Basic Guide to Climate Change

 

    What is climate change?

• Climate change happens when the average weather patterns have had a long-term change on regional and global climates. 

    What causes climate change?

• Since the mid-20th century climate change has been driven by human activities, specifically fossil fuel burning. 

* Fossil fuel increases heat trapping greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere which raises Earth's temperature. 

• Natural processes like ocean patterns (El Nina) and external forces like volcanic eruptions also have an impact. 

    What are the effects of climate change?

• Glaciers and ice sheets shrinking, river and lake ice breaking up earlier than usual, plant and animal geographic ranges are shifting, and plants and trees are blooming sooner. 
• Accelerated sea level rise
• Exaggerated heat waves
• Droughts, wildfires, and extreme rainfall are happening more frequently and faster than estimated by scientists 

    What are the future effects of climate change?

• By 2100 sea level is expected to rise 1 to 6.6 feet due to continued melting ice and expansion of seawater as it continues to get warmer
• Hurricanes will continue to become stronger, more intense, and rainfall rates will increase
• Droughts and heatwaves will begin to last longer and be more intense while cold spells will be more infrequent and shorter in duration
• Wildfire season will be longer and more intensified with long periods of extreme risk to fire. By 2050 it is expected that land consumed by wildfire will increase by two to six times
• The arctic is projected to become ice free before mid-century

    Effects we will see in the U.S regions:

• The Northeast will see heat waves, heavy rainfalls, and increased sea level which will impact infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems
• The Northwest will experience changes in peak timing of the flow in rivers and streams which will reduce water supplies. Sea level rise, erosion, flooding cause risk to infrastructure and ocean acidity will increase. Wildfires and heat waves will increase as well as insect outbreaks, and tree diseases resulting in forest die off. 
• The Southeast is already experiencing difficulty due to sea level rise in the economy and environment. Extreme heat is affecting health, energy, and agriculture. 
• The Midwest will also see heat waves, heavy rainfalls, and flooding that will affect infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and water quality. The Great Lakes are also at a major risk. 
• The Southwest has recently experienced extreme wildfires, heat, drought, decreased water supply and insect outbreaks. 

    Effects we will are already seeing on wildlife: 

• Habitat loss from wildfires displacing and killing thousands of animals and ecosystems
• Rising temperatures affect vegetation, food sources, and water supply which can make ecosystems uninhabitable for certain wildlife forcing them to migrate out of usual patterns in search of food and livable conditions 
• A combination of the above challenges along with many others not mentioned can cause extinction for those species already endangered 

    How do we fight climate change?

• Challenge leaders to speak boldly on the climate crisis 
• Sign the UN's #ActNow campaign on climate change and sustainability to add your voice to the global debate
• Lobby local politicians and businesses to cut emissions and reduce carbon pollution 
• Walk or bike instead of taking your car (this is hard because most cities aren't walkable but that's a different debate) 
• Go solar 
• Turn heating down a degree or two 
• Switch off appliances and lights when not in use 
• Insulate roof for better heat in winter and cooling in summer 
• Eat more plant-based meals (if possible, again another debate)
• Shop local and buy sustainable 
• Limit food waste 
• Plant trees

    The climate crisis did not happen overnight, and it will not be changed overnight. We cannot reverse the damage already done but we can prevent future damage and protect the longevity of Earth's existence as well as all its creatures including us. Thinking about making small changes in your own home may feel mundane and useless when the whole world is on fire but together, we can make a change. Education is the most important step in understanding the detriment we have and therefore being able to check in with ourselves and then being able to check others. Voting is so important as the people we are voting for on a local level and nationwide level are the ones making the big decisions for our planet. We need more educated, well rounded, green-friendly politicians in our government. Urge your local officials to do research, educate themselves, and delve more into the environmental studies and politics. We have platforms like X and TikTok which make it easy to reach out to not only other but those elected officials. 

I urge you to check out #ActNow https://www.un.org/en/actnow

How I went from consumerist to minimalist:

     

http://ninamarieblogs.com/page/3

     I have become anti-Black Friday. In the past, I got caught up in the novelty of the deals. I worked in retail and deals plus employee discounts meant crazy town on my wallet and the environment. I would go out at midnight on Black Friday and I would wait in the lines and throw my hard-earned money at items I didn't need but wanted JUST because it was on sale. Bath and Body Works, I'm looking at you. Just recently in 2016, I went to my Bath and Body Works and dropped $300 on body sprays, lotion, shower gels, you name it, it was in my bag. I then made my way to Victoria Secret where I spent another $200 and lastly Aeropostale where I spent at least $100. Ridiculous, I know! 

