! You owe it to your children, grandchildren and our planet. And, you will feel good about doing it.
- Conserve. A well insulated home, saving fuel and recycling is always wise. Collectively it may have some impact on global climate change, and it is a way of life that we should adopt and teach our children.
- Be a careful consumer. Try to buy products that have a low energy requirement during their manufacture, use and disposal; and/or were produced locally. Be careful - there will always be someone trying to make a buck off of global warming.
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Become Involved. Demand action from your local, regional and national politicians, and hold them accountable. Rather than spending your time engaging in token symbols of "greenness", such as changing light bulbs, spend the time contacting your leaders and urging effective action at the national level.
- Support high-quality science education. A firm foundation of science, especially physics, is required to unravel the complexities of global warming; while math and engineering expertise will be required to develop new and innovative alternate energy sources.
- Oppose development of "dirty" energy facilities. It is far better to leave coal and oil in the ground than attempt to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Think globally. Climate change is a global problem with only global solutions. We must think beyond our national interests, and act in the best interests of mankind.
Make the 22nd of Each Month Your Personal "Climate Day"
Learn! Teach! Act!