Presented without comment:
http://www.peakoilblues.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qgVn-Op7Q
Our Future
Until next week, maybe.
ManicPanic
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday, Tuesday: Updates and Calls to Action
Greetings earthlings,
I'm 78.5% rage-full today so this shall be a short one. Full of rage.
Challenge 37: Shut shit off. The amount of wasted electricity that we use in North America is kind of gross. Some people live without lights, but we seem to need every light, the T.V., the D.V.D., the lamp, the computer and our cell phones all plugged in at once. So, this week, the challenge is TURN THAT SHIT OFF. Sorry to be crude, but a lot of the time this stuff is so unnecessary. However, for those of us this far north, it's dark as fuck. So, I understand the need for light to, you know, see things. So, if lights must be on--make sure they are L.E.D. of CFL lights. No offense to Thomas Edison, but we're SO over incandescent lamps. They were great, but the technology has moved on--and I think he'd pee himself with glee that we've come so far.
Let's examine the numbers: An incandescent bulb uses 60watts--a CFL/L.E.D. uses 4-12watts. Yeah, that's WAY WAY less. So, change your bulbs, cut back on the amount of light you need, and see electricity costs go down. Keep in mind that most electricity comes from coal/fossil fuels--which, you know, actively poisons you in every way. So, use less, use green, and for goodness sake, vote and push for green energy. Don't be as retarded as Virginia:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/virginia-residents-oppose-preparations-for-climate-related-sea-level-rise/2011/12/05/gIQAVRw40O_story.html
Straight up dumbest mother fuckers alive.*said in Kurt Lazarus voice*
Challenge is--don't be this stupid.
Challenge 38: Take action. Once again, I'm not saying get arrested (although I'm going to a protest soon where I very well might be arrested, but still)--I'm just saying go on line, be informed, and if there is an online petition or a letter you can write--fucking DO it. It takes *nothing* out of your day to fill out an online form and it can make all the difference in the world. Look at something like the Arab Spring--something that would never have happened if it wasn't for Twitter/Facebook/Youtube. This stuff is powerful, especially with today's youth. The youth who are being royally butt fucked every day by corporations, big oil, and the governments that have been bought by them. We are being screwed by older generations--and it has to end. We didn't start this war, but we'll sure as hell finish it--one way or another (i.e. we get our shit together or we all die. Not kidding. Just stating).
So, so you don't have to go looking for them, here's some petitions/letters that need you, today.
After promising to turn it into National Park Land, the premier of Ontario turned around and opened Wolf Lake/Temagami to mining interests. This would be the largest old growth red pine forest ON EARTH. It needs saving. And Canada needs to shape the fuck up when it comes to the environment. The letter is already written, you just have to read (if you want) and then type in your information.
http://www.earthroots.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=172
Keystone Pipeline. So, after congress acted like a bunch of 3 year olds (it's literally too long to explain, but look it up if you don't believe me), the pipeline is back up in limbo. This will not stand. Quite frankly, I'm sick of it being unacceptable to push pro left ideas but it's perfectly okay to spew crazy, homophobic, nonsensical, pro right nonsense. This is totally politically biased. I am aware. But quite frankly, today I don't care. Mitt Romney shouldn't gain votes when is says that LGBT is some sort of brainwashing organization that needs to be examined. Michele Bachmann shouldn't gain votes when she says that the EPA needs to be shut down with the doors locked. The EPA is the reason you have clean water. It creates jobs. It creates healthy citizens. And I swear to God if one more person attacks it's I'll really fly off the handle. If you say pro left things, like there should be strict emissions reductions and environmental laws, you're labeled as a communist monster. But if you say you hate gay people--that's cool. It makes me so angry I can't even see. Anyway, rant aside, Keystone really needs to be stopped. If it isn't--we're done. As like, a planet.
So I highly suggest you check out the following site and sign up for their updates:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/2133/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6812
Alright,
That was full of rage and leftist craziness, and I'm sorry. But I'm belligerent at the conservative right currently. I want to poop in a bag and put it on all of their lawns :D
As an aside, I wish you all a happy Christmas and a seasons greetings.
Until next week!
<3 ManicPanic
Ps. Look out for a further breakdown of both the Riot and the 30 percent challenge coming up this week. We want to make sure everyone is all set to go for February 15th! (Think dimmer switches, etc). I am serious about doing this thing, and I'd really like it if y'all joined me.
I'm 78.5% rage-full today so this shall be a short one. Full of rage.
Challenge 37: Shut shit off. The amount of wasted electricity that we use in North America is kind of gross. Some people live without lights, but we seem to need every light, the T.V., the D.V.D., the lamp, the computer and our cell phones all plugged in at once. So, this week, the challenge is TURN THAT SHIT OFF. Sorry to be crude, but a lot of the time this stuff is so unnecessary. However, for those of us this far north, it's dark as fuck. So, I understand the need for light to, you know, see things. So, if lights must be on--make sure they are L.E.D. of CFL lights. No offense to Thomas Edison, but we're SO over incandescent lamps. They were great, but the technology has moved on--and I think he'd pee himself with glee that we've come so far.