     My favorite thing to do after spending all my money was come home and watch Youtube videos of other people that did the same thing as me! They'd go out to their malls and needlessly shop. Black Friday is over-consumption at its finest. The worst part is, these people don't know the impact they are making. I sure didn't have a clue, and if you do know the impact and still choose to participate I urge you to stop. The. Deals. Are. Not. Worth. It. They are not worth the footprint you are leaving behind. Not to mention, not only the amount of waste being made but also the amount of water being wasted, and carbon emissions being emitted by travel to the mall and other stores. This needs to stop! 

     So I bet now you are wondering how I made the change. First, I educated myself. Did you know that on Black Friday millions of shoppers throw their smartphones and TVs away just so they can buy a new one? This contributes to the 50 million tons of electronic waste we produce in a year. Items that are delivered to your door for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are putting unnecessary diesel trucks

out to deliver your "deals" while polluting the air. Buying fast fashion will always end up in the landfill as they are not made by quality but quantity. The amount of waste, shopping bags, tissue paper, price tags, etc. is polluting our environment and landfills. 

     After educating myself, I applied the things I learned to the everyday world, not just Black Friday. I used to go to TJ Maxx and Marshalls and grab whatever I felt I "needed," one of those things was always makeup. My makeup collection was piling up and guess what? I slowly stopped wearing it and it all just piled into my collection. I no longer buy or even wear makeup unless it is a special occasion and even then it is cruelty-free, vegan, and as waste-free as possible. I still have urges to buy makeup every once in a while but then I remember that I don't need it and will not wear it. 

     I used to be a frequent shopper at Bath and Body Works and then I started working there and addiction became real. I was constantly buying new products left and right. I just did a deep clean and found an entire bathroom drawer full of BBW products. Never touched, never opened, just sitting in my drawer waiting to be used. Unfortunately, a majority of it was so old it wasn't even good to give away, but what was still good I donated to some middle school girls. So that is where my BBW addiction ended, because not only did I waste all that product and plastic but that was at least $500 of my hard-earned money just thrown into the trash...literally. 

     I also have cut back on my clothing, when I moved to Florida I donated almost all of it to thrift stores and I have donated more since. I have enough t-shirts to get me through two weeks and enough pants to do the same, as long as I re-wear ones that don't get dirty or sweaty. I also know that re-wearing is looked down upon but clothes are not made to be washed after every use unless they are dirty, stained, or smelly. My shoe collection has also dwindled down to only a few pairs of shoes. I was never one to buy shoes in excess but I definitely had more than the average person needs. 

     A lot of my consumerism was due to working in the mall and having easy access to everything. If I was sad, I would shop. If I met a personal goal, I would shop. If I saw something I "needed" I would shop. But all of that has died down. I used to walk into a Walmart and couldn't leave without buying something stupid, but now I can rationalize in my head whether I need it or want it. I wouldn't quite say I am a minimalist, but compared to my old habits I have definitely cut my carbon footprint in half. It takes some willpower to not buy that thing that looks really cute or that you think you'll use but it is worth it at the end if our environment isn't suffering even a quarter as bad as it currently is. 

Here are my biggest tips:

1. Need vs. want

2. Letting go of desires that do not benefit you, and being mindful of your decisions

3. Sell or donate things you do not need

4. Do not pay attention to deals and advertisements, they are trying to coax you into unnecessary consumption  

5. Educate yourself and others on the effects of consumerism 

Their Story; Kasatka.

Picture from www.seaworldcares.com

     My name is Kasatka, I was born in 1976 and captured off the coast of Iceland on October 26, 1978, with my pod-mate Katina. I lived in SeaWorld San Diego with Katina from 1976 to 1984 until we were separated and she was shipped to SeaWorld Orlando. I have been imprisoned in SeaWorld San Diego for four decades (and shipped between the other SeaWorld parks 14 times in 8 years) and am forced to perform upwards of eight shows a day. I have been known to show aggression toward my trainers. In 1993 I tried to bite my trainer Ken Peters and again in 1999. On November 30, 2006, I grabbed Ken Peters again and dragged him underwater twice. He sustained minor injuries. 

