Earth Screams Louder

To my friends: please start now to challenge your assumptions and don't be afraid to think differently.

What happened to the Jersey shore and lower Manhattan this week...has never happened before.

Just because we have always done things a certain way does not mean we can depend on circumstances to remain static, or expect what we currently consider conventional wisdom to work in the future. Even the NEAR future.

We live in rapidly changing times, and most people are so distracted by the politics of the day that they are woefully unprepared for the challenge of our lifetime that is looming before us.

Our earth is warming rapidly, too rapidly. The evidence is clear, and that is scientific FACT.  We're not going to argue about the cause and who or what deserves the most blame, though there is little doubt that our manmade excesses are doing much to exacerbate the problem.  Our "fiddling while Rome burns"  has probably already brought us past the point where we can stop what is happening.

We need to look at the situation we are in and start adapting to it.  Even if you don't think you'll be around long enough to be impacted, think of your kids and grandkids and future generations.

Many people will stick their fingers in their ears, dig in their heels, and refuse to believe their lying eyes until the worst case scenario hits them right where they live. Then, it's too late to prepare.

Our infrastructure is aging and fragile, and the chances are increasing that it will fail when challenged by the power of nature.

No quick fixes will be available.   Start figuring out what you will need to take care of yourself if your power goes out for a very long time.  Because not only will your lights and heat and TV and refrigerator be gone. You may lose your water supply. You may lose your transportation. Gasoline pumps don't work when the power is out.  Your local ATMs will stop dispensing cash. Stores will not have power either, their refrigerators and freezers will not be working, and limited fuel  may keep new supplies from reaching your community.

You're on your own, buddy.

Now is a good time to start evaluating your emergency preparedness, finding out what your weaknesses are, and fixing them.  Truth is, we're pretty pathetically dependent on other people and things for our entire lifestyle. We depend on being able to hop in the car and make a quick run to the store when we're out of coffee or toilet paper. We expect it to be there waiting for us if we just hand over the cash. We don't have a Plan B.

Sandy wasn't the first devastating superstorm in recent times, although maybe the first that made us pay a little bit of attention.  Sandy won't be the last. We're starting to see a new normal. Push away the denial and take a good look. Get ready. And good luck.

A starting point: Are You Ready?  Information, planning, putting together your kit.

Plus, things we can do to conserve energy and produce less CO2:

Recycle as much as you can. Aluminum, metal, plastic, glass, paper, cardboard.

Reuse instead of throwing away. Discard  less. Find new uses for old things.

Reuse and recycle paper. When you buy paper products, buy those made from recycled material. Stop killing trees. We need them to convert CO2 to oxygen and to help regulate the temperature of the planet.

Use regular plates and cups, cloth napkins and towels, and cloth shopping bags.

Keep the thermostat lower. Put on another layer of clothing.

Buy products with minimal packaging.

Use as little plastic as possible. (This is an especially difficult one.)

Buy things made and grown locally.

Walk, ride a bike, car pool, or take a bus.

Turn off lights when you aren't using them.

Plant a tree.