Let's examine the numbers: An incandescent bulb uses 60watts--a CFL/L.E.D. uses 4-12watts. Yeah, that's WAY WAY less. So, change your bulbs, cut back on the amount of light you need, and see electricity costs go down. Keep in mind that most electricity comes from coal/fossil fuels--which, you know, actively poisons you in every way. So, use less, use green, and for goodness sake, vote and push for green energy. Don't be as retarded as Virginia:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/virginia-residents-oppose-preparations-for-climate-related-sea-level-rise/2011/12/05/gIQAVRw40O_story.html
Straight up dumbest mother fuckers alive.*said in Kurt Lazarus voice*
Challenge is--don't be this stupid.
Challenge 38: Take action. Once again, I'm not saying get arrested (although I'm going to a protest soon where I very well might be arrested, but still)--I'm just saying go on line, be informed, and if there is an online petition or a letter you can write--fucking DO it. It takes *nothing* out of your day to fill out an online form and it can make all the difference in the world. Look at something like the Arab Spring--something that would never have happened if it wasn't for Twitter/Facebook/Youtube. This stuff is powerful, especially with today's youth. The youth who are being royally butt fucked every day by corporations, big oil, and the governments that have been bought by them. We are being screwed by older generations--and it has to end. We didn't start this war, but we'll sure as hell finish it--one way or another (i.e. we get our shit together or we all die. Not kidding. Just stating).
So, so you don't have to go looking for them, here's some petitions/letters that need you, today.
After promising to turn it into National Park Land, the premier of Ontario turned around and opened Wolf Lake/Temagami to mining interests. This would be the largest old growth red pine forest ON EARTH. It needs saving. And Canada needs to shape the fuck up when it comes to the environment. The letter is already written, you just have to read (if you want) and then type in your information.
http://www.earthroots.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=172
Keystone Pipeline. So, after congress acted like a bunch of 3 year olds (it's literally too long to explain, but look it up if you don't believe me), the pipeline is back up in limbo. This will not stand. Quite frankly, I'm sick of it being unacceptable to push pro left ideas but it's perfectly okay to spew crazy, homophobic, nonsensical, pro right nonsense. This is totally politically biased. I am aware. But quite frankly, today I don't care. Mitt Romney shouldn't gain votes when is says that LGBT is some sort of brainwashing organization that needs to be examined. Michele Bachmann shouldn't gain votes when she says that the EPA needs to be shut down with the doors locked. The EPA is the reason you have clean water. It creates jobs. It creates healthy citizens. And I swear to God if one more person attacks it's I'll really fly off the handle. If you say pro left things, like there should be strict emissions reductions and environmental laws, you're labeled as a communist monster. But if you say you hate gay people--that's cool. It makes me so angry I can't even see. Anyway, rant aside, Keystone really needs to be stopped. If it isn't--we're done. As like, a planet.
So I highly suggest you check out the following site and sign up for their updates:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/2133/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6812
Alright,
That was full of rage and leftist craziness, and I'm sorry. But I'm belligerent at the conservative right currently. I want to poop in a bag and put it on all of their lawns :D
As an aside, I wish you all a happy Christmas and a seasons greetings.
Until next week!
<3 ManicPanic
Ps. Look out for a further breakdown of both the Riot and the 30 percent challenge coming up this week. We want to make sure everyone is all set to go for February 15th! (Think dimmer switches, etc). I am serious about doing this thing, and I'd really like it if y'all joined me.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
The Dragon Awakens: Rioting for Austerity
Alright, so this isn't a green challenges post. I'm going rogue here.
And I'm about to propose something crazy. The green challenges will continue. But, I'm about to propose something more. Something that will go the extra mile.
But if you guys are on board, I guarantee this will be one of the greatest things you ever do.
Ever.
Okay, here goes.
Mark your calendars for February 15th because I'm proposing:
The Riot for Austerity: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/90PercentReduction/
The principle behind the riot for austerity is that first world nations must reduce emissions 90-95% as quickly as possibly in order of us to avoid deathly climate change in the future. And not just 'life is inconvenient' climate change but 'there is no more life at all on this planet' climate change. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating or making this up--climate change is a really serious threat and if we don't act right now the entire 7 billion population of the earth, and all other significant life, will be dead by 2200. We have the technology to fix it. We *can* fix it in the long term. But it will take necessary sacrifice and effort.
For evidence that speaks to this, please check out David Roberts' 3 latest posts for Grist
1. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-05-the-brutal-logic-of-climate-change
2. http://www.grist.org/climate-policy/2011-12-08-the-brutal-logic-of-climate-change-mitigation
3. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-16-brutal-logic-and-climate-communications
So, what does one do for the Riot for Austerity? Well, it breaks down into 7 different categories:
1. Gasoline
2. Electricity
3. Heating and Cooking Energy
4. Garbage
5. Water
6. Consumer Goods
7. Food
So, the idea is to limit your consumption by 90%. Now, if you are already a way less consumer, it isn't 90% of that, it is 90% of the Average American Household. So, to break it down, in a nutshell you should be aiming for the following:
1. Gasoline: Average household is 500 gallons per person/ per year. So, the target would be 50 gallons per person/per year. For all of us Canadians, that would be down to 190 liters per year. If you take transit, that counts too. Please keep in mind that public transit works at 100 miles per gallon.
2. Electricity: Average kilowatts are 11,000 kilowatts per household, or 900 kilowatts per household per month. So this should go down to 90 kilowatts per household, per month.
3. Heating and Cooking Energy: This one is tricky, and I'll have a separate post expanding on this later. Needless to say where you get your energy will dictate this one. If it's all electric, it goes to the electric average. If it's natural gas/wood, there are different measurements. More to follow on this one.
