hazy stars

Oh Mr. Golden Sun, Please Shine Down On Me

As a result of the vast information available on the Internet, public perceptions and attitudes concerning the causes and importance of global warming have changed dramatically. Originally a political-moral debate, global warming has now become a global issue that few can ignore. Information regarding environmental issues is now more readily available making the “Green” Movement become increasingly popular across the world.

Even though "going green" appears to be trendy, this is not a trend. This movement is a result of necessity. Experts say that we have somewhere around 70 years to reverse the damage of global warming before it becomes irreversible. The green efforts companies and individuals are now doing voluntarily will eventually become regulation. Governments worldwide are adopting legislation to enforce policies regarding greenhouse gas emissions.

What exactly is global warming? According to Wikipedia, global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. Scientists have concluded that human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, is the major driving factor in global warming.

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears - OH MY!

There is still hope. We are not completely doomed. The broad agreement among climate scientists that global temperatures will continue to increase has led nations, states, corporations and individuals to implement actions to try to curtail global warming or adjust to it.

Harnessing the sun's power is one solution. The largest source of greenhouse gases is electric power generation. Solar energy is a clean, abundant, widespread and renewable energy source that can be used to increase electricity-generating capacity. Electricity produced from solar energy will not only reduce demand for natural gas, but will also reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from traditional combustion-driven electricity generation.

Ironman triathlon? Ha! Laughable. The Solar Decathlon is a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. They strive to innovate, using high-tech materials and design elements in ingenious ways. The event takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (For those of you who have never been, “The Mall” is actually a huge green lawn in the middle of D.C. – not a shopping plaza).

"I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down." Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and reduces toxic atmospheric and greenhouse gas emissions when used to replace fossil-fuel-derived electricity. Spain is currently kicking booty in this arena. The US can look across to Galicia, Spain for a successful example of policies that addresses oil dependence and spurs growth in renewable energy. Over the last decade, Galicia, a region formerly entirely dependent on imported fossil fuels, has recently emerged as a global leader in both the wind and solar energy sector. As a region, Galicia matches and often surpasses entire nations in wind energy production.

Of course, alternative energy sources are not easily accessible or affordable for the average joe. Especially if you consider the large lack of education and resources available on it. The most common barriers to technology acceptance include:

- High costs.
- Lack of consumer awareness and understanding.
- Inhibiting interconnection standards and net metering policies.
- Lack of trained installers, inspectors, and manufacturing workforce.
- Lack of solar-friendly building practices, standards, and zoning.
- Lack of knowledge about integrating solar in building design.
- Minimal financing options.

There are solutions. The mission of the Solar America Initiative is to help lower the cost of solar electricity so that it is cost-competitive across all U.S. market sectors by 2015. We as citizens need to put the pressure on our government to ensure it happens. Go forth my little philanthropists and do your part!

There's A Pill For That

“Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

Forget sugar. Today’s pills are as smooth as an 18 yr aged single malt scotch. And guess what? Unlike scotch, there is no age requirement for drugs. Uh, I mean prescription medication. Anyone can get their paws on these little drops of heaven.

Are you tired? Restless? Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you sad? Do you have problems focusing? High cholesterol? Headache? Migraine? Back pain? Has your sex life gone the way of the dinosaur? Don’t worry, there’s a pill for that.

Every drug commercial on TV reminds me of the infamous “Vitameatavegamin” episode of “I Love Lucy”.

“Hello friend, I'm your Vitameatavegamin girl. Are you tired, rundown, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle … Yes, with Vitameatavegamin, you can spoon your way to health … It's so tasty too. It's just like candy.”

And what about all those nasty little side effects? Blurred vision; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; headache; feeling of a whirling motion; general body discomfort; nausea; sleeplessness; stomach pain; vomiting. Have no fear; there are pills for those too.

Pills to pep you up, pills to put you down. Pills to help you focus, pills to make you hallucinate. Pills to take the pain away, pills to take the fat away. Pills to take the edge off, pills to give you an edge. Pills to give an erection, pills to prevent pregnancy. Pills, pills, pills.

In a society driven by hedonistic impulse, it is no wonder that we all turn to “quick-fix” pills for all our problems. Instead of addressing the actual cause of a problem, we look for the fastest way to rid ourselves of the symptoms. Tired? Trouble sleeping? Why? Who cares? Take a pill. Head hurts? Could it be low blood sugar? Dehydration? Silly! Forget what is causing the headache and take an aspirin. Ah, now isn't that better?

The good news is that we can abuse ourselves and ignore the repercussions. Go ahead, eat McDonalds for every meal. Suck grease straight down to your arteries. Cholesterol? What Cholesterol? There's a pill for that. And what about your kids? They don't like school? Math is boring? They don't want to do any work? That's ok! Find a doctor to diagnose ADHD. Problem solved. College football quarterback injured? Sports fans relax! We can inject him with drugs to num the pain. He won’t feel a thing when his spine is pulvarized!

Needless to say, I'm extremely skeptical about the pharmaceutical industry. Don't confuse skepticism with ignorance. I understand that drugs have the ability to prolong and save lives. On the other hand, I don't think the slogan "Bayer saves lives" is very valid.

I refuse to take medication unless it is absolutely necessary. If I feel pain, stress, fatigue, or any other physical symptoms, it is usually my body telling me it is not happy. My first impulse is ask myself what is really wrong. A headache is not a headache. A headache for Ashley is directly related to dehydration. An aspirin will not cure the fact that my body is starving for water.  I am not completely against taking medication to ease symptoms. It is important to also attack the root cause.

Unfortunately, a common side effect of drugs is addiction. This is an example warning from a popular anti-depressant drug; “ ____ is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the medication. Do not take more than the prescribed amount of medication or take it for longer than is directed by your doctor. Withdrawal effects may occur if ____ is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use.” You can plug in any drug in the blank spaces. Chances are it will work.

Before I step off my “pill” box, I will say this: moderation. Even good things become bad when done in excess. Same works with drugs. Let your body fight things naturally every once in awhile. It can handle it, antibodies are tough little dudes.