I had a post few months ago on this topic (inspired by CNN story) and here I am back again pondering over the issue. I heard the cyclone in Burma killing tens of thousands of people this is quickly followed up by earthquake in China again killing tens of thousands of people. You start to wonder what is going on and how small and inconsequential we are in front of the fury of mother nature. A sad reminder to all of us, we should do what we can to protect our planet. I hope the politicians of today take note and really do something about climate change , global warming. US cuts fossil fuel emission by 20% over 20 years, India and other developing countries do some lip service as they continue to put more green house gases in the atmosphere, seems scary. These efforts may be too little too late. What probably is needed is a more grass root movement, a realization that we are in this together, a deep sense of shared responsibility. I don’t see that yet, and that is troubling. We need more Al Gore and David Suzuki and Barack Obama’s of the world to get this going quick and inspire a new generation of followers who are more carbon neutral and take pride in protecting their mother earth!!

>I had a post few months ago on this topic (inspired by CNN story) and here I am back again pondering over the issue. I heard the cyclone in Burma killing tens of thousands of people this is quickly followed up by earthquake in China again killing tens of thousands of people. You start to wonder what is going on and how small and inconsequential we are in front of the fury of mother nature. A sad reminder to all of us, we should do what we can to protect our planet. I hope the politicians of today take note and really do something about climate change , global warming. US cuts fossil fuel emission by 20% over 20 years, India and other developing countries do some lip service as they continue to put more green house gases in the atmosphere, seems scary. These efforts may be too little too late. What probably is needed is a more grass root movement, a realization that we are in this together, a deep sense of shared responsibility. I don’t see that yet, and that is troubling. We need more Al Gore and David Suzuki and Barack Obama’s of the world to get this going quick and inspire a new generation of followers who are more carbon neutral and take pride in protecting their mother earth!!

Last week I watched the two much publicized CNN episodes called Planet in Peril. The show took the viewer to multiple continents and multiple countries. The show was hosted by Anderson Cooper, Dr Sanjay Gupta- CNNs medical correspondent and Jeff Corwin -the familiar face from Animal Planet. The Part I dealt with species getting extinct at a very fast clip in the last few years. They particularly talked about Madagascar and the biodiversity found there which is unique to that place and can not breed in any other environment. Madagascar Tortoise was illegally up for sale in a Bangkok market. The part I also dealt with pollution in China, the scarcity for food and water etc. Part II focused on Greenland , the melting glaciers/ice ( three times size of California in one year, if I heard it right), the underfed polar bears leaving under the threat of extinction. This part took us to Alaska’s Northern frontiers, Greenland and Amazon rain forests.They also took to one island somewhere in Africa which was fast getting submerged under sea water. All the evidence pointed towards climate change, global warming. The episode concluded with interview of some skeptics, who think it is inconclusive at best that global warming is being caused by human beings reckless use of fossil fuels.
I thought the episodes were done nicely and must have made many people to think. I for one, was convinced that an urgent action is called for to save this planet. The earth resources are being pushed to the limit, it was all evident from looking at starving population in some part of the world, species getting extinct and pollution causing cancer to young people. I admire the high profile people who have associated themselves with the subject, notably Al Gore. I hope he can make a difference! These episodes have gotten me thinking- Is there a way I can help in my individual capacity? Nothing jumps at me immediately, but I will keep looking. Has to be something I can do to help fight this battle. May be help develop a software solution to optimize energy uses at big energy consumers- mining companies, fleet operators even airlines-although I don’t have much experience in that industry. It is not evident today which way I can help, but I am sure I will find something to make my constructive contribution and be as carbon neutral as I can get!!

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Last week I watched the two much publicized CNN episodes called Planet in Peril. The show took the viewer to multiple continents and multiple countries. The show was hosted by Anderson Cooper, Dr Sanjay Gupta- CNNs medical correspondent and Jeff Corwin -the familiar face from Animal Planet. The Part I dealt with species getting extinct at a very fast clip in the last few years. They particularly talked about Madagascar and the biodiversity found there which is unique to that place and can not breed in any other environment. Madagascar Tortoise was illegally up for sale in a Bangkok market. The part I also dealt with pollution in China, the scarcity for food and water etc. Part II focused on Greenland , the melting glaciers/ice ( three times size of California in one year, if I heard it right), the underfed polar bears leaving under the threat of extinction. This part took us to Alaska’s Northern frontiers, Greenland and Amazon rain forests.They also took to one island somewhere in Africa which was fast getting submerged under sea water. All the evidence pointed towards climate change, global warming. The episode concluded with interview of some skeptics, who think it is inconclusive at best that global warming is being caused by human beings reckless use of fossil fuels.
I thought the episodes were done nicely and must have made many people to think. I for one, was convinced that an urgent action is called for to save this planet. The earth resources are being pushed to the limit, it was all evident from looking at starving population in some part of the world, species getting extinct and pollution causing cancer to young people. I admire the high profile people who have associated themselves with the subject, notably Al Gore. I hope he can make a difference! These episodes have gotten me thinking- Is there a way I can help in my individual capacity? Nothing jumps at me immediately, but I will keep looking. Has to be something I can do to help fight this battle. May be help develop a software solution to optimize energy uses at big energy consumers- mining companies, fleet operators even airlines-although I don’t have much experience in that industry. It is not evident today which way I can help, but I am sure I will find something to make my constructive contribution and be as carbon neutral as I can get!!