What Have We Learned?

PBS is airing a series called The Dust Bowl http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/.  It makes the point that part of the reason for the problem were farming practices which largely contributed to the dust bowl, as well as the drought.  It was a confluence of factors that lead to The Dust Bowl.

This is not the only time that man has influenced the world to change the environment.   For example, smog is a contribution from humans that has caused health problems and a loss of quality of life in cities around the world.

Global warming, controversial as it may be, seems to be irrefutable, given the decrease in the glaciers of the world, and the amount of carbon dioxide being released to the atmosphere.

One of the predictions by those who promote the idea that global warming is occurring is that weather extremes will occur. Very cold in the winter, very hot in the summer. Superstorms might occur.  The question after "Superstorm Sandy" http://www.climatewatch.noaa.gov/article/2012/superstorm-sandy-and-sea-level-rise is how frequently will a 100 years storm http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/100yearflood.html occur.

What have we learned from the Dust Bowl Days?  What have we learned about conservation? What have we learned about pollution? 

A coworker today said she wanted to be gone before the South Plains runs out of water.   We are depleting the Ogallala Aquifer http://www.hpwd.com/aquifers/ogallala-aquifer at an alarming rate.  In this respect, I am grateful that I have no children who will have to struggle with the problem of water in the future.  I may still be alive when the water situation becomes more critical than it already is. 

We were in a water conservation mode this past summer: specific days for watering, no home car washing, to name a few restrictions.  Will it get worse with time?  I can only think it will.

What have we learned? What will we do with what we have learned?  Do we want to do the work and make the sacrifices based on what we have learned? 

Hmmmmm.

Hot!

It is hot.  It is suppose to be hot in Lubbock at this time of year. We are drying out.  No rain in sight. For the second year in a row, there are large parts of the nation that are experiencing a drought. Parts of Texas have recovered, but we have not. But, it is not as bad as things were last year. There is little we can do about it.  And complaining will not help.

I saw advertised a book called Global Weirdness http://www.amazon.com/Global-Weirdness-Relentless-Drought-Weather/dp/1455892165 which is about not just global warming, but the changes in weather we can expect as humans overpoweringly influence the climate.

It sounds like a book worth reading.

A Winter Storm Watch

It is 51° degrees out at 3:30 PM today, January 8, 2011.  But we are under a winter storm watch. A watch means conditions are favorable for this even to happen.  The prediction is that the snow will start really early Monday morning. The weather people post the watch early to allow preparation for this weather, which is not common to us.  The first winter storm watch we had for the season did actually materialize into a snow storm, starting early in the morning.  The snow removal services were prepared, and the streets were passable when it came time to go to work.  The early preparation makes a big difference.  The only concern is that some services, and activities cancel based on the watch, and sometimes, the storm just does not materialize, or is not as serious as it could be.  It is a risk and a gamble, but so is weather prediction.  Even though there is good science and really sophisticated electronics assisting with forecasting, it is just a prediction, not a guarantee.

Living in the Economy

There is a lot of talk in the news about the state of the US economy.  The most recent statistics include that there were as many new jobs created as lost last month.  This is dire, and portends a possible recession.

The US mentality has a larger than life aspect to it: everyone wants something bigger and better than the prior generation, than the next person. To get there, we go in debt, one of the major problems with which this country and the world are dealing. The improvement in standards is part of what we call "the American Dream."  I am not sure "the American Dream" can be defined, but it includes being better off than your ancestors, owning your own home, your own car, having a good job that affords you a more than adequate lifestyle with resources left over for entertainment.  We take these things for granted.

Yet, as things go, many young people with college educations are not able to find employment that supports them, or supports the style of "the American Dream."  Many couples find they both have to work to provide for their lifestyle.  Young people graduating from college are saddled with huge debt due to the high cost of their education. Many young people live with their parents because they can not afford to live on their own, or on their own in the lifestyle to which they are accustomed, as was provided by their parents.  And, they are not willing to sacrifice to work themselves up to that lifestyle.

And, more and more Americans are living in poverty.  The gap between the rich and the poor is growing, and the "middle class" is shrinking. 

I have been one not to use a lot of credit.  I try hard not to run up a credit card bill I can not pay off monthly.   I try to save for major purchases and pay cash.  If I buy on credit,  I try to shop for low interest rates, or 0% interest if paid off in a certain time frame, and then, I meet that time frame. 

I used to buy compact cars, but recently, I have been a little more extravagant. When I bought my house, I purchased one of a value lower than "the formula" indicated I should be able to afford. I paid it off early, by some good fortune and circumstances that helped me to pay it off early, as well as by adding extra each month to the mortgage payment.  On the other hand, I have an excellent credit rating, due to my financial management.

I have never had any expectation that I would have things as good financially as my parents did.  I became a social worker, and social workers are notoriously underpaid.  I have not travelled extensively, nor do I have extravagant things in my home.  There was a time in my life when I could account for every cent I spent. I am not on such a tight budget anymore, and am able to afford to take care of most emergencies reasonably comfortably.

I  remember years ago being concerned about natural resources being used up before the next generation was able to enjoy their life: coal, oil, clean water, especially.  I wonder how lumber continues to be available. I worry about wild and natural foods being available.

I have chosen not to have children for a lot of reasons, most of which are too private to post here.  However, one reason was the awareness that the world population is expanding exponentially.  I believe this expansion bodes ill for the availability of a fair share of resources for everyone, and I believe humans are impacting the condition of the planet in a way nothing has before.  I believe this impact portends major changes in the balance of nature on this earth, and will dramatically change the environment. And, I believe these changes are already happening, as evidenced by the shrinking of the polar ice caps and glaciers.

The scientific evidence is that the earth has sometimes balanced these changes with other changes, and sometimes balanced these changes with dramatic pendulum swing type changes. I have to think we have set the earth on a dramatic pendulum swing of the environment. I am not a doomsday predictor.  I am just thinking that things have been changing and will be changing dramatically for some  years to come.  Whether or not I will see these things in my life time, I do not know. 

I am not trying to write about doom and gloom. I think we can make a difference by doing things, large and small to be more conscientious about our lives. I do not live the most "green" or "sustainable" (the new term for environmentally aware and eco-friendly) lifestyle. But I think we are all able to make choices that will have a positive impact, and fit our lifestyle.  I recycle. I catch water from the shower as it is getting warm, to use on my back yard plants. I do not keep my house very cold in the summer nor steamy hot in the winter.  I plan and combine trips so I do not double back on my errands.  I try not to use electric lights if natural light will do.  I use small lights for safety instead of large lights for convenience, when lighting my house at night.  If the weather permits, I open windows to air out my house versus using the air conditioner.

I could do more. Everyone can.  Some are green to extreme.  Many do not pay attention to anything they can do to help.

I think we can all make a difference if we make more efforts to live in balance: whether that is financially, or environmentally.   If we live within our means, limit our environmental impact when we can, and steward our resources carefully.

What can you do?