December 19, 2010

This diagram shows the effects of climate change - more specifically, what will happen as the earth reaches a global average temperature increase of  X degrees celcius. It also shows the associated CO2 concentration in the atmosphere (Currently we are at a concentration of around 380 parts per million).

 

Let me draw your attention to a few changes I think are quite eye-opening and alarming.

1) With an average temperature increase of 2 degrees celcius it will bring about the "irreversible melting of the Greenland ice sheet". 

2) "Entire regions experience major decline in crop yields" at an increase of just over 4 degrees celcius in the global average temperature.

3) "Increasing risk of abrupt, largescale shifts in the climate system (e.g. collapse of the Atlantic Thermohaline circulation and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet)" with an increase of 3 degrees celcius and more. The Atlantic Thermohaline circulation is a deep water ocean current that circulates throughout the entire world, and the purpose of it is that it transports cooler water from the poles to warmer waters and then the warmer water up towards the poles. It begins in the North Pole above the Atlantic Ocean and because of this circulation, Europe is approximately 8-10 degrees warmer than if this circulation did not exist. It is with the formation of ice in the arctic (which then creates very salty and dense water surface water - which is actually denser than the water below it - and so the surface water and deeper water change place) that this circulation begins, and so with less ice in the arctic, this circulation will become weaker and eventually stop.
If you've seen the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow' this is the premise it lies on (however exaggerated the movie is).

December 11, 2010

Take a look at these numbers of how many gallons of water it takes to produce certain things:

 

LOOK HOW MUCH WATER IS USED FOR BEEF!!!

Why is it that much you ask?

Here's why:

All of these photos are in the April 2010 National Geographic

This is why I am vegetarian.

With one in eight people on this planet lacking access to clean water, and then on top of that all this grain going to feed animals, which only the wealthy can afford to eat, why not just give the grain to people from the start? You'd be able to feed more people - especially with the population predicted to stabilize around 9 BILLION people, food and water scarcity are going to become huge issues and so we are not going to be able to allocate THIS MUCH WATER to beef. Just think how much other stuff this water could be used for if people just cut down how much meat they ate. I'm not saying become vegetarian, just eat less meat. You seriously do not need to eat meat for breakfast (bacon) lunch (sandwhiches) and dinner (roast, pasta sauce etc), every day! Honestly, think about how much meat you eat and how much water that takes up.

Also, look at the impact this has on deforestation.

The majority of forest is cleared in the amazon for cattle ranches

graph obtained from my ENVR 200 class at McGill

Just something to think about eh?

Also, I urge you to see the significance of eating meat vs being vegetarian vs being vegan by calculating your footprint (find link in my links section). You can do your footprint as a meat eater and then as a vegetarian and see the drastic difference it makes.
Arguably, what you eat makes a bigger impact on the planet than what type of transport you use.

again, something to think about in your day to day life choices.