Earth Day at 50: Have you met...Project Drawdown?

Find it here

Not long ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a local CCL event that highlighted Project Drawdown - and I have been much more excited about our future since then.

Project Drawdown is a very comprehensive plan to slow down, stop, and reverse carbon release levels in the next 30 years. Essentially, they started looking at all of the top 100ish sources of earth-choking carbon release and looked at the best approach(es) to each. They list them in order in the Table of Solutions and they also divide them out into sectors in case you want to narrow it down a bit. (If you click only one link in this post, please make it the Table of Solutions!)

Find the sectors here too! (same link as the first)

Find Food, Agriculture, and Land Use here

Find Electricity here

Find Transportation here (Woohoo! Bicycles top the list!)

One of the most eye-opening is Health and Education

Find all Drawdown events - including these three Earth Day events - here

This Friday, check out Lubbock's own Dr. Katharine Hayhoe here

(At The Smithsonian Earth Optimism Summit)

If you're a person who sees good stewardship of every blessing as a core value and goal for life, the Drawdown list is a spotlight letting each of us know how and where we can get involved and make a difference. If you're looking for some hope and direction in saving the earth for future generations, Project Drawdown is a great place to start.

Find Last year's Mesquite Hugger Earth Day Post here

( I was looking for an excuse to get the 1970 Earth Day poster in.)

As always, thank you for reading, friends! May you be well, healthy, and striving for better.

Lubbock: Responding to Climate Change Locally 7-27-19 (with 7-29 update)

My absolute favorite local group for combating climate change is the Lubbock Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby. If you're curious or serious about limiting the effects of too much carbon, they are a great place to start. And...

...they are having a program on Saturday, the 27th.

Find the printable flyer here

May we work together to make something happen. I hope to see you there!

Update (7-29-2019)

Here is the Daily Toreador article reporting on the program:

Gillette, Lubbock Community Discusses Climate Change Effects on West Texas

Earth Day 2019 - A few simple suggestions

It's just not an MH Earth Day post without Pogo

Spring, Resurrection, Earth Day

It's a great season for new beginnings.

Nothing fancy here, but I want to offer a few areas where you can change for the better and encourage others to do the same.

A great place to start

Burn less gas:

My favorite way to do this is to ride a bike, but there are a lot of ways to cut back on your consumption: carpool, plan your routes and trips better, drive less aggressively, walk more, shop or eat closer to home, take your lunch to work, maintain your vehicle better, use public transportation. As much as I love the prospect of cars that don't burn gas, you don't have to buy a new Leaf to turn over a new leaf.

Choose re-usable over disposable:

cups, bags, utensils, jars, straws, handkerchiefs, mason jars, kitchen rags, napkins

