Thursday, October 15, 2009

Blog Action Day 2009 - Climate Change



Yesterday, I saw a tweet from a good friend in Chicago about Blog Action Day. It is "an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web." [source]

Well, I wanted to be involved but am a bit behind the 8ball. I was planning to blog about something utterly unimportant today. So, I fretted over what to write and decided that it would be best if I just shared some links that I found interesting and plan to share with my kids.

It's actually overwhelming to start reading about climate change and its effect on our future. But, it is awareness and action (big or small) that will bring about change.

Here are some interesting links worth checking out:

Facts and figures by the Pew Center for Global Climate Change.

Facts for kids: http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/kidspage.cfm

Top 100 Effects of Global Warming compiled from various sources by the Center for American Progress. Here are a few that jumped out at me:

Say Goodbye to French Wines: Wacky temperatures and rain cycles brought on by global warming are threatening something very important: Wine. Scientists believe global warming will “shift viticultural regions toward the poles, cooler coastal zones and higher elevations.” What that means in regular language: Get ready to say bye-bye to French Bordeaux and hello to British champagne. [LA Times]

Say Goodbye to Baseball:The future of the ash tree—from which all baseball bats are made—is in danger of disappearing, thanks to a combination of killer beetles and global warming. [NY Times]

Say Hello to More Mosquitoes: Get ready for more mosquitoes. Mosquitoes like to live in drains and sewer puddles. During long dry spells (brought on by higher temperatures) these nasty, stagnant pools become a vital source of water for thirsty birds ... which provide a tasty feast for the resident mosquitoes. At the same time, these dry spells “reduce the populations of dragonflies, lacewings, and frogs that eat the mosquitoes.” [Washington Post]

Birds on the CoastHundreds of Pacific seabirds—such as common murres, auklets, and tufted puffins—washed ashore last year after starving to death. Scientists blame global warming which led to less plankton, which led to fewer small fish for the birds to eat. [San Francisco Chronicle]

More HurricanesOver the past century, the number of hurricanes that strike each year has more than doubled. Scientists blame global warming and the rising temperature of the surface of the seas. [USA Today]

Death in the Time of CholeraCholera, which thrives in warmer water, appeared in the newly warmed waters of South America in 1991 for the first time in the 20th century. “It swept from Peru across the continent and into Mexico, killing more than 10,000 people.” [Washington Post]

10 Solutions for Climate from Scientific American

Next week, on October 24, 350.org is organizing the International Day of Climate Action. You can visit their site and see what people all around the world are planning to do next week to demonstrate their commitment to stopping climate change. [source]

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