Image by Alex Healing / Creative Commons

With the recent earthquakes we’ve been experiencing and hearing about in the news, I thought it would be a good opportunity to touch on whether or not global warming, or climate change, could be contributing to the seemingly increased quake activity and how we can be prepared in case of an earthquake.

Now to start off, you’ve probably heard about the recent magnitude 8.6 earthquake off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, followed by an 8.2 aftershock.

Image from USGS

You also may have heard about the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Mexico that could be felt all the way to Mexico City. Did you hear about the magnitude 5.9 earthquake off the coast of Oregon? And what about the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Gulf of California? How about this morning’s 6.0 in Iwaki, Japan or the 5.7 in Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Mexico? Just take a look at the number of earthquakes that are happening on a daily basis. This graph is a clear indication of the location, magnitude and frequency of earthquakes around the world over the past five years.

Accordingly to the USGS, and as of this writing, there have been more than 7099 earthquakes in the last 30 days alone. In the past seven days over 280 of those earthquakes were magnitude 2.5 or greater.

But if you take a look at the graphs below, you’ll see that we are not experiencing any dramatic increase in seismic activity, especially from larger magnitude earthquakes. In fact, the USGS states:

“We continue to be asked by many people throughout the world if earthquakes are on the increase. Although it may seem that we are having more earthquakes, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have remained fairly constant.”

That means there is no real indication that global warming, climate change, or any other significant man-made factor is triggering more earthquakes. Not to say those things aren’t contributing factors to the stress of the planet, or that they won’t be a significant contributing factor in the future, but at this point none of them are THE factor behind earthquakes.

The fact is that the planet is billions of years old, spinning through space, with an inner core reaching temperatures of up to 9800°F. The Earth is constantly changing. Of course, with more than 7 billion people inhabiting the planet, we are bound to have some kind of an impact on those changes.

That is why it is important to take care of this planet, because it’s the only one we’ve got right now. Earthquakes will continue to happen though, regardless, so while we take actions to reduce, reuse, recycle and care for the Earth, we also need to ensure we are prepared for when those earthquakes do happen.

The USGS recommends you have these supplies on hand in case of an earthquake. Here are also a few other eco-friendly items you might want to have in your earthquake kit. If you have pets, don’t forget to have a pet survival kit for them as well. Your pets will have needs, as you will, so it is important to be prepared to care for them. Just in case, you might want to get a waste bag kit and some poo powder too. You never know how long you’re going to be without standard amenities after an earthquake.

When it all comes down to it, while global warming may not be triggering more earthquakes, earthquakes are going to continue happening, so are other natural disasters. The important thing is to be prepared. Are you prepared? If not, what are you waiting for?

Image by biofriendly

Have you ever wondered what Mother Nature thinks about Global Warming?  There’s always talk about how humans have caused global warming or the various different factors that contribute to global warming, but what does Mother Nature think?

If people cut down the rainforests, is she kind and forgiving or does she strike back with flooding in that same area…flooding that would have been lessened if the rainforests were still intact?  If we waste water, does she redirect rivers and streams thus creating droughts or dry wastelands?  If we demolish fields, trees and streams to build factories, businesses, etc. all in the name of “progress”, does Mother Nature sit back and watch or does she shake with anger and let loose an earthquake?

Every day there is talk about how to deal with global warming/climate change, but I think MNN.com (Mother Nature Network) had a good blog where they talked about how the U.N. Environment Program pointed out, in a recent report, that Nature’s way is best when it comes to controlling the gases responsible for climate change.  True, isn’t it?

If we invested in planting more trees, conserving water, developing eco-systems, etc. rather than just spending money on carbon offsets, “cleaning” coal (how do you clean coal anyway?) or burying carbon emissions back into the Earth (that would tick me off if I was Mother Nature), wouldn’t we all be better off?

Maybe if we did more global activities that gave back to Mother Nature, maybe she would give back more to us.  Maybe if we each took a closer look at what we could do, that would help too.  It’s something to think about the next time you throw trash on the ground, decide not to recycle, leave the water running for 20 minutes, drive rather than walk to the store across the street, etc.  What do you think Mother Nature thinks about Global Warming?

