What does “going green” actually mean?
Does it mean taking the time, or the effort to do something “environmentally friendly”? Or does it require a lifestyle change?
According to a top NASA scientist, “we’re toast” if we don’t make some big changes… and soon. According to the Associated Press, James Hansen says the world’s only hope in preventing global working is to take some big steps towards going green.
Hansen says that the world is at “a dangerous level” for greenhouse gas emissions and we need to get back to the levels from 1988.
While discussing this with some coworkers and friends, they had a hard time believing that 20 years could do so much damage. How could Earth be in the red-zone in 2008, and be safe in 1988? What are we doing now that we didn’t do before?
Hansen says the Earth’s atmosphere can only hold so much carbon dioxide for so long. He says if nothing changes in the next couple of decades, we could see mass extinctions(he did not specify), ecosystem collapse (which sounds like it could cause “mass extinctions”) and dramatic sea level rises (reminds me of that movie, “The Day After Tomorrow).
With all this in mind, Kentucky is taking steps towards going green. With making small changes in homes and schools, small communities are trying to make the world a better place… or we’re at least trying to prevent an apocalypse.
For example, the 134th “Run for the Roses” horse race went green at the historic Churchill Downs by promoting a “Race to Recycle” program.
The Louisville racetrack has offered recycling options at horse races before, but never before at this big event.
"Churchill Downs is pleased to join the city, ARCO Aluminum and Anheuser-Busch in this partnership to reenergize this very significant recycling project," explained Steve Sexton, Churchill Downs president. "This community has been our home for 134 years, and we hope this will inspire similar efforts throughout the community and our horse industry."
And websites like http://www.greenschools.ky.gov/ try and educate the educational system about what they can do to save energy. This includes simple ideas like turning off lights and computers when classrooms aren’t in use, to complex and costly options like installing solar panels.
But will these efforts and ideas make Hansen happy? Or does the world need to do something on a bigger scale? How long will it take for changes in our atmosphere to occur?
Yes, Americans need to stay environmentally conscious and protect the land that we live on, but the vagueness of “going green” is a little overwhelming. There are too many questions at this point and answers seem to be few and far between.