4. Garbage: Average is 4.5lbs of garbage per person per day. (Which as an aside is fucking DISGUSTING on every, every level). So the aim is 0.45lbs of garbage per day.
5. Water: Average is 100 gallons of water per person per day (Read: VOMIT). So the aim is 10 gallons per person, per day.
6. Consumer Goods: This one is also tricky. The average American household spends 10,000 on 'stuff' every year (yes, you read that correctly. Also read: vomit). So, in a household of 4 (which is the average), that's 2500 dollars a year. So, the new aim is 250 dollars a year. Now, this one also has a bunch of stipulations (if you get it used, you only count 10% of the price. So a 100 dollar used couch only counts for 10% of your budget. Donated goods i.e. Goodwill are also free).
7. Food: This essentially comes to eating organically and locally. Reducing your emissions means having 70% of your diet be locally made (less than 100miles) food. 25% should be bulk goods shipped in huge containers to maximize efficiency. 5% can be conventionally grown foods, processed foods, etc. Right now this last category makes up 65% of a person's diet.
Wow. So, that's the pledge. I plan on doing it as best as I can, aiming for 95%. I will be posting separate pieces on each of these categories so I can go into further detail about it.
Now, for those of you who think that is too radical, I propose the 30% solution. So, most of the climate scenarios would suggest that we have until 2015 to hit peak emissions. So, I say we hit them earlier rather than later. I say we make 2011 our peak emissions year. If you want to still make a difference, and not go the full 90% right away, may I purpose the 30% solution? Reduce your emissions 30% every year, for 3 years. It's a longer timeline, more manageable, and still has your emissions down by the time we need them down.
Now, for a quick list on how to reduce your emissions, I propose the following (please note that the numbers of amounts of carbon that you'll save going into the air):
GAS
Major improvement in your home's insulation 0.4
New boiler if yours is more than 10 years old 0.3
Cavity wall insulation 0.3
Double glazing if you don't have it 0.2
Solar hot water 0.2
Increase loft insulation, seal doors
and skirting boards, etc 0.2
Better controls for boiler, hot water tank
and radiators 0.2
Buy a wood-burning stove 0.2
Reduce your thermostat temp by 1 degree 0.2
Heat one less room 0.1
Slow-flow showers, not baths 0.1
ELECTRICITY
Install 2 kilowatt solar PV panels 0.4
Buy a new A++ refrigerator if yours is more than 4 years old, and only use a small-screen TV 0.1
Use LED or fluorescent lights where you currently have halogen lights installed 0.1
Buy an automated system to turn off appliances when not in use; get a meter that shows actual energy use and use it to monitor your household 0.1
Only use your washing machine and dishwasher
when full to capacity and at lowest temperature 0.1
Never use the tumble dryer 0.1
Get rid of the freezer if you can, and replace your small appliances with "eco" varieties 0.1
CAR
Cut your annual mileage in half 0.7
Sell the second car 0.7
Buy a new car with emissions in car tax bands A or B, then scrap the old one 0.5
Join a car club or set up an effective local car-sharing scheme 0.4
Share car to work 0.3
Go on a day's eco-driving course, fit low-resistance tyres and check air pressure every month 0.2
Don't ever use a car for shopping. Buy online 0.1
Work from home one day a week rather than commuting by car 0.1
AIR TRAVEL
Never fly 1.2
Restrict yourself to one short-haul return flight a year on a carrier with a fuel-efficient fleet 0.3
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Buy secondhand mobile phones and ensure that three of your electronic devices are recycled 0.3
Keep your electronic devices (eg phones, TVs, computers, DVD players, games machines) one year longer than you would have 0.2
Switch from a desktop computer to a laptop at home, and recycle the desktop 0.1
FOOD
Go vegan three days a week 0.5
Change to an almost entirely vegetarian diet, using mostly unprocessed wholefoods such as grains, seeds and nuts 0.5
Never buy processed food or ready meals 0.2
Buy more carefully and never throw food away 0.2
Grow all your own fruit and vegetables for July, August, September 0.1
CLOTHING
Buy 50% secondhand clothes 0.3
Reduce purchases by a more than a quarter compared to last year (eg buy four new T-shirts not the UK average of seven) 0.2
Buy only manmade fibres 0.2
Focus on new fabrics made from bamboo, hemp or other cotton substitutes 0.1
WATER, SEWAGE AND WASTE DISPOSAL
Install a 'grey water' recycling system to take water from your washing machine into your lavatory 0.1
Use showers, not baths. Install a flow-reducing aerator for the shower head 0.1
Regularly use soap, a basin of water and a sponge instead of a shower 0.1
Buy ultra-low water use cisterns, new water-saving dishwasher, washing machine. Recycle old ones 0.1
Install – and carefully monitor – a water meter. Put bricks in all the loos to reduce water. Carefully recycle all waste, compost all organic matter 0.1
Install a composting toilet 0.1
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Cycle everywhere 0.3
Always use coaches instead of the train 0.1
Work from home two days a week instead of taking public transport to work 0.1
PAPER
Only buy newspapers, magazines, books, toilet paper and copier paper made from recycled materials 0.1
Block direct mail, choose electronic bills and statements, buy secondhand books and share papers 0.1
So, that's the 30% challenge in a nutshell. 30% in 2012. 30% in 2013. 30% in 2014. Down 90% emissions by 2015. Work on where you can work on, and everything else you can focus on next year. The transit thing is HUGE. You never realize how much gas we really use until it's all spelled out like that.
