First things first

Hmmmm......what to discuss in a first blog for a new site. Well, to start, I want to discuss the responsibility we all have to help take care of our environment. I know, I generally jump feet first into things so here we go.

For many years we have heard environmentalists, often classified as hippies or tree huggers, claim that the way we were living was destroying our planet. If we did not mend our ways we would be looking at calamitous repercussions very likely in their lifetime or at least within the next generation. Their cries for reform were drowned out by the turning gears of industry and technology. The industrial machine was moving forward and most of us were content to go along for the ride, oblivious to what we were doing or just didn't care. We would pay attention when enough noise was made by the environmentalists but it still did not have a major impact on our everyday lives.

Now, the low rumble of discontent by environmentalists has become a steady roar that many people are still trying to ignore or just simply don't know how to respond to. Our awareness has been brought up a notch so that now we finally recognize that as a planet, we are in deep trouble. I say this knowing full well that many in this country still have not reached this level of enlightenment, but there is always hope.

So, now that global warming has been established as something that is actually happening, what do we do? As someone who has become environmentally aware, it still amazes me that there are tons of people out there who still do not know what global warming is, think there is nothing that can be done about it, or just simply don't care. Granted, not everyone will become an environmental convert or want to build their house out of dirt like I do, BUT everyone can become more knowledgeable and have a better understanding of what he/she can do.

Let's face it, most of the time, if something does not directly impact us we don't care. When it affects how we live or the pocketbook, then we become very interested in the problem. So we need to start with how environmental changes impact how we live and what we can do at home. Once people are educated about the little things they can do at home, then we can move on to bigger things in the community.

The thing is, it is all about steps. The problem may seem insurmountable, but when we take small steps we all make a difference. Global warming is a problem that is not going to go away by itself. It is also not something that can be fixed by governments or scientists alone. We have a responsibility and it is time we stepped up to the plate. We cannot sit back and wait on world governments to fix this. If we do, we'd might as well start looking for another planet to live on. I hate to break it to you but the planet does not need us but we sure need it.