This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein

 Comprehensive. 

Through 2014, this is certainly the word I'd use to describe the way this book was written. This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate examines seemingly almost every aspect of climate change. Naomi Klein's research is extensive and global. The causes, effects, potential, the conflicts, possible solutions, the ideas and failure, the who / what / where / when / why if everything that climate change touches is addressed in her writing. She even gets personal, and that's the most heart-wrenching part. Because it's easy to see climate change as an existential crisis, it's easy to just set it aside in your everyday life. But once it hits you, once you're affected and cannot avoid the direct impact and parallels, your personal life will never be the same. 

I loved this book for how it addressed everything that I ever thought about and more about climate change. The exposure to different lines of thought and possible outcomes was insightful and sometimes anger-inducing. 

And after reading it all, if someone remains unconvinced that climate change is real and that actions need to be taken, then that person is unfortunately delusional. For me, this was further proof and knowledge about the goings-on of climate change. And I wonder what Klein would add to this since 2014. Obviously many things have changed, and more change is coming in 2021 with a brighter outlooks. I'm anxious to see how climate change and our reactions will guide our future. 

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon. 

Where Did Spring Go?

I used to have really bad Spring-time allergies. Watery, itchy, swollen eyes. Stuffy / runny nose. Constant sneezing. If you’ve got allergies, you know what I’m talking about.

Strangely, I have not suffered from the itchy eyes recently. Although, I have been sneezing a good amount and blowing my nose constantly. So I have some symptoms of the pollen-driven reactions, but not all of those I’m used to experiencing.

I narrowed it down to 4 possible reasons.

1. After LASIK eye surgery, the laser must have burned off the ability to sense irritation in my eyes. 
   
2. I have spent so much time outdoors and being exposed to different environments that my body, eyes specifically, has developed an immunity to the irritants. 
   
   
   
3. My mostly organic diet has improved my resistance to pollen allergies. Specifically, my consistent daily intake of carrots has strengthened my eyes in more ways than one. 
   
4. Climate change is real. Spring no longer exists or has been severely curtailed. Pollen is not as abundant in the environment, leading to less plant life that would normally absorb the CO2, in effect allowing greenhouse gases to grow in the atmosphere, leading to global warming. 

Or maybe all of the above.

What do you think?

That's One Small Step Climate Change, and One Giant Leap For ME And Our HOA

It's a small step in the right direction, but every little bit counts.

Today I was informed by a board member of the Home Owners Association (HOA) that the board voted to have a new dumpster situated in our complex to recycle plastics!  To be accurate, they will be replacing the cardboard dumpster with a cardboard/plastics dumpster, presumably with a divider to segregate the two recyclables.

I'm pleased to hear this because I requested that this initiative be taken back in September. It took a couple of follow-up emails, but I'm glad that we're moving forward on the issue of recycling and doing our part to save the environment.

Step Master & The Environment

We've been home from our travels abroad for nearly 5 months now. Since then, I've gone to the gym on average 4 times per week. The gym is approximately 1.1 miles away. That being said, I've walked just about 176 miles in the past 20 weeks. And that's just going to the gym. If I include all my other walks, randomly around the neighborhood, to/from the park and basketball court, to/from the grocery store, and to/from my cousin's house then I've most likely broken 200 miles. I only drove to the gym once because it was raining.

How does that compare to someone who walks 10,000 steps each day? Well, according to The Walking Site, there are on average 2,000 steps in a mile. So 10,000 would be 5 miles. If you walked 5 miles per day, 5 days a week, then over the past 5 months you should have accumulated 500 miles or 1,000,000 steps!

Keep in mind, the 200 miles I've racked up is just from walking alone. That doesn't include the running on the treadmill, climbing the stair master, cycling, and other exercises that count towards that 10,000 steps per day goal. Nor does it include any other strenuous activity like playing basketball, biking within an 8 mile radius, or other sports.

The 200 miles of simply walking to the gym and other nearby errands / places is 40% of the pie already. Do I achieve the other 60% from all the other activities combined? I have to believe that I do.

How many #steps do you get each day?

— Jesse Go (@jessereynesgo) October 25, 2017

In addition to the health benefits that I'm reaping, I've saved money on gas, wear and tear on our car, and most importantly reduced my carbon footprint and emissions. The carbon footprint calculator estimated that 0.07 metric tons of carbon would have been emitted had I driven the 200 miles instead of walked. It might be small, but every little bit of help the environment can get is worth it. And it only cost me 30 minutes per day.

