What inspired you to become more involved with environmental issues?

Question

No, I didn't General Jelly Bean. I promise:-)

Answer 1

Reading (and visiting/witnessing) about impoverished economies and the resulting implications of unsustainable modes of living.

On another note, here is a list of things that we could consider doing/adopting to make our lifestyle more "green" without costing too much to the Earth.

1. Reduce, Reuse Recycle (Ever notice reduce comes first?)

2. If you own a vehicle own a higher efficient one like a hybrid.

3. Live downtown and rarely drive

4. Give to various environmental charities (Union of concerned Scientists, Nature Conservancy, and the Sierra Club, etc).

5. Go Vegan. Probably one of the greatest positive impacts an individual can have on the environment as meat production in more energy intensive, and creates massive amounts of methane (20x's more powerful than CO2), as well as takes us to 16 pounds of grain to make one pound of beef).

6. Buy local goods. Being a locovore is key to helping the environment when our food is shipped an average of 1600 miles.

7. Gardening: Plant as many bushes and trees as you can. Also, see if you can have a food garden that brings local and sustainability to a whole new level.

8. Compost: Saves loads on trash and I need not by fertilizers which are often petroleum based.

9. Travel Less: Especially flights which literally release tones of CO2 per passenger per trip.

10. Promote Awareness: We can't do this alone.

11. Write elected officials to create green laws.

12. Put CFL's or LED's throughout your whole house.

13. Use solar and crank flashlights: They save money and the environment in energy as well as the embodied energy of batteries.

14. Use tote bags : America alone uses over 380 billion bags a year that will not decompose in the landfills.

15. Drink filtered not bottled water which takes petroleum for each bottle you drink and through away.

16. Throw away a little as possible.

17. Buy hemp clothing: It grows more prolifically than cotton, is stronger fabric making it last longer, and requires no pesticides.

18. Buy recycled goods such as toilet paper, reclaimed materials for shoes, used clothing and construction materials, etc.

19. Add extra insulation to you house.

20. Walk or bike where possible; Or if you must, then try to take public transportation.

Answer 2

Because I don't just care about myself.

I care about the poorest people in the world who are and will be most effected by global climate change.

I care about the children of the world who will will be handed down a sick environment, and this is unfair to stick someone with that we ruined.

I care about the continuation of life on this planet. The complex milieu of life is what helped to create and sustain people and I want more of that because I am interested in seeing the potential of all life to be reached.

PS and you thought it was just to get on Your nerves, right ;)

Answer 3

When I saw videos about global warming. I realized if we keep doing ths we would melt the ice and greate a true Water World.  Then the atmosphere would perish and all the water would float into space. Our kids will have it SO bad. I say think of future generations, not you. What are we leaving them?

Answer 4

An Inconvenient Truth- Al Gore's movie. Amazing. It truly inspired me to do SOMETHING. After you finish it, you just sit there like, 'What can I do?'. I think that's inspiring. Something that just makes you want to help.

Answer 5

I am an old hippie, we have been bringing up the issues caused by misuse of natural resources since the 60's. It is not just about global warming. it is about over population, Recycling, economic bigotry, Equality for all persons, One sky and one world.

The biggest problem is that change is scarry and making an effort to change is hard work.

The question is...How do we get more people to work toward sustainable, environmental issues without all the confusion and hate?

Answer 6

Reading the book The Lorax as a child.

Thank you Dr. Seuss!

Answer 7

My vacation to the Amazon in '97.  After that, I saw the world in a different way.  I quit seeing the world from just the human perspective.

Answer 8

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live completely, 100% “off of the grid and are completely self sufficient”

The house is built utilizing natures natural elements, in the shape of an octagon with 8ft wide arch doors on every wall to catch every angle of wind (typical 4 sided homes have half the chance as one with 8 sides. A circle being the most efficient design). Woodburning stoves, solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet.

We also built many green small cabins on the ranch that we offer to family, friends and our on-site off-grid workshop guests, including one straw bale, one papercrete, earth bag and adobe, one cob and cordwood, one underground and rammed earth, one log and post and beam and one rock. Each one actually started as a test for what the main house would be and were later finished and turned into guest cabins. I later wrote a guide on how to build with alternative materials using alternative methods for next to nothing.

We raise meat and milk goats, chickens for meat and eggs, ducks for meat and eggs, trap havilina (wild boar pig), rabbit, quail. brew our own beer from home grown products, preserve our fruits, vegetables, etc. smoke and jerky the meat, make our own soap, cheese.

There are no utility lines, no water lines, no roads, tv, cell service, etc. on our ranch. EVERYTHING needed is produced here. All electricity comes from 27 solar panels, 2 main wind gens and a back hydrogen generator if needed (typically we can last 9 days with all luxuries of sunless windless weather, hasn't happened yet). Water is caught and storaged from the rain. Hot water is made with solar batch water heaters with an on-demand hydrogen hot water heater as backup. solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet. Even our vehicles use alternative energy (2 hydrogen trucks, 1 EV electric vehicle converted). Because of this we have no bills, no debt and no mortgage.

Anyone interested can check it out at..

www agua-luna com

I believe this is the first step anyone can make “help the environment”. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

my home has all the comforts listed above plus some. we live very comfortable without effecting the environment. just saying that tol et you know it's possible. you may not want to go as extreme as me and my family but anywhere in between is something.

Without getting to in depth here, Using alternative fuels in your vehicles and harnessing your own electricity from the sun, water, earth and wind are the 2 are key elements in making a green transition and erasing your carbon footprint.

here's a calculator to find out how much of a green impact your making (carbon footprint)

http://www.conservation.org/act/live_gre...

if you'd like to make your next step feel free to contact me personally at www agua-luna com

I've been installing home made Solar panels. Solar stoves, Solar batch and inline hot water heaters. Solar radiant heating. Solar home heating and AC, along with home made wind gens and other alternative energy items for the last 3 years.

You can even make the above projects on site with simple parts from the local hardware stores or auto stores or junk yards. For more info check out some guides I wrote / compiled on how to DIY www agua-luna com

Again these projects can be accomplished anywhere by anyone.

if you absolutely can't do anything in your home at least you can put alternative fuels in your car. most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, and nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.

In fact your probably even driving an ethanol car and didn't even know it.

The trick is finding fuel.

I've been producing biofuel for about 3 years now, it's not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) and some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen and use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..

www agua-luna com

as for recyling the best way i've found without taking money from your won pocket is to join a free freecycle group in your area or visit the habitat for humanity.

If you’d like help in making your self sufficient steps, feel free to contact me directly. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com

on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others “help the environment”.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming,

Answer 9

I made a list of things for the government to banned. I haven't gave it to them yet or maybe I can be on tv and talk about some ways to help God's planet be cleaner and more nicer to the Mother Earth. I want to tell them about ways to have a greener environment for the next generation to come. what y'all think. I want to be on tv badly. I honestly never been on channel 5 , 8, 4, or 11.  I also videos on how are plastic getting in oceans and causing animals to suffered.

Answer 10

A thermodynamics and energy technologies professor.

Answer 11

Animals! I care about the environment, but what I think about when I recycle or try to do little things to help during the day is animals. I also became vegetarian. We need to protect the world so we can protect all the living things that need it.