     I have been bred multiple times since living in SeaWorld and I have given birth to 4 calves. I am a grandmother or great-grandmother to eight other SeaWorld orcas. My first calf was Takara, she was born on July 9, 1991. Her mating partner (also her father) Kotar died when Takara was only 3 years old after a pool gate closed on his head and fractured his skull. In the wild mothers and their calves live together for their life, Takara and I were separated when she was 12 years old. In 2001 I gave birth to Nakai. Nakai was the first orca to be bred with Tilikum's sperm. I tried to protect him but Nakai was kept in a small concrete tank with incompatible orcas. In 2012 Nakai lost a chunk of his jaw after being attacked by other orcas in the tank. On December 21, 2004, I gave birth to my third calf Kalia after mating with Keet. Lastly, on Valentine's Day 2013, I gave birth to Makani after being inseminated with Kshamenk who lives alone in Argentina at Mundo Marino. 

     In 2008 I was diagnosed with pneumonia but still, was inseminated in 2011 with my fourth calf. I suffered endlessly with pneumonia until my euthanization on August 15, 2017. I was the third orca and the sixth marine mammal to die at one of the parks in that year.

Rest In Peace Kasatka

Stand Up, Make Change 2019

https://paytonminzenmayer.com/blog/yrwh5y3cemyff8b8hk9rl7wegla4ez

     What is your passion? Find a cause below and use the link to stand up for what you believe in, change will only happen if we push it. 

Plastic Straws: 

• Urge McDonalds to replace plastic straws -- https://www.change.org/p/mcdonald-s-replace-plastic-straws?source_location=topic_page
• Urge Dunkin Donuts to adopt a straw upon request policy -- https://www.change.org/p/dunkin-donuts-adopt-a-plastic-straw-upon-request-policy?source_location=topic_page
• Urge Starbucks to commit to phase out all plastic packaging--- https://www.change.org/p/starbucks-commit-to-phase-out-all-plastic-packaging?source_location=topic_page

Environment:

• Say NO to expansion of off shore drilling -- https://www.change.org/p/ryan-zinke-say-no-to-largest-expansion-of-off-shore-drilling-ever?source_location=topic_page
• Protect polar bears from oil drilling in the Artic Wildlife Refuge -- https://www.change.org/p/arctic-slope-regional-corporation-protect-polar-bears-no-oil-drilling-in-the-arctic-wildlife-refuge?source_location=topic_page
• Approve sale of only reef safe sunscreen in the Florida Keys -- https://www.change.org/p/florida-state-senate-approve-the-sale-of-only-reef-safe-sunscreens-in-the-florida-keys?pt=AVBldGl0aW9uABOz1QAAAAAAXC7DOs39COwzMWM2NTE1Yw%3D%3D&source_location=topic_page

Conservation:

• Stop trophy shark fishing in Florida -- https://www.change.org/p/fwc-crack-down-on-land-based-shark-fishing?source_location=topic_page
• Urge Coca-Cola to stop using plastic 6-pack rings -- https://www.change.org/p/coca-cola-stop-using-plastic-rings-to-package-soda-cans?source_location=topic_page
• Equal Laws to protect west coast endangered Orcas -- https://www.change.org/p/equal-laws-to-protect-west-coast-endangered-orcas

Pollution: 

• Urge Blue Apron to use a "return and reuse" ice pack program -- https://www.change.org/p/blue-apron-s-ice-packs-go-to-landfills-tell-them-to-make-an-ice-pack-recycling-program?source_location=topic_page
• Urge tobacco companies to take responsibility for butt  pollution -- https://www.change.org/p/sea-hugger-make-big-tobacco-responsible-for-their-cigarette-butt-pollution?source_location=topic_page
• Ban plastic bags in Florida -- https://www.change.org/p/ban-plastic-bags-in-florida?source_location=topic_page

Climate Change:

• Improve climate change efforts -- https://www.change.org/p/department-of-energy-improve-climate-change-efforts?source_location=topic_page

Oceans:

• Stop killing sharks for trinkets -- https://www.change.org/p/miami-surf-style-stop-killing-sharks-for-trinkets?source_location=topic_page
• Save North Atlantic Right Whales from Airgun blasting -- https://www.change.org/p/save-north-atlantic-right-whales-from-seismic-airgun-blasting?source_location=topic_page
• Stop Shark finning trade in Florida -- https://www.change.org/p/florida-state-house-stop-shark-finning-in-florida?pt=AVBldGl0aW9uACTuyAAAAAAAXC7H0DJSW6BkMjQ0NmYyNg%3D%3D&source_location=topic_page
• Urge Governor Rick Scott to join 22 other states to create an action plan for harmful algae bloom -- https://www.change.org/p/rick-scott-florida-s-gulf-coast-is-dying-millions-of-dead-fish-sea-turtles-manatees-and-dolphins-toxictide?source_location=topic_page

Captivity:

• Shut down SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium -- https://www.change.org/p/southwest-plaza-mall-close-seaquest-interactive-aquarium?source_location=topic_page
• End Dolphin captivity in Hawaii -- https://www.change.org/p/david-ige-end-dolphin-captivity-in-hawaii

Lost Freedom; 110-120

• Nandu, captured in 1983 at 2 years old, died 4 years later at Acuarama Sao Paulo - tumor.

• Samoa, captured in 1983 at 3 years old, died 8 years later at Seaworld San Antonio - fungal meningitis. 

• No name, captured in 1984 at 4 years old, died 2 months later at Saedyrasafnid - neck injury.

• Freja/Patty, captured in 1984 at 2 years old, died 3 years later at Kamogawa Sea World - inflammation of small intestine. 

• Junior, captured in 1984 at 2 years old, died 9 years later at Marineland Ontario - brain damage.

• Kandu 7, captured in 1984 at 6 years old, died 21 years later at Marineland Ontario - cancer.

• Bingo/Thor, captured in 1984 at 2 years old, died 29 years later at Port of Nagoya - pneumonia.

• No name, bred in 1985, died 1 month later at Marineland California - asphyxiation. 

• Milargo, captured in 1985 at an unknown age, died 5 years later at Mundo Marina - unknown. 

• Kalina, bred in 1985, died 25 years later at Seaworld Orlando - blood poisoning.

 

Lost Freedom; 100-110

• Benkei 3, captured in 1982 at less than 1 years old, died 1 year later at "private home" - unknown. 

• Sacchi, captured in 1982 at 9 years old, died 2 years later at Enoshima Marineland - pneumonia. 

• No name, bred in 1982, died 10 days later at Enoshima Marineland - brain abscess. 

• Kiva, bred in 1982, died 48 days later at Marineland California - respiratory failure. 

• No name, captured in 1982 at 1 years old, died 8 months later at Sealand Victoria - genetic disorder. 

• Nootka 4, captured in 1982 at 3 years old, died 12 years later at Seaworld Orlando - unknown. 

• Haida 2, captured in 1982 at less than 1 years old, died 19 years later at Seaworld San Antonio - necrosis and fungal infection. 

• Kim 2, captured in 1982 at less than 1 years old, died 23 years later at Marineland Antibes - pneumonia.

• Freya, captured in 1982 at 1 years old, died 32 years later at Marineland Antibes - unknown. 

• Tilikum, captured in 1983 at 2 years old, died 32 years later at Seaworld Orlando - bacterial pneumonia. 

Lost Freedom; 90-100

• Finna, captured in 1980 at 3 years old, died 17 years later at Vancouver Aquarium - pneumonia. 

• Vigga, captured in 1980 at 1 years old, died 19 years later at Marine World California - heart failure, brain and lung abscess, pneumonia. 

• Bjossa, captured in 1980 at 3 years old, died 21 years later at Seaworld San Diego - chronic bronchopneumonia.  

• No name, captured in 1981 at 4 years old, unknown date of death at Marineland Ontario - unknown. 

• No name, captured in 1981 at less than 1 years old, died 2 months later at Clacton Pier - traumatic shock and ruptured kidney. 

• Neptune, captured in 1981 at 4 years old, died 1 year later at Clacton Pier - appendicitis.

• Nemo, captured in 1981 at less than 1 years old, died 5 years later at Windsor Safari Park - chronic blood clotting.

• Ruka, captured in 1981 at 2 years old, died 18 years later at Nanki Shirahama Adventure World - traumatic shock. 

• Nootka 5, captured in 1981 at 2 years old, died 26 years later at Marineland Ontario - unknown. 

• No name, captured in 1982 at 9 years old, died 4 months later at Taiji Whaling Museum - pneumonia.