The earth has been our playground, offering abundant resources and forgiving us our flaws for centuries, until now.
According to NASA who are tracking CO2 gasses released from the burning of coal that furnishes more than half of all electrical power worldwide, concentration levels have now risen to over 350 parts per million (ppm) and are rising. At this pace, they will reach levels at or above 450 ppm in the next 20 years causing massive melting of the polar ice caps and worldwide flooding.
Total planetary endowment of conventional nonrenewable liquid oil was roughly 2 trillion barrels. Since the 19th century, the world has burned through approximately 1 trillion barrels of oil - half the total available. More than 60 percent of the remaining oil endowment is in the Middle East. The US has only 3 percent, but uses 25 percent (Source: The Long Emergency, James Howard Kunstler).
The unsustainable harvesting of coal is resulting in mountains and streams disappearing forever. This is no more apparent than in Appalachia, where more than 1,500 miles of streams have been buried as a result of the mountaintop-removal process (Source: Kilowatt Ours).
Nuclear disasters have resulted in tragic loss of life (human, plant and animal) in communities around the world. The “worst” nuclear event in the United States is heavily argued – was it Three Mile Island, Simi Valley California or the mega spill at Church Rock, New Mexico? Regardless of which “wins” the title, we all lose when it comes to nuclear accidents, which no matter how rare, do occur.
Now that we know the destruction we’ve caused, we must and will swiftly change our methods. Shifting our perceptions is not only the answer to our energy needs but also to improved health and economic stability.