How much walking have you done for your health and the environment? (346)

A post shared by jessereynesgo (@jessereynesgo) on May 2, 2013 at 4:03am PDT

(Flashback to that time we made it to Mt. Everest Base Camp)
(Time: 14 days | Max Altitude: 17,602ft / 5365m after 9 days | O2: 50% less than sea level | 80 miles round-trip)

A Poll, Avocados, & Pop Culture

A little over a week ago, I took a poll about my recent avocado spending habits. In an effort to become more engaged with my readers and Twitter audience, I left the survey open for 7 days and got a few responses. Maybe what I should have done is embedded the poll here on my blog as well. I'll do that going forward. In any case, the results are fun and interesting. I'm happy that 67% of poll participants support my cause. I agree with them. I have to say that I enjoy eating guac. For anyone who answered in the negative, why?

I spend $6 per week on avocados / guacamole to eat almost every day. Good idea? Or Bad idea? #food #health #poll

— Jesse Go (@jessereynesgo) October 16, 2017

I've been buying quite a bit of avocados and specifically guacamole to get my Omega-3 fatty acids into my diet, amongst other vitamins and minerals. Surprisingly, the local grocery stores make it fresh nearly everyday. It's about $5-6 give or take for about nearly 1 lb. of the mix of avocados, cilantro, lime, tomato, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Stop and Shop makes it a little on the spicy side, which I like. If I so happen to be at Costco, I'll buy one of the guacamoles they carry too because it's individually packed for 100 calorie intervals. Either way, it's a good deal financially (for now - but it should and will get better) and healthwise.

I wonder why avocados took so long to become so popular in food culture? Maybe it's the high price point for a single piece of the buttery fruit. Hopefully, we can somehow manage to tackle the supply issue to be a closer match to the demand to help prices (on average $2 for a single Haas avocado) come down a bit.

Clearly, it's been widely eaten in Mexico for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. But why has the rise to stardom of this versatile fruit taken so long? Why do I feel as if Millennials and Generation Z started this trend? Actually, I don't think this is going to just be a trend. Similar to alternative and renewable energy, this fruit is now and will continue to be a strong player in the food world. With all the benefits avocados have to offer, it's tough to see it as just a trend. That is, unless global warming and climate change affect the production. (413)

One of my favorite brekkies in Australia - avocado toast or avo toast for short.

One GIANT Leap... BACKWARDS!

This post comes as I read yet another headline about a climate change denier entering political office, again. To me, it's like the antithesis of Neil Armstrong's profound words as he stepped on the moon for the first time in all of history. 

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." - Neil Armstrong

Rather, I'd say that the current state of political affairs makes me believe that we have taken smalls steps in the right direction, but one giant leap backwards in terms of our environmental concern.

I realize this cartoon is referring to Obama's ending of the space programs in 2011, but I couldn't help but relate this more to something like Obama poking fun at this administration's step backwards in climate change position. 

98% (192 of 195 parties to the Paris Agreement) of the civilized world agree that climate change is real and have taken and continue to take steps towards curbing the effects of global warming. How is it that the vast majority of Earth's population can accept the facts of climate change and strive to implement change, but one the most powerful countries in every sense refuses to believe scientific fact? Check that. How is it that one of the most powerful countries can allow a handful of deniers to steer the course of action on the greatest threat to human life we will ever experience?

Who will take responsibility for the damage and destruction as a result of the inaction, or more accurately the reversal of scheduled action to combat the rise of greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere? By the time the world feels the most intense climate results of mother nature, these politicians, appointees, and even the President himself will be out of office. And then what? Blame them still? What does that accomplish?

Yes, we're feeling the effects now but it only gets worse in the future. And the fact is that although the rest of the world will contribute to the solution, the United States is the biggest polluter in the world and any offset will not be enough to neutralize the negative effects this country puts out.

It is, however, inspiring and overwhelmingly positive that individuals, businesses, and cities will continue to support the Paris Agreement despite the reverse route taken by the current administration. But still, get these naysayers out of office! They're ruining our lives, literally. (364)

Save Puerto Rico, U.S.A. - Where The Americas Meet

It is truly unbelievable how slow the response is for the devastated island of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. In part, I believe the difficulty in reaching the island prevent normal citizens from reaching out similar to how we did for Texas and Florida. The affected could drive out or the determined could drive to the ravaged areas. But because flights have to be arranged and private boats are just not practical for responders due to it's many limitations, the people who want to and can help, are in a way handcuffed.

In situations like these, it's the government's responsibility to make sure action is taken as quickly as possible. Only they can control the situation efficiently with their seemingly unlimited access to any resource necessary at any given time. But what have they done so far?

