David Suzuki's Nature Challenge Newsletter: Global Warming Issue

	Environmentalism is a great equalizer. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, we all need clean air to breathe, and clean food and water to eat and drink. Lots of us are doing our best to lighten our eco-footprints. You ride your bike, turn off the lights, eat occasional meatless meals. What about those that don’t or won’t make the lifestyle changes available to all of us? We know voluntary measures will only go so far. In some cases, we need government legislation,  such as British Columbia’s new tax which puts a price on carbon. In this issue, we’ll help you define the terms used to talk about carbon pricing, explain the reasons why they are being proposed, and give you some choices to lower your eco-footprint. But before we get to that, let’s be clear about the problem. How did we get into this mess in the first place? A beginner's guide to global warming If you're confused about climate change, you're not alone. Most people know it has something to do with industrial pollution, cow belches and car exhaust and they kind of get what Al Gore was trying to say but, when asked to explain the planet’s health problem in lay terms, there’s a lot of verbal stumbling. In a sentence, global warming is what happens when the insulating, life-protecting layer that is our atmosphere turns into a suffocating, heat-trapping blanket woven of carbon dioxide and other gases. More... Cutting through the carbon jargon jungle With the discussion of carbon pricing seemingly everywhere these days, all kinds of language is being tossed around that, unless you’re a scientist or policy analyst, feels like that Farside cartoon where the guy is talking to his dog and all the dog hears is ‘Blah, blah, blah, Ginger, blah, blah, blah’ (in this scenario, you’re the dog...)  Here are a few useful phrases that will help you feel smarter the next time the conversation turns to some of the economic solutions to global warming. More...   Carbon pricing is no joke… But it’s a topic sure to put anyone to sleep, so we thought we’d start you off with a guffaw. Check out these cartoons on the topic, choose your favorite and send us your vote. (Use the title on the top of each cartoon to name your fave.) If you think you can stay awake, following is a little education: Some of us work hard to gentle our impact on the planet. What about those that don’t participate voluntarily? We already have laws to discourage people from letting their dogs poop wherever they please, do we need something similar to get people to curb their greenhouse gas emissions? More... Some things you can do right now David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge is all about the simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. To help you keep track, we've got a To Do list to post on your fridge or bulletin board. We’ve included specific suggestions, and lots of room for you to customize. We’ll update it each month. More...   Please pass this information on - to friends, neighbours, colleagues, classmates, political representatives - everyone. The more people understand the problems and how to fix them, the closer we all are to a healthier world.
In this Issue A beginner’s guide to global warming Cutting through the carbon jargon jungle Carbon pricing is no joke... Some things you can do right now: Take Action Now: Turn it off! March 29 Get off junk mail Plan for earth day - April 22 Recently Released: 523 Hockey players go green How Canada can make a world of difference Help for Ottawa's monarch butterfly Share an Earth Day Event with other members of David Suzuki's Nature Challenge. Share this newsletter --------------------------- Gail Mainster, Editor Email the Editor Join David Suzuki on Facebook --------------------------- Please forward this message to family and friends, and encourage them to sign up for free e-updates from the David Suzuki Foundation. ---------------------------- ---------------------------- The David Suzuki Foundation values your privacy and does not sell or trade email addresses. Please see our privacy policy for more information. ----------------------------