Our footprint on this planet is scary. We are using more of the planet than we need. Can we keep on consuming resources at a vicious rate or we can find some ways to control ourselves. What can you do to reduce your footprint on Earth? Give ideas, and be creative!!!
I think that cash for clunkers was one way to encourage people to help the environment. The only way we will have a collective effort to clean our environment is to have rewards like the project cash for clunkers did. The concept was there but the effectiveness could have been much more successful.
ReplyDeleteYes, I would definitely have to agree that if people are not sufficiently motivated to protect the environment, the next biggest step would be to offer incentives for their efforts. On a local scale, Bakersfield lacks the "luxury" of public transportation in contrast to the many buses and cable cars of cities such as San Francisco. Such forms of transportation appear to be beneficial to the environment, especially when considering the fact that every individual riding said form of transportation could have equally been able to drive their own cars.
ReplyDeleteWe need to find alternate renewable sources to the resources that we are using today that are only in a limited amount. We can start off, like Jacob said, by providing an incentive to buy a more environmentally friendly vehicle. But as time goes on cars that use fossil fuels even partially will need to be eliminated and replaced with entirely green cars. The sun is a very useful renewable resource that can be used to power almost everything of our life today, even the commonly owned car. Unless the world can replace most to all of the resources we use everyday with renewable resources, we will have to resort to moving to another planet that have the resources we need.
ReplyDeleteThat is a valid point AJ. We can reduce our footprint by decreasing our consumption of goods and by limiting our fossil fuel hunger. Renewable energy could give us a life-line that we need on this planet, that can extend our life otherwise we are doomed.
ReplyDeleteI believe another reason for our lack of concern is our myopic outlook. Too many people are too focused on today- today's work shift, today's deadline, today's meal. They must realize that they can't just assume a future is promised to their children- they must ensure it themselves.
ReplyDeleteLike AJ, I also like the idea of solar energy. It is the most convenient, abundant, and NATURAL resource that we have. In many areas, solar energy options are offered. Unfortunately, many people are too dubious about its performance. I believe that improving solar energy's reputation among the public is an important next step in fixing our environmental problem.
You are right Joanne, many people don't have time to think about the bigger picture; they are just too busy with their daily life. There is a possibility that not many people are thinkers either. Solar energy is a great idea, that would give us clean energy with less mess.
ReplyDeletei think as humans we cant control ourselves...when we see something we want more and more....we pretty much dont have a limit of things we want...when we try something we keep asking or goin for it...i really dont think there is any possible way to stop it..with the population growing more and more resources are goin to be limited...its just goin to happen...it cant be stopped
ReplyDeleteAnother source of energy could be the Ocean. I have read that European countries are installing buoys that electricity as they oscillate up and down on waves. This seems like an excellent source of energy as it will sustain as long as oceans do. On a side note I recently saw that Bakersfield was getting its first "green" gas station featuring bio diesel. It will be the Chevron at Rosedale and Calloway. A step in the right direction for Bakersfield.
ReplyDeleteI think there is no real solution to the waste and destruction of our planet but population control. No matter how hard people try to recycle and ruse, and come up with new energy, we will eventually run out of living space.
ReplyDeleteI heard that ethanol (fuel created by corn) use more energy to produce than it actually creates. Also an article from National Geographic states that "The corn used to make a 25-gallon tank of ethanol would feed one person for a year."
ReplyDeleteFor Bakersfield, I think we should install turbines at Lake Isabella and just generate energy from the water flowing down the Kern River
ReplyDeleteOne way for me to reduce my footprint would be to sell my 4x4 98 Chevy truck and get a fuel-efficient hybrid car. I would no longer have the freedom of driving off-road but it would allow me the opportunity to help save the environment I love to be in. Another way to reduce my footprint would be to trade my dirt bike for a mountain bicycle.
ReplyDeleteSomething I heard about on Discovery Channel the other day interested me. Wind on the ocean is some of the most powerful wind because it isn't impeded. If we could engineer buoys that cave windmills attached we could harness wind energy over the ocean. These are just some of my thoughts on the major issue of our ecological footprint.