Now, I need (well, would like) to know who is on board for this. I'm talking feedback, ideas, tips, etc. The only way we can stop this thing is with extreme personal + political action. If we can get as many people as possible to reduce emissions, then it makes it socially acceptable to reduce emissions. Stop cutting people who are bad to the environment slack--they don't deserve it.
And as an aside, the green challenges will continue on a weekly basis, and I'll do a austerity update every week as well. And if anyone wants to blog about their experience... feel free!
We are in this together. We are about to face a serious tragedy of the commons if everyone doesn't start the steps now to reduce emissions. The situation is dire, because we let it get that way. We're still going to face a really difficult coming century, but with some clear and fast action now--hopefully we can still be around in the centuries after that.
As an aside, none of this comes without it's share of political activism. Want better transit? DEMAND IT. You pay taxes, you are a citizen of this world, and you have to right to demand it. Now, you have to do your share too. But we need to fight for family planning access to control population, we need to fight for clean, renewable energy, and we need to be willing to pay for it all too. So you spend more money going off grid and can't buy a new TV for Christmas? Who cares. Corporations exist for you to buy stuff, and they don't care wtf happens to anyone as long as they have money. So, I guess the point is, you can't really be a 'green' person at all unless you walk the walk AND push politically. I'm not saying get arrested. I'm saying get informed, vote, and make your voice heard in a non screaming, eloquent way. The powers that be would love it if we kept being entirely dependent on oil. Both the American and Canadian governments are 100% in the pocket of big oil. They don't care, whatsoever, about you. They really don't. Take back your democratic right and stop being a fucking pussy, is my point (sorry, the rage slipped out).
I will be posting on how to prepare for this in the coming weeks. Launch date for the riot is February 15th, 2012. This gives everyone lots of notice so they can start getting ready.
I hope you join me on this journey. I really do. Please, please, please, email with any questions/comments/concerns.
Endless <3
ManicPanic
'You gotta give em hope'
And I'm about to propose something crazy. The green challenges will continue. But, I'm about to propose something more. Something that will go the extra mile.
But if you guys are on board, I guarantee this will be one of the greatest things you ever do.
Ever.
Okay, here goes.
Mark your calendars for February 15th because I'm proposing:
The Riot for Austerity: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/90PercentReduction/
The principle behind the riot for austerity is that first world nations must reduce emissions 90-95% as quickly as possibly in order of us to avoid deathly climate change in the future. And not just 'life is inconvenient' climate change but 'there is no more life at all on this planet' climate change. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating or making this up--climate change is a really serious threat and if we don't act right now the entire 7 billion population of the earth, and all other significant life, will be dead by 2200. We have the technology to fix it. We *can* fix it in the long term. But it will take necessary sacrifice and effort.
For evidence that speaks to this, please check out David Roberts' 3 latest posts for Grist
1. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-05-the-brutal-logic-of-climate-change
2. http://www.grist.org/climate-policy/2011-12-08-the-brutal-logic-of-climate-change-mitigation
3. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-16-brutal-logic-and-climate-communications
So, what does one do for the Riot for Austerity? Well, it breaks down into 7 different categories:
1. Gasoline
2. Electricity
3. Heating and Cooking Energy
4. Garbage
5. Water
6. Consumer Goods
7. Food
So, the idea is to limit your consumption by 90%. Now, if you are already a way less consumer, it isn't 90% of that, it is 90% of the Average American Household. So, to break it down, in a nutshell you should be aiming for the following:
1. Gasoline: Average household is 500 gallons per person/ per year. So, the target would be 50 gallons per person/per year. For all of us Canadians, that would be down to 190 liters per year. If you take transit, that counts too. Please keep in mind that public transit works at 100 miles per gallon.
2. Electricity: Average kilowatts are 11,000 kilowatts per household, or 900 kilowatts per household per month. So this should go down to 90 kilowatts per household, per month.
3. Heating and Cooking Energy: This one is tricky, and I'll have a separate post expanding on this later. Needless to say where you get your energy will dictate this one. If it's all electric, it goes to the electric average. If it's natural gas/wood, there are different measurements. More to follow on this one.
4. Garbage: Average is 4.5lbs of garbage per person per day. (Which as an aside is fucking DISGUSTING on every, every level). So the aim is 0.45lbs of garbage per day.
5. Water: Average is 100 gallons of water per person per day (Read: VOMIT). So the aim is 10 gallons per person, per day.
6. Consumer Goods: This one is also tricky. The average American household spends 10,000 on 'stuff' every year (yes, you read that correctly. Also read: vomit). So, in a household of 4 (which is the average), that's 2500 dollars a year. So, the new aim is 250 dollars a year. Now, this one also has a bunch of stipulations (if you get it used, you only count 10% of the price. So a 100 dollar used couch only counts for 10% of your budget. Donated goods i.e. Goodwill are also free).
7. Food: This essentially comes to eating organically and locally. Reducing your emissions means having 70% of your diet be locally made (less than 100miles) food. 25% should be bulk goods shipped in huge containers to maximize efficiency. 5% can be conventionally grown foods, processed foods, etc. Right now this last category makes up 65% of a person's diet.
Wow. So, that's the pledge. I plan on doing it as best as I can, aiming for 95%. I will be posting separate pieces on each of these categories so I can go into further detail about it.
