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How will we "green" our local community?
That's the question a group of women in Central Saanich, BC starting asking. We started out by sharing our personal actions. Things like washing laundry less often, and using cold water. Limiting the number of times we filled up on gas each month, and reducing or eliminating meat from our diets. Many people are still unaware that eating meat, especially beef that is farmed industrially, is a major cause of emissions. Our first initiative was to encourage a famous garden, who receive 1.3 million visitors a year, to display a beautiful vegetable garden. Gardens around the world can sell their vegetable seeds, and offer "zero-mile menus" at thier restaurants! Want a copy of our letter for your region? Just email Helen. Now is the time to act for our planet. Here's a great Video about the urgent need for action.
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Most people in denial over climate change, according to psychologistsThe majority of people in Britain are in denial about the risk of global warming in our lifetimes, according to a new study into the psychology of climate change. By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
The Met Office has warned that if the world continues to burn fossil fuels at the current rate temperatures will rise above four degrees C in the next fifty years. This will cause sea level rise, droughts, floods and mass collapse of eco-systems. Global warming of 7C 'could kill billions this century'. However Clive Hamilton, Professor of public ethics at the Australian National University, said the majority of the population is still in denial about the risks of climate change. He compared the situation to the psychology of the British and German populations before the Second World War and said the only way to make people change their behaviour is to "ramp up the fear factor." Prof Hamilton applied traditional psychological reactions to the threat of future risk. In a paper presented to an Oxford University conference this week, he said people react in three different ways to a frightening situation: denial, apathy or action. In the case of climate change, he said a minority of people in Britain are in complete denial and refuse to believe man-made greenhouse gases are causing the temperatures to rise. He said a smaller minority are taking action by lobbying Government and adapting their lifestyles through driving less, not eating meat and generally living a low carbon lifestyle. However, Prof Hamilton said the majority of people use "maladaptive coping strategies" such as ignoring the situation, blaming someone else or simply having a good time. He said people do this to cope with the anxiety. More...
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"Greening" our world, one community at a time. |