Without discrediting the government for what has been done, these are the statistics we know as of today:

• it has been 3 weeks since Hurricane Maria struck the island nation
• 85% of the island remains without power as of Saturday
• 48 people have died from various causes related to the weather-related incident
• the risk of disease increases every day without proper sanitation and drainage
• 36% of homes lack clean water
• food is becoming increasingly scarce, not to mention expensive

There is still so much that needs to be done to help our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico but it seems like the federal government isn't doing everything it needs to do in the timeliest manner. In fact, the news shares more back and forth bickering and complaining from the leadership than effort to save the people and landscape.

How could they let this happen to these people? I feel like I've seen more coverage about scrambling jets to fly over Korea or talks to force action in Iran than in aiding citizen of the country. But why am I still surprised? In this administration it doesn't seem like the American people are really as important as some make us out to be. I mean it sounds like we're just continuing to hurt the people rather than help them. For example, here are some headlines:  

• President Trump's decision to end ACA subsidy creates fresh uncertainty - Tennessean
• Almost half of Republicans want war with North Korea, a new poll says. Is it the Trump Effect? - The Washington Post
• Trump turns to executive powers in bid to force Congress into action - The Washington Post
• Trump to nominate climate change doubter as top environmental adviser - Chicago Tribune
• Trump's Love Affair with Coal - Politico
• Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military - NBC News
• Bob Corker Says Trump’s Recklessness Threatens ‘World War III’ - The New York Times

Sadly, Puerto Rico isn't as important to the government as it is to the people on the mainland who have families, relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, and love for the beauty of the island that has provided us with great vacations, countless memories, and priceless relationships. 

If not for the upstanding citizens with drive and diligence, if not for the tech companies with the ways and means to help, if not for the compassion of the private sector and celebrities alike we might have completely lost Puerto Rico. But despite the outlook being grim for now, I'm sure that Puerto Rico will have as great a rebound mostly due to the good natured American citizens who don't let politics interfere with their moral judgement. (581)

WE SHOULD HAVE Paid More Attention Before, But It's NOT TOO LATE Now - Make An IMPACT

Where have I been all these years? I'm so far behind in my personal education of climate change. I've been trapped in an office building helping businesses save money on taxes without any real care for the damage being done daily to our environment. I've let years pass and taken for granted the environment we live. I've been disconnected from the reality of global warming and climate change...until now.

I've recently started to read Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America a book by Thomas Friedman (originally published in 2008) and watched Al Gore's first movie, An Inconvenient Truth, first released in 2006. In both mediums, indisputable scientific evidence is simply conveyed to the audience on the effects of global warming and it's shocking.

What the human race and industrialized nations (particularly the United States) have done to contribute to the global dilemma is exponentially worse than the measures taken to counteract the imbalance. The naysayers and deniers can not and should not continue to ignore the now numerous elephants in the room.

In the wake of recent Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, now Jose and Maria, it is not difficult to see the real effects of climate change and global warming. And it is scary. In fact, it really hits home for me when I see the affect that climate change has on places that I've been to or still must visit. And sadly, I may not get to places before climate change takes it toll. Places like Antarctica where recently a huge ice shelf broke off (sooner than expected) and Greenland where scientists are seeing one of the largest ice sheets melt away are just examples of places that will never be the same because of the drastic changes to the globally important landscape. And the effects of these changes are global.

And for the place we call home, America, more specifically New York City, the possibility of rising ocean levels could be catastrophic. This video imagines the effects. It might be fiction for now, but might become a reality if more isn't done to help the greatest cause that man has ever created.

Until now, I've subconsciously been doing little things: recycling, managing my thermostat, used compact fluorescent lightbulbs, use mass transit / public transportation. But now I'm making more a conscious effort to do better.

We've been doing our part in reducing our carbon emissions by:

• walking or biking to as many places as possible, reducing the amount of time our car runs burning fossil fuels
• telecommute for work
• eating organic
• eating a low carbon diet (less meat, more chicken / vegetables)
• planted our own herbs (vegetables are next)
• hang drying clothes
• and informing you all, my subscribers and readers, to do your part in helping curb global warming and reducing the effects of climate change

What have YOU done to make an impact? If you need some ideas take a look at this website. And here's one for your kids provided by NASA. 

And check / calculate your carbon footprint here. Globally we're at a whopping 405ppm, which is staggering considering CO2 levels have been sub-300ppm  (for 650,000 years) previous to 1950 when it started to skyrocket. 

I'm planning to watch Al Gore's newest release, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power  to get an updated view on what he and his team have tracked over the past 11 years. And then I'm going to look into getting one of these. But in the meantime, I will continue to be #climateconscious and take steps in the proper direction.