Climate change – Kristen Baumlier

Category: Climate change

Connect the Dots: 350.org Climate change

Posted on May 5, 2012May 5, 2012 by Kbaumlier

Today is Climate Impact Day, an international day that 350.org organized where various groups gathered to help “Connect the Dots” between climate change.

The idea was for people to organize rallies and events in order to generate images in places that have been affected by climate change or that create climate change. All of the events included taking a picture of a dot in some way. A huge black dot on a white banner, a “dot” of people holding hands, encircling a field where crops have dried up, or a “dirty dot” of something that is contributing to the high levels of CO2.

Today I participated in an event at 12 noon. Since Cleveland is one of the top producers of coal we met up near the First Energy Coal plant, and held up two “dirty dots” in front of the gate of the coal plant which said CO2 and the amoint of coal burned each year at this plant.

I sent in the image to 350.org, and the image will be added to the slideshow of events from today that is on the 350.org site. Check out the slideshow which already has images from India, Bali, the U.S., and other countries.

Links:

www.350.org

Big Polluter Dot Activity: Frame the Coal Plant in Cleveland Saturday 5/5/12

Posted on May 3, 2012May 3, 2012 by Kbaumlier

350.org, the group that is working to create a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis has organized another climate change event for 5/5/12. Called the Climate impacts day, 350.org is encouraging people to participate in this day to help “Connect the Dots” between climate change.

The idea is to have rallies, events, and to generate images in places that have been affected by climate change, or that create climate change. On the site you can setup an event or find one to join. All of the events will include taking a picture of a dot in some way. This could be a huge black dot on a white banner, a “dot” of people holding hands, encircling a field where crops have dried up, or a “dirty dot” of something that is contributing to the high levels of CO2. All of these images will be shown to help present a human face on climate change on the 350.org site.

Yesterday I created a new event on the 350.org site for this Saturday at 12 noon. Cleveland is one of the top producers of coal in Cleveland and me (and hopefully some other people) will be taking pictures near the First Energy Coal plant, making the power plant a “dirty dot” in the picture. If you want to participate, bring black paper, a banner, or anything else you want to hold up in the picture to frame the power plant into the “dot” in the image frame.

I’ve got some coal in my attic that I will be bringing to hold up in the picture. If you are free on Saturday at noon – come on out to make an image of the “big dirty dot” that is still burning coal.

Event information:
This Saturday: May 5, 12:00 PM
First Energy Lakeshore Plant
6800 South Marginal Rd, Cleveland, OH 44103

To signup for the event goto: http://act.350.org/event/impacts_en_attend/3219

Image Source:
http://www.350.org

Links:

Event link: act.350.org/event/impacts_en_attend/3219

www.350.org

“This Winter has not been that bad. I have to say, I don’t mind global warming.”

Posted on February 26, 2012February 26, 2012 by Kbaumlier

Here in Cleveland, we have only had a few snowfalls, and only a handful of times when snowfalls were more than 2 inches. The temperatures overall have been warmer, and I usually head out the door without gloves and a hat. In the last few weeks, when discussing the weather with others – I have heard more and more people say that, “This Winter has not been that bad. I have to say, I don’t mind global warming.”

This makes sense – since people hate the cold weather here, but it is short-sighted, since on the other side of the world, warmer temperatures are causing weather conditions that is causing death and starvation.

“2011 has been a year of extreme weather, the WMO reported. Drought in East Africa has left tens of thousands dead; lethal floods submerged large areas of Asia; the United States suffered 14 separate weather catastrophes with damage topping $1 billion each, including severe drought in Texas and the southwest, heavy floods in the northeast and the Mississippi valley, and the most active tornado season ever known.” – Huffington Post.

Here in Ohio it is hard to see the changes that are happening around the world. What I have noticed is more rain, warmer temperatures, and plants blooming longer due to the warmer weather.

I find that my students don’t really care much about the issue of global warming, feeling like scientists will figure it out, and they can’t have much effect on what will happen in the future.

How can the bigger picture of the effects of global warming be present on a larger scale in our daily life? I’m not sure – but I’m thinking about it.

Links:

Huffington Post – 2011 was the hottest year Global Warming

Scientific Report on Global Warming- .pdf download

Oranges and Figs in Ohio? – Plant Hardiness Zones Have Changed

Posted on February 15, 2012February 13, 2012 by Kbaumlier

A hardiness zone defines what kinds of plants can grow in a specific geographic area. The classification is defined by climatic conditions, especially the low temperatures that a plant can withstand. A plant might be labeled as “hardy to zone 10,” which means that the plant can withstand a minimum temperature of -1°C. Another type of plant labeled “hardy to zone 9” can handle a minimum temperature of -7°C.

The USDA recently released a new plant hardiness zone map. The updated map is based on the past twenty years of temperatures and conditions from 1976 to 2005. The temperatures in the U.S. are in general two-thirds of a degree higher than before.

The new updated map has rezoned many areas, generally one half-zone warmer than the last map in many areas of the United States. States such as Ohio, Texas, and Nebraska are now in a warmer zones.

Overall, the temperatures in Winter are not as cold as they used to be. The growing season is longer, and gardeners can grow and harvest plants for a longer period of time than 20 years ago.

Is this an indicator of climate change? Is the earth warming up and influencing our environment? There is no official report about this in relation to the updated map.

In Ohio, most of the state moved from zone 5 to zone 6 under the Department of Agriculture’s revised map.

I just looked at some gardening sites online, to see what can grow in Zone 6. Big news, there is one type of orange tree (Flying Dragon) and a few varieties of figs (Celeste, Chicago Hardy, LSU Gold, LSU Purple, and Magnolia) that can grow in Zone 6, which means that oranges and figs can now grow in Ohio.

Image Source:
Hidden Springs Nursury

Links:

2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Map

2012 Interactive Plant Zone Hardiness Map

Feel Like Blowing a Whistle? Put on a Ref Shirt and Organize a Climate Change Penalty Action

Posted on January 31, 2012January 29, 2012 by Kbaumlier

On Friday, I got an email update from Bill McKibben and 350.org who organized an event on the day of the Annual State of the Union Address. At the protest, over 500 people dressed like referees and stood outside the U.S. Capital blowing whistles, and throwing penalty flags in order to draw attention to members of Congress taking money from the Oil Industry, and the subsidies that oil and coal companies receive.

The event and day were reported to be a success. At the demonstration, Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he’s introducing a bill to remove all the subsidies from the fossil fuel industry. On this same day eight hours later, Barack Obama gave his State of the Union address and talked about stopping the handouts to the world’s richest companies.

A new report from the International Energy Agency has shown that if subsidies for the fossil fuel industry were stopped, this would cut half the carbon emissions that are contributing to climate change. The five biggest oil companies alone have made more than $1 trillion in profits over the last decade.

Feel like blowing a referee whistle? Bill McKibben and 350.org are inviting others to lead an action to blow the whistle on your local Member of Congress who is taking money from the oil industry. To do this – 5-10 people could form a “referee squad,” and meet up wearing referee or matching shirts and whistles, and bring strips of cloth to throw as penalty flags.

If you think you can get a group of 5 or more people together, 350.org can send you ref jerseys, whistles and flags, and a organizer will help you with planning. You also can get facts and information about how much money your Congressperson or Senator has taken from the fossil fuel industry so you have accurate information you can use at the event.

These actions will be happening across the U.S., and 350.org is suggesting to do it this week, close to the run up to the Super Bowl, you will most likely get some media notice.

Image Source:
350.org

Links:

Blow the Whistle Action Info: 350.org

350.org