On March 2nd, I wrote a blog “Global Warming: Calculate your own pollution“, where I brought up that before I decided to go out and spend money that I don’t have to pay someone else to offset MY carbon impact, I wanted to check out other biofriendly options I could take.  So, here are a few more ways I found to help offset carbon impact:

a) Turn down the heat in your home and/or increase insulation.  Not only will this help reduce your carbon impact but it will help you save money too.

b) Don’t just turn off appliances and computers, but unplug them when you are done using them too.  Most appliances that remain plugged in continue to use up small amounts of energy.  I heard on the news the other day that billions of dollars are wasted every year in the U.S. due to the fact that companies don’t have their employees properly shut down computers each night.

c) If you are able to, set up a wind turbine or add solar panels to your home.  Doing so can reduce your household carbon impact down to almost zero.  Some alternative energy solutions produce more energy than you can even use, thus allowing you to be able to “sell” your energy back to the power company.

d) Install a filter on your faucet rather than using bottled water.  You save money and it reduces the amount of plastic waste…even if you recycle the bottle.

e) Go plant a tree.  You can do this on your own property or help out a local non-profit to help rebuild or re-beautify your area.  Now through May 31st is Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup, so it’s a good way to help clean up your parks/town by helping to plant a tree or two.

f) Ride your bike and/or walk to places as much as you can.  Getting your car off the road even if for a few hours or a day, helps lower the emissions that are calculated as part of your carbon footprint.  Besides, getting out and getting some exercise is good for you too.

Now, I know it’s April 1st, but these are actual ways you can personally offset your carbon impact without just paying someone to do it for you.  Besides don’t you want to know the biofriendly steps you take ARE in fact offsetting your carbon impact?  What better way to know that than to do it yourself!

Image by biofriendly

On location film shoots have always been a pet-peeve of mine.  It’s not the fact that they are doing shooting on location, I just don’t understand why there is so much unnecessary waste on these film shoots.  Seriously, between the constantly running generators, to the trucks idling in the street, to the trash created from serving meal after meal using plastic or Styrofoam products, to the large “sun” lights running for hours at a time, to the extras and assistants of assistants standing around waiting for the shoot to happen, etc – how much can one location shoot cost, much less affect climate change or global warming?

To be honest, it’s probably more than most production companies are willing to sit down and examine.  Even if they put fuel additives or bio-fuels in their trucks, limited the use of plastic and Styrofoam or used Energy Star lights and appliances, there is still so much more that could be done to lower costs and lower their impact on the environment.

There is one network that announced it is doing something about it…Fox’s “24″ just recently announced it is going green and plans to become the first “carbon neutral” television series.  Apparently they have hired consultants to measure the carbon-dioxide output from production.  They also started using 20% biodiesel in their trucks & generators, have installed motion monitors in bathrooms and kitchens and are paying a little more so California utilities can supply them with wind and solar power.  Per the Global Energy Initiative Data Site, all these changes have resulted in reducing their carbon emissions by 43%.  They then purchased high-quality carbon offsets to cover their remaining and “unavoidable” emissions. 

If one TV show can make such a turn-around regarding climate change and global warming by doing some simple but basic actions, just think how much difference could be made if more TV shows and networks were doing the same.  Now if they would just streamline their location shoots, they’d probably save a lot of money too!

Image by biofriendly 

A friend of mine and I were talking about global warming the other day, specifically referring to an article I read about “solutions” for climate change.  The article itself was very informative, but some of the ideas were just downright scary due to the horrible potential down-sides, such as:

• Spray Sulfate Aerosols into the atmosphere to help prompt planetary cooling. Spraying something like that into the atmosphere is scary enough but this could also apparently trigger chemical reactions which would lead to the destruction of the ozone layer!  We don’t want that.
• Dump Limestone into the oceans to help level out an anticipated increase in the ocean’s acidity.  That is just wrong – can you imagine the amount of limestone that would have to be dumped in the ocean to “balance the pH levels”?  I hate to even think about someone doing that.
• Trap CO2 in Carbon Scrubbers.  Now this one sounds like a great idea as these scrubbers are estimated to be able to take 1 ton of CO2 out of the air every day.  But at $200,000 a shot and needing hundreds of millions of them to really make a dent, that’s a lot of money.