Now, for those of you who think that is too radical, I propose the 30% solution. So, most of the climate scenarios would suggest that we have until 2015 to hit peak emissions. So, I say we hit them earlier rather than later. I say we make 2011 our peak emissions year. If you want to still make a difference, and not go the full 90% right away, may I purpose the 30% solution? Reduce your emissions 30% every year, for 3 years. It's a longer timeline, more manageable, and still has your emissions down by the time we need them down.
Now, for a quick list on how to reduce your emissions, I propose the following (please note that the numbers of amounts of carbon that you'll save going into the air):
GAS
Major improvement in your home's insulation 0.4
New boiler if yours is more than 10 years old 0.3
Cavity wall insulation 0.3
Double glazing if you don't have it 0.2
Solar hot water 0.2
Increase loft insulation, seal doors
and skirting boards, etc 0.2
Better controls for boiler, hot water tank
and radiators 0.2
Buy a wood-burning stove 0.2
Reduce your thermostat temp by 1 degree 0.2
Heat one less room 0.1
Slow-flow showers, not baths 0.1
ELECTRICITY
Install 2 kilowatt solar PV panels 0.4
Buy a new A++ refrigerator if yours is more than 4 years old, and only use a small-screen TV 0.1
Use LED or fluorescent lights where you currently have halogen lights installed 0.1
Buy an automated system to turn off appliances when not in use; get a meter that shows actual energy use and use it to monitor your household 0.1
Only use your washing machine and dishwasher
when full to capacity and at lowest temperature 0.1
Never use the tumble dryer 0.1
Get rid of the freezer if you can, and replace your small appliances with "eco" varieties 0.1
CAR
Cut your annual mileage in half 0.7
Sell the second car 0.7
Buy a new car with emissions in car tax bands A or B, then scrap the old one 0.5
Join a car club or set up an effective local car-sharing scheme 0.4
Share car to work 0.3
Go on a day's eco-driving course, fit low-resistance tyres and check air pressure every month 0.2
Don't ever use a car for shopping. Buy online 0.1
Work from home one day a week rather than commuting by car 0.1
AIR TRAVEL
Never fly 1.2
Restrict yourself to one short-haul return flight a year on a carrier with a fuel-efficient fleet 0.3
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Buy secondhand mobile phones and ensure that three of your electronic devices are recycled 0.3
Keep your electronic devices (eg phones, TVs, computers, DVD players, games machines) one year longer than you would have 0.2
Switch from a desktop computer to a laptop at home, and recycle the desktop 0.1
FOOD
Go vegan three days a week 0.5
Change to an almost entirely vegetarian diet, using mostly unprocessed wholefoods such as grains, seeds and nuts 0.5
Never buy processed food or ready meals 0.2
Buy more carefully and never throw food away 0.2
Grow all your own fruit and vegetables for July, August, September 0.1
CLOTHING
Buy 50% secondhand clothes 0.3
Reduce purchases by a more than a quarter compared to last year (eg buy four new T-shirts not the UK average of seven) 0.2
Buy only manmade fibres 0.2
Focus on new fabrics made from bamboo, hemp or other cotton substitutes 0.1
WATER, SEWAGE AND WASTE DISPOSAL
Install a 'grey water' recycling system to take water from your washing machine into your lavatory 0.1
Use showers, not baths. Install a flow-reducing aerator for the shower head 0.1
Regularly use soap, a basin of water and a sponge instead of a shower 0.1
Buy ultra-low water use cisterns, new water-saving dishwasher, washing machine. Recycle old ones 0.1
Install – and carefully monitor – a water meter. Put bricks in all the loos to reduce water. Carefully recycle all waste, compost all organic matter 0.1
Install a composting toilet 0.1
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Cycle everywhere 0.3
Always use coaches instead of the train 0.1
Work from home two days a week instead of taking public transport to work 0.1
PAPER
Only buy newspapers, magazines, books, toilet paper and copier paper made from recycled materials 0.1
Block direct mail, choose electronic bills and statements, buy secondhand books and share papers 0.1
So, that's the 30% challenge in a nutshell. 30% in 2012. 30% in 2013. 30% in 2014. Down 90% emissions by 2015. Work on where you can work on, and everything else you can focus on next year. The transit thing is HUGE. You never realize how much gas we really use until it's all spelled out like that.
Now, I need (well, would like) to know who is on board for this. I'm talking feedback, ideas, tips, etc. The only way we can stop this thing is with extreme personal + political action. If we can get as many people as possible to reduce emissions, then it makes it socially acceptable to reduce emissions. Stop cutting people who are bad to the environment slack--they don't deserve it.
And as an aside, the green challenges will continue on a weekly basis, and I'll do a austerity update every week as well. And if anyone wants to blog about their experience... feel free!
We are in this together. We are about to face a serious tragedy of the commons if everyone doesn't start the steps now to reduce emissions. The situation is dire, because we let it get that way. We're still going to face a really difficult coming century, but with some clear and fast action now--hopefully we can still be around in the centuries after that.
