It will be very difficult if not impossible - They already regard their industry and lifestyles too highly to make any serious commitments towards cutting back energy consumption.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a pop at America in particular - many, many countries around the globe are just as guilty. The only difference is that few come close to America in terms of energy usage and pollution.
Yes, we are number one in that area…
Consumption on all levels (oil, food, etc..)
Hopefully this site will touch many fellow americans and help them reduce their carbon footprint. This is why I built this website and soon the Social networking section will be open for business as well.
I am also developing a nice tutorial to show people step by step how to save a lot of money on their monthly energy bills and reduce their emissions.
I truly see that Americans are beginning to become aware of these issues, although so many are just looking to debate weather or not Global Warming is man made or not. When I hear co-workers say stuff like that I ask them to stop pollution instead of global warming
You can’t argue that pollution isn’t man made, can you?
The point is that of the worst offenders, most are third world countries who cannot well afford to change things. America can do so; it just chooses not to. It’s president instead decides that making money for the big oil companies is more important than our Earth.
I do my part, little bit as it may be for a busy person…
I only order portions I can eat and not waste, or take it home.
I avoid using a car if I really don’t need to go anywhere, except for work which is not too far but too far to walk.
I turn off lights and water when I don’t need them.
If only everyone today got the same recycling lessons in school like I did…those cheesy little songs worked!
I think the only answer here is complete re-education starting from the basics, the will to change has to be there and change will not come easily to countries like the USA where the idea of big cars and plentiful oil have been too long ingrained
[quote author=“Slowspinner”]I think the only answer here is complete re-education starting from the basics, the will to change has to be there and change will not come easily to countries like the USA where the idea of big cars and plentiful oil have been too long ingrained
I totally agree. I think so many have gotten lazy and dependent on others to fix all the problems. The truth of the matter is that every little bit counts and it must begin with all of us that are aware!
Our Prime Minister and his Government liked to spout on about Education, Education, Education - Whereas I can see the merit of what he has been saying, unfortunately the issues that really need covering haven’t. Perhaps schools should be used more effectively to educate about the dangers of long-term high-carbon emissions and the potential consequences of global warming?
When I was at school we covered such topics, and whereas it wasn’t really drummed into us, we were given enough of an idea to know better than to consider fossil fuels as an infinite resource. Now whether or not we all took that information to heart and set about reducing our own carbon footprints I don’t know, but what I do know os that at least one did :wink:
I think it’s a good idea to teach people while they are young and in school about such things. I always got the eat your veggies, don’t do drugs (even on my favorite candy, ie Boston Baked Beans!), and recycle and don’t waste bit growing up. And I love veggies, never did drugs, and I definitely don’t waste, I try to recycle when I can.
We (The US) currently are putting out the most co2, but China will surpass us in 2008.
Now here is the argument: We put out more co2 per person and will probably continue to do so for a very long time. Even though China will soon surrpass us in co2 emissions, they will still be putting out way less per person than we are.
Does that matter? Well I dont know, but it does just go to show you how glutinous we are and the fact that we can make a difference.
[quote author=“Cobalt”]It will be very difficult if not impossible - They already regard their industry and lifestyles too highly to make any serious commitments towards cutting back energy consumption.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a pop at America in particular - many, many countries around the globe are just as guilty. The only difference is that few come close to America in terms of energy usage and pollution.
I agree with you and this is true, but please also keep in mind that America is the fastest growing country in the world, and that it has more people than many countries combined. Now we cannot just blame this on the country it is the fault of the people in this country, not just americans, but every citizen of other countries as well who come here and use the oil, food, and other natural resources as well.
It is not the country’s fault it self that all these people want to be here, it is societies fault.
[quote author=“adambeazley”]
Now here is the argument: We put out more co2 per person and will probably continue to do so for a very long time. Even though China will soon surrpass us in co2 emissions, they will still be putting out way less per person than we are.
Does that matter? Well I dont know, but it does just go to show you how glutinous we are and the fact that we can make a difference.
I think that any country with more people is entitled to make more emissions. That seems just common sense to me-each person has a ration so to speak, and if you have more people, you have a higher total ration. It also makes sense to me that we should be looking at where each person’s emissions are being produced; be it transport, heating, lighting, air conditioning. If we address it in that way then we can see what each of us could do to reduce the damage.
I can not be sure this was the exact figure but I did see that in the US each citizen uses 60 times the amount of the worlds resorces than each Indian citizen
I am not sure if we are putting out the most. If this is true than China will definitly be passing us. The air in China is far worse than it is here anywhere in America.
