California's farms and vineyards

Back from the farm in Goiás, where it rained and rained and everything was green and beautiful. I had trouble remembering that the planet is in trouble and human life on the Earth in peril. The truth is that we must keep a healthy balance between our sense of urgency and need to act on the one hand, and our ability to enjoy life and love the world on the other. 

I'm quoting today from the Los Angeles Times, but first I must acknowledge that I am taking many of my quotes directly from Earth Equity News, a collection of quotes that the Climate Crisis Coalition sends out two or three times a week. I recommend subscribing to this service and will try to put a link to their website, www.climatecrisiscoalition.org, on the blog. I trust that they are happy to have their quotes reach more people, and I am grateful to them for making them available.

Here's the quote: Chu Warns: California Farms, Vineyards in Peril from Warming. By Jim Tankersley, LATimes, February 5, 2009.  "California's farms and vineyards could vanish by the end ot the century, and its major cities could be in jeopardy, if Americans do not act to slow the advance of global warming, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said Tuesday...  In a worst case, Chu said, up to 90% of the Sierra snowpack could disappear, all but eliminating a natural storage system for water vital to agriculture. "I don't think the American public has gripped in its gut what could happen,' he said. 'We're looking at a scenario where there's no more agriculture in California...'"

Steven Chu's words confirm my belief that anything I can do to raise the awareness of Global Warming is worth doing. The Walk for all the grandchildren IS ON! 

Photographs and a quote

I am posting the first photos of grandchildren today, my own three grandchildren to whom I dedicate my walk. As others send me photos of their grandchildren I will post them and dedicate the walk to them as well. Please pass the word to anyone you know who might want me (and others who join me) to walk for their grandchildren. 

My quote for the day comes from a Detroit Free Press Editorial, Feb. 1, 2009

Now's The Time to Speak Up on Global Warming

"Americans have to get serious about what tools they want deployed to ratchet back emissions of global warming gases ... A carbon tax that puts the cost directly in the customer's face offers the fastest way to change individual behavior ... Manufacturers would have no choice but to respond quickly to what consumers want, be it high-milage cars and more mass transit, solar hot water tanks and bales of attic insulation or their own backyard windmills ..."

Twin threats: global warming and nuclear proliferation

A new month begins and it's time to turn up my level of activity on this blog. My intention is to post a pertinent quote each day this month as well as sharing with my readers what's going on with plans for the Walk for All the Grandchildren.

My first quote is from Alex Thurston of www.theseminal.org who writes of a provocative statement he heard by Joe Cirinicione of Ploughshares Fund.

"Cirincione made the compelling point that nuclear proliferation and global warming rank as the two greatest threats to America's national security and to the well-being of people in general. He believes that the movements on both of these issues should coordinate to reframe the entire national security debate ..."