As an aside, none of this comes without it's share of political activism. Want better transit? DEMAND IT. You pay taxes, you are a citizen of this world, and you have to right to demand it. Now, you have to do your share too. But we need to fight for family planning access to control population, we need to fight for clean, renewable energy, and we need to be willing to pay for it all too. So you spend more money going off grid and can't buy a new TV for Christmas? Who cares. Corporations exist for you to buy stuff, and they don't care wtf happens to anyone as long as they have money. So, I guess the point is, you can't really be a 'green' person at all unless you walk the walk AND push politically. I'm not saying get arrested. I'm saying get informed, vote, and make your voice heard in a non screaming, eloquent way. The powers that be would love it if we kept being entirely dependent on oil. Both the American and Canadian governments are 100% in the pocket of big oil. They don't care, whatsoever, about you. They really don't. Take back your democratic right and stop being a fucking pussy, is my point (sorry, the rage slipped out).
I will be posting on how to prepare for this in the coming weeks. Launch date for the riot is February 15th, 2012. This gives everyone lots of notice so they can start getting ready.
I hope you join me on this journey. I really do. Please, please, please, email with any questions/comments/concerns.
Endless <3
ManicPanic
'You gotta give em hope'
Monday, December 12, 2011
Canada--the World's Asshat
Now, this post is going to be as rage filled as last week's post, but hopefully far more articulate than last week's post. I've calmed down about 34%, so this will be 34% more coherent than last time. And as we just passed 800 page views, I assume someone is still reading this--out there, in the ether.
Alright, here we go.
Now, as for the title of this post. I've always loved being Canadian. I have--truly. I've always been proud of our diversity, health care, etc etc. You know, all the good stuff. But lately, I've been so full of #Canadashame I've wanted to vomit. Why, you ask? Well, because when it comes to the environment, Canada is fucking retarded--that's why.
Exhibit A. We keep trying to unload our epically lame, deadly, cancerous, tar sands bullshit oil on everyone. Keystone XL has major proponents in the states as well, but it's the Canadian federal government that is doing a large majority of the pushing here. Why? Because our whole federal cabinet is bought and paid for by big oil. I suppose that makes it the same as the states--but I feel exceptionally betrayed by this nonetheless. No one wants that fucking oil. If that pipeline goes through--it's game over for the climate, for the midwest, for the Canadian west, and for pretty much everyone. It's a really fucking stupid idea, is what I'm getting at here. #thanksalotCanada reason number 1.
Exhibit B. In my province, we are also having extreme difficulty with habitat destruction. Northern Ontario is environmentally rich, and for some reason the government has taken this to mean it should destroy all of that richness as quickly as possible. They want to put an outdated, inefficient septic sludge tank on the Gatineau River (voted the most beautiful waterway in Canada) [to help, visit: http://savethegatineau.com/], they want to build a quarry 3x the size of Niagara Falls in Northern Ontario so they can ship limestone to China and effectively destroy the drinking water of over 2 million people [to help, visit: https://www.facebook.com/no.mega.quarry] AND they want to tear down an old growth forest in the Wolf Lake Region named Temagami (it was SUPPOSED to become national park land) and open it all up to mining interests [stay tuned for where to help, I'm working on it]. So, needless to say, Ontario sucks really gross hairy balls right now when it comes to the environment. Ontario contains 25% of the WORLD'S freshwater, and it's like we're seeing how fast we can destroy it all. It's disgusting, is what it is. #thanksalotCanada reason number 2.
Oh, and then there's this:
http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111212/ap_on_bi_ge/cn_canada_climate_change
Now, was the Kyoto agreement perfect? Nope, not by a long shot. BUT, the countries who did follow it saw a drastic decrease in emissions over the last 14 years. Canada, who has way few people but still manages to pollute the fuck out of everything, never tried to follow it in the first place, and now they are pulling out of it entirely. Sure, they have their bullshit reasons, but the real reason is that Peter Kent is an asshole. Mr. Kent, our beloved national environmental minister, is in the back pocket of Big Oil and would like nothing more than to have us dependent on fossil fuels forever--it puts more money in his pocket, you see. So, now that we've established that this guy is a total douche, we begin to see some of the reasons for the above environmental missteps (not the Ontario stuff though--that's a combination of the provincial government lacking a backbone and the mining laws being so outdated it's ridiculous). So, now the whole world hates Canada. Especially the island nations, that, you know, won't be here in 15 years due to sea level rise. Or, you know, Africa, which will experience droughts so severe that most of the people there will also die. But I mean, it's cool, as long as you have gas in your car it doesn't matter right? *epic facepalm* #thanksalotCanada reason number 3.
So, now that I'm seriously considering becoming an ex-pat and fleeing to countries who care about climate change (I'm looking at you, Australia, Germany, the UK and Norway), let's get us to some challenges!
Challenge 35: If you happen to be Canadian, stop letting this shit happen. I know some people don't vote because they feel uninformed--but you should get yourself informed and then vote. Idiots vote all the time--how do you think we get stuck with some of these politicians *cough Rick Perry cough* ? And if you are Canadian and do want to help, may I suggest 2 main things.
1. Spread the word. Tell 10 people about all of these atrocities, and then get them to tell 10 people. Some of this stuff hits real close to home. For instance, live in the GTA? Well then ALL OF this northern Ontario epically fucking with the water table stuff DIRECTLY affects you. Hear that? Get on it.
