The End of the World, etc.

Ralf writes a blog for the company we work for, which is perhaps why he avoids interesting topics such as kids, fashion, food, etc., and focuses on environmental issues, mainly green initiatives within our own company but also broader global topics. I sometimes borrow or steal topics from him although he never reciprocates. Today is one of those days.

This is from Ralf's blog:

Congressmen Henry Waxman and Ed Markey have submitted a draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009. This bill aims to cut U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 83% compared to 2005 levels by 2050. This legislation will be the most important mechanism to avoid a severe climate crisis in the next 30-50 years. Whatever is going to happen in Congress this year will set the tone for the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December this year, driving responses from China, India and all other countries. You can follow discussions in the Sierra Club life blog named "broken record".

Now back to me:

It's very simple: If you look at the difference between Venus and the Earth, as Al Gore does in his 'Inconvenient Truth' presentation, you will notice that Venus' atmosphere is thick with carbon gas and it's about 855 degress there. If you're thinking Venus is so much hotter because it's closer to the sun than Earth, think again: Venus is three times hotter than Mercury, which is right next to the Sun. It's the carbon gas.

I think 855 degress is a little scarier than a couple of depressed polar bears sitting on melting ice. Of course, we probably won't get that hot. Maybe we'll only hit, like 280 degrees or something like that. And by then the problem will have taken care of itself so no worries.

Oh, and now it turns out that the studies sponsored by oil interests claiming that global warming is controversial were lying outright. I know, it's shocking. No one saw that coming at all.

Anyway, given that the world may be ending, why do I still get distracted by ads for Angelina Jolie's anti-wrinkle secrets? What's the matter with me???

Like, it's such a big secret, anyway. She's what, 33?

Sorry. You were asking what you can do to help that doesn't require much effort on your part and I interrupted you to babble about moisturizing creams.

Here are a couple of petitions you can sign that will be forwarded to your Congresspeople based on your zip code. Mine always get forwarded to California-based democrats with a history of supporting environmental legislation so it probably doesn't help much but if you're in Marsha Blackburn's district I urge you to sign.

http://www.repoweramerica.org/action/earth-day.

http://action.edf.org/campaign/Waxman_Markey_alert

Postscript: I'm sure Marsha had everyone's long-term best interests in mind when she tried to imply that Al Gore only wants to save the world just so he can recoup his investments in alternative energy.

Other things you can do, courtesy of http://www.learningfundamentals.com.au/.