Actually, you CAN do something about it.
If you believe man is affecting the environment, vote for a party which wants to limit pollution, require standards, and investigate it.
if you believe man has zero influence on it, vote for a party which doesn't want to do anything about these things.
It ain't rocket science. We may or may not be causing it. But there's no denying the waters are rising, the weather is changing, and that crazy shit people predicted a few years back is actually happening. 
Rob,
I agree we should influence action. It is the responsibility of leading first world nations to take a leadership role in addressing this global challenge, and we can help make this happen.
We should write to our local newspapers about the significance of the global warming threat and the need for leadership on the issue. We can also monitor our newspaper's coverage of this issue and write in response to any stories or letters that dismiss global warming. We can write or call our heads of state to let them know that we expect them to be an international leader on this issue.
Contact our members of parliament, or congressional representative and senators to encourage them to support actions to address the root causes of global warming: the emission of heat-trapping gases.
Ask your premiers, governors, state legislators, MPs, and public utility regulators to promote energy efficiency, nonpolluting transportation alternatives, and the development of clean, renewable sources of energy -- like solar and wind power.
Tell government officials that we want them to push industry to protect the future health of the environment by reducing carbon emissions.
It's important to note that our power to effect global warming also goes well beyond the ballot box. Some may choose to believe we have no power to effect change if the right person isn't voted into office, or if our elected officials choose to ignore us. Nonsense! Given events of late, it is quite very possible our elected officials may choose to ignore us. nonetheless, it's our problem, and it's time for us as citizens on this beautiful blue ball we call home, to rise up and reclaim our planet, both for ourselves, and for the subsequent generations who will inhabit it. So what if an environmentalist isn't in power, ...we can STILL do our part and effect change on a global scale.
We all know that burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
We can help to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which in turn reduces global warming, by using energy more wisely.
Here are 10 simple, painless, & practical actions we can take to reduce global warming.
1) Reduce, Reuse, RecycleWe can do our part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever we can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn’t a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of our household waste, we can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
2) Use Less Heat and Air ConditioningAdding insulation to our walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can lower our heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy we need to heat & cool our homes
Turn down the heat while we’re sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times. Setting our thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
3) Change a Light BulbWherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save us $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.
If every North American family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate well over 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.
4) Buy Energy-Efficient Products and FoodsWhen it’s time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs. Look for the EnergyStar on our appliances.
For coffee lovers, drink shade-grown coffee. Sun-grown coffee is produced in areas of devastated rainforest, while shade-grown varieties help preserve the rainforest, reduce the need for pesticides, and are ultimately beneficial for the planet.
Eat more vegetables, less meat. The average North American diet causes the release of an extra 1.5 tons of greenhouse gases per year compared with a strict plant-based diet. Reducing your meat and dairy intake by half can make a big difference.
Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can't be recycled. If we reduce our household garbage by 10 percent, we can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
5) Use the "Off" SwitchSave electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when we leave a room, and using only as much light as we need. And remember to turn off our television, video player, stereo and computer when we're not using them.
6) Plant a TreeIf you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.
7) Get a Report Card from Your Utility CompanyMany utility companies provide home energy audits to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.
8 ) Use Less WaterSet your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry. It’s also a good idea to turn off the water when you’re not using it. While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog, or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. Even better, ...wash your car
without water. Yes, ...it
IS possible to do that. You’ll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource. Imagine what a positive impact that would have on the world's water supply if everyone starting washing their car without water... Imagine that
9) Drive Less and Drive SmartLess driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community’s mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.
When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Use MPG-Caps. <--click meNot only have these caplets been proven in over 20,000,000 miles of highway/city fleet testing to improve gas mileage and fuel economy, they have also been proven to reduce smog causing emissions by 75% +.
Just listen to what these
satisfied users have to say about them, as well as all the money they're saving.
10) Encourage Others to ConserveShare information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.
These 10 steps will take us a long way toward reducing our own energy use AND our monthly bills. And less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.
Hope That Helps,
“Global warming and the pollution and burning of fossil fuels that cause it are threats we see here in California and everywhere around the world. I am joining this historic virtual march on Washington, along with other leaders, because we need to address global warming now.” -- Arnold Schwarzenegger - Governor (R-CA)