2. Contact these people who are making these asshat decisions and let them know that this isn't acceptable and that you won't stand for it. Here is some contact information, to guide you:
Canadian Minister of the Environment (he kind of looks evil, just sayin):
http://www.parl.gc.ca/membersofparliament/ProfileMP.aspx?Key=170520&Language=E
Ontario Environment Minister:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/main/contacts/feedback/index.htm
Ontario Natural Resource Minister:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/ContactUs/index.html?CSB_ic-name=topMenu&CSB_ic-info=contact-us_Eng
Ontario Minister of Northern Development & Mines:
http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/contact_e.asp
Premier Dalton McGuinty:
https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx
Challenge 36: If you are not Canadian, don't let this shit happen in your country either. Call your senators, congressman, whoever and demand that it stop. They want power, and they want to stay elected, and if they think that might not happen, they'll change their mind.
Stop letting it happen. I know that some people don't like this stuff. And I'm sorry, but it's just too bad. We get walked on every day by massive conglomerates who want us to be poor, sick, and nature deprived. Enough is enough. Living by example is also of the utmost importance--but none of that matters if you die of poisoned drinking water because they deregulated cleaning it so a corporation could get more money. And I didn't make that up. It happens every day.
The line must be drawn here. This far. No further.
<3 times
Manicpanic
Alright, here we go.
Now, as for the title of this post. I've always loved being Canadian. I have--truly. I've always been proud of our diversity, health care, etc etc. You know, all the good stuff. But lately, I've been so full of #Canadashame I've wanted to vomit. Why, you ask? Well, because when it comes to the environment, Canada is fucking retarded--that's why.
Exhibit A. We keep trying to unload our epically lame, deadly, cancerous, tar sands bullshit oil on everyone. Keystone XL has major proponents in the states as well, but it's the Canadian federal government that is doing a large majority of the pushing here. Why? Because our whole federal cabinet is bought and paid for by big oil. I suppose that makes it the same as the states--but I feel exceptionally betrayed by this nonetheless. No one wants that fucking oil. If that pipeline goes through--it's game over for the climate, for the midwest, for the Canadian west, and for pretty much everyone. It's a really fucking stupid idea, is what I'm getting at here. #thanksalotCanada reason number 1.
Exhibit B. In my province, we are also having extreme difficulty with habitat destruction. Northern Ontario is environmentally rich, and for some reason the government has taken this to mean it should destroy all of that richness as quickly as possible. They want to put an outdated, inefficient septic sludge tank on the Gatineau River (voted the most beautiful waterway in Canada) [to help, visit: http://savethegatineau.com/], they want to build a quarry 3x the size of Niagara Falls in Northern Ontario so they can ship limestone to China and effectively destroy the drinking water of over 2 million people [to help, visit: https://www.facebook.com/no.mega.quarry] AND they want to tear down an old growth forest in the Wolf Lake Region named Temagami (it was SUPPOSED to become national park land) and open it all up to mining interests [stay tuned for where to help, I'm working on it]. So, needless to say, Ontario sucks really gross hairy balls right now when it comes to the environment. Ontario contains 25% of the WORLD'S freshwater, and it's like we're seeing how fast we can destroy it all. It's disgusting, is what it is. #thanksalotCanada reason number 2.
Oh, and then there's this:
http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111212/ap_on_bi_ge/cn_canada_climate_change
Now, was the Kyoto agreement perfect? Nope, not by a long shot. BUT, the countries who did follow it saw a drastic decrease in emissions over the last 14 years. Canada, who has way few people but still manages to pollute the fuck out of everything, never tried to follow it in the first place, and now they are pulling out of it entirely. Sure, they have their bullshit reasons, but the real reason is that Peter Kent is an asshole. Mr. Kent, our beloved national environmental minister, is in the back pocket of Big Oil and would like nothing more than to have us dependent on fossil fuels forever--it puts more money in his pocket, you see. So, now that we've established that this guy is a total douche, we begin to see some of the reasons for the above environmental missteps (not the Ontario stuff though--that's a combination of the provincial government lacking a backbone and the mining laws being so outdated it's ridiculous). So, now the whole world hates Canada. Especially the island nations, that, you know, won't be here in 15 years due to sea level rise. Or, you know, Africa, which will experience droughts so severe that most of the people there will also die. But I mean, it's cool, as long as you have gas in your car it doesn't matter right? *epic facepalm* #thanksalotCanada reason number 3.
So, now that I'm seriously considering becoming an ex-pat and fleeing to countries who care about climate change (I'm looking at you, Australia, Germany, the UK and Norway), let's get us to some challenges!
Challenge 35: If you happen to be Canadian, stop letting this shit happen. I know some people don't vote because they feel uninformed--but you should get yourself informed and then vote. Idiots vote all the time--how do you think we get stuck with some of these politicians *cough Rick Perry cough* ? And if you are Canadian and do want to help, may I suggest 2 main things.
1. Spread the word. Tell 10 people about all of these atrocities, and then get them to tell 10 people. Some of this stuff hits real close to home. For instance, live in the GTA? Well then ALL OF this northern Ontario epically fucking with the water table stuff DIRECTLY affects you. Hear that? Get on it.
2. Contact these people who are making these asshat decisions and let them know that this isn't acceptable and that you won't stand for it. Here is some contact information, to guide you:
Canadian Minister of the Environment (he kind of looks evil, just sayin):
http://www.parl.gc.ca/membersofparliament/ProfileMP.aspx?Key=170520&Language=E
Ontario Environment Minister:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/main/contacts/feedback/index.htm
Ontario Natural Resource Minister:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/ContactUs/index.html?CSB_ic-name=topMenu&CSB_ic-info=contact-us_Eng
Ontario Minister of Northern Development & Mines:
http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/contact_e.asp
Premier Dalton McGuinty:
https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx
Challenge 36: If you are not Canadian, don't let this shit happen in your country either. Call your senators, congressman, whoever and demand that it stop. They want power, and they want to stay elected, and if they think that might not happen, they'll change their mind.