After we talked, I decided to go to the Fight Global Warming website and check out how much pollution my family and I were creating.  Per their carbon calculator, my family and I created 12.2 metric tons of CO2.  This is apparently equal to the amount of carbon pollution released by cutting and burning all the trees in a section of the Amazon about the size of 1 1/2 football fields.  (My friend’s family creates 20.1 metric tons.)  Either way, that’s a lot of pollution – the average 2-person American household creates 16.9 metric tons of CO2.

The site then recommends ways to cut your pollution such as changing to better light bulbs, driving smarter and buying carbon offsets.  Now I’m all for cutting my CO2 and doing things to help lessen my effect on global warming (such as using a good fuel additive, using Energy Star applicances, recycling, etc) but before I go off and spend money I don’t have to have someone else offset MY carbon impact, I think I’d rather check out what other steps I can personally take.  Stay tuned, I’ll check out some more ideas and let you know.

Image by Dennis Wong

I know you may be wondering why I’m bringing up trips now…didn’t everyone just get back from their winter holidays?  While that may be true, many people are already planning their Valentine’s Day getaways.  I mean really, who wouldn’t enjoy a romantic and relaxing getaway for Valentine’s Day?  I know I would.  But did you know there are biofriendly trips you can plan that not only provide you with all the relaxation and comforts of a “regular” vacation, but they help you have a greener vacation too!

Here are a couple of examples for you – courtesy of Sunset magazine (Note: Sunset Traveler also has great tips and ideas for places to go):

• Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Newport Beach, CA.  If you book their “Generosity Massage”, you not only get a relaxing aromatherapy massage, but 10% of the proceeds from your purchase go to help protect state beaches.  You could even book their “Eco-Chic”, which is a head-to-toe organic treatment using biodegradable, chemical-free products, followed by a cup of organic green tea.  Either of those sound WONDERFUL to me.
• Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, CA.  Their vineyards have been blessed with the salty air that flows in from the ocean just 5 miles away.  So while you sit back to enjoy a refreshing glass of wine and soak in the view, consider becoming a member of their wine club.  A donation of $5 per delivery goes to Ocean Conservancy.  Good tasting wine and helping save our oceans…not a bad combo.
• Market Foray in Santa Barbara, CA.  Not your typical trip, but apparently worth the investment.  This trip is an excursion that starts with shopping (for local, seasonal and organic foods), is followed by cooking sessions with Laurence Hauben (a French-born chef and food writer), and ends with eating the wonderful dishes you have learned to prepare.  So while you are supporting the local economy, you will also be able to enjoy the tasty treats you prepare and hopefully….will bring home some tricks of your own on shopping local and eating more organic.  Farmer’s Market, here I come.

Whether you choose one of these biofriendly trips or whether you plan a spectacular trip of your own, keep in mind that every trip you take will have some effect on global warming or climate change.  So take the time to plan ahead, use your GPS to help save time and gas, ensure you are using a proven fuel additive, check the pressure on your tires and last but not least, have a GREAT vacation!

Image by jblyberg

We are just two weeks into 2009 and there have already been a few major earthquakes reported around the world; Indonesia, Costa Rica, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and here in Southern California.  But before anyone starts to panic or tries to figure out how earthquakes are a sign of global warming, etc., there are a few facts you should know:

First of all, here’s an interesting fact I didn’t know – per the USGS site on earthquakes, “The average rate of motion across the San Andreas Fault zone during the past 3 million years is 56 mm/yr (2 in/yr).  This is about the same rate at which your fingernails grow.”