Stop letting it happen. I know that some people don't like this stuff. And I'm sorry, but it's just too bad. We get walked on every day by massive conglomerates who want us to be poor, sick, and nature deprived. Enough is enough. Living by example is also of the utmost importance--but none of that matters if you die of poisoned drinking water because they deregulated cleaning it so a corporation could get more money. And I didn't make that up. It happens every day.
The line must be drawn here. This far. No further.
<3 times
Manicpanic
Monday, December 5, 2011
Rage Blackout: Part II
Hey,
Get ready for another really short post. I'm on a winter spiral of sad panda right now, so the challenges will totally respect that. This post is also full of homicidal rage. Actually. So, don't be too offended--I'm just belligerent. You have been forewarned.
Challenge 33: Please for the love of Christ wake the fuck up. You heard me--behold the following links:
Trees are dying:
http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/trees-arent-adapting-climate-change-predicted.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29
We can't stop the damage we've done:
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-11-09-study-we-have-five-years-to-stop-climate-change-or-it-will-be-to
Goodbye Adirondak Region (I'm looking at you, all of upstate/central New York)
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/nyregion/fearing-climate-changes-effects-on-the-adirondacks.html?_r=1
We're screwed, prepare thy suicide capsules:
http://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/record-breaking-rise-greenhouse-gases-observed.html
Oh, and there is no more arctic, fyi:
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-12-05-this-is-what-antarctica-looks-like-naked
We are incapable of listening to reason/science (this is not really news, but still)
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-12-05-what-record-emissions-growth-really-shows-us
There isn't going to be any 'adapting' to future climate degree rises. There's only going to be 'dying' and 'no more humans on earth-ing' and 'say goodbye to every species but cockroaches-ing'
http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-05-the-brutal-logic-of-climate-change
Now, loyal blog readers, it's not really you guys who need to wake the fuck up--but I bet you know someone who does. Spread the word.
Challenge 34 : Be the Lorax, speak for the trees/fish/sustainable food/whatever
It won't change unless we change it. It won't. And if any of those links are any indication, it is clear that most of us are just sitting around waiting for other people to change things. We're the generation that's getting fucked over. And we're watching it happen. Speak for the trees. Be a Lorax. Stop accepting it.
End. Scene.
Sorry this post was full of doom and gloom--if you feel a little sad, welcome to every minute of my life because I spend my whole day looking at this stuff. If you feel an overwhelming sense of dread--don't worry, it's totally normal.
Hopefully next week I can bring myself to write something a little more chipper.
Oh and this, apparently Muppets are communists:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-business-news-calls-muppets-269706
If you fuck with the Muppets--you fuck with me. And I don't think anything designed to get people to needlessly spend money is starting the anti capitalist revolution, as much a I love the Muppets.
FML
ManicPanic
Get ready for another really short post. I'm on a winter spiral of sad panda right now, so the challenges will totally respect that. This post is also full of homicidal rage. Actually. So, don't be too offended--I'm just belligerent. You have been forewarned.
Challenge 33: Please for the love of Christ wake the fuck up. You heard me--behold the following links:
Trees are dying:
http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/trees-arent-adapting-climate-change-predicted.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29
We can't stop the damage we've done:
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-11-09-study-we-have-five-years-to-stop-climate-change-or-it-will-be-to
Goodbye Adirondak Region (I'm looking at you, all of upstate/central New York)
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/nyregion/fearing-climate-changes-effects-on-the-adirondacks.html?_r=1
We're screwed, prepare thy suicide capsules:
http://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/record-breaking-rise-greenhouse-gases-observed.html
Oh, and there is no more arctic, fyi:
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-12-05-this-is-what-antarctica-looks-like-naked
We are incapable of listening to reason/science (this is not really news, but still)
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-12-05-what-record-emissions-growth-really-shows-us
There isn't going to be any 'adapting' to future climate degree rises. There's only going to be 'dying' and 'no more humans on earth-ing' and 'say goodbye to every species but cockroaches-ing'
http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-05-the-brutal-logic-of-climate-change
Now, loyal blog readers, it's not really you guys who need to wake the fuck up--but I bet you know someone who does. Spread the word.
Challenge 34 : Be the Lorax, speak for the trees/fish/sustainable food/whatever
It won't change unless we change it. It won't. And if any of those links are any indication, it is clear that most of us are just sitting around waiting for other people to change things. We're the generation that's getting fucked over. And we're watching it happen. Speak for the trees. Be a Lorax. Stop accepting it.
End. Scene.
Sorry this post was full of doom and gloom--if you feel a little sad, welcome to every minute of my life because I spend my whole day looking at this stuff. If you feel an overwhelming sense of dread--don't worry, it's totally normal.
Hopefully next week I can bring myself to write something a little more chipper.
Oh and this, apparently Muppets are communists:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-business-news-calls-muppets-269706
If you fuck with the Muppets--you fuck with me. And I don't think anything designed to get people to needlessly spend money is starting the anti capitalist revolution, as much a I love the Muppets.
FML
ManicPanic
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