This shows the earth’s crust is constantly moving, we just don’t necessarily feel it.  Apparently there are at least 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world every year.  Of those, only about 100,000 can even be felt and only about 100 of those cause any sort of damage.

You know that earthquakes aren’t something new.  The earliest recorded evidence of an earthquake was traced back to 1831 BC in China.

But, why do earthquakes happen?  In basic terms, an earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the release of energy from the earth’s crust.  While earthquakes are often classified as disasters…especially when they occur in populated areas…they are part of nature.  They are a result of the earth’s crust moving and releasing energy.

So, rather than worrying whether global warming has anything to do with earthquakes – just ensure you are well-informed, properly prepared and that you do what you can to make things safe for you and your family.

Image by Tony Crider 

If you aren’t familiar with the term, a carbon footprint is a “measure of the impact that human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.”  Now, have you ever wondered what your carbon footprint is?  Do you know how much CO2 you emit into the environment?  Do you know what effect you and your lifestyle are having on global warming?

If you haven’t taken the time to find out, do so.  It’s a simple first step on the way to going green, because no matter what your personal beliefs are on global warming, the carbon footprint is something most people can understand and relate to.  Learning what your carbon footprint is gives you more understanding and more information on what you can personally do to help reduce harmful CO2 emissions.

To help, I looked around and found a great website, Conservation International.  They have a tool where you can calculate your own carbon footprint and/or that of your family and also see how you can offset it.  Another tool allows you to measure your eco-footprint and get creative ideas on how to reduce your ec0-footprint. 

Apparently my family of four produces about 4.6 tons of CO2 per year from our basic household and driving habits.  (Average is about 4.15 tons for a household of two.)  We also help to offset our carbon footprint by recycling, having only one family car, etc.

Other ways to offset your carbon footprint are to use fuel additives, travel less or use public transportation, recycle, eat more organic/natural foods, use Energy Star appliances, etc.

So, what’s your carbon footprint?  What can you do to help offset your carbon footprint and thus help global warming? 

Climate control, global warming and reducing harmful emissions are big topics of conversation and action these days.

In going through some of the latest articles and blogs on global warming, I came across this great Treehugger blog posted today: ” ‘Zero Emissions’ Antarctic Station Researchers Move In, Part I“.

It’s about the Antarctic station, Princess Elizabeth, which has just received its new occupants.  The station was built using a wide variety of energy-saving and emission-reducing technologies and was designed to be “as self-sufficient, energy-efficient and low-waste as possible”. 

It will have on-site wind turbines, solar panels, bioreactors and two filtration units.  The station itself is aiming to produce zero emissions. 

Image by biofriendly

Air pollution in ports across America has become a serious issue.   If you go down to any major shipping port, such as the Port of Los Angeles or Long Beach, the air pollution and harmful emissions coming from ships going in and out of the port immediately becomes apparent.   

In the Environmental Defense Fund report “Floating Smokestacks: A Call for Action to Clean Up Shipping Pollution”, it was found that large ocean-going ships in U.S. waters are one of the world’s largest emitters of global warming gases.  

Just as an example, the amount of air pollution created by ships going in and out of the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach is equivalent to 11,000,000 cars.   Yes, 11 million.

And the EPA reports that in 2001, emissions of Nitrogen Oxides in the Los Angeles area, totaled more than 79,908 tons just from off-highway sources.  Highway vehicles then added an astounding 158,339 tons on top of that – not including emissions from industrial fuel combustion, etc.  

As far as how this is harmful to us, once nitrogen oxides are emitted they oxidize in the atmosphere to produce nitrogen dioxide.  Nitrogen dioxide is an odorous, brown, highly-corrosive gas that can affect our health and environment.  It is what you feel in your lungs on a smoggy day.  It’s the brown, dirty air you breathe when pollution levels are high.

So what is being done to reduce the nitrogen oxides coming from the shipping industry?   One company has been taking action through their marine fuel enhancer and they have proven to not only lower harmful emissions, such as nitrogen oxides, but also to improve fuel economy.   Let’s hope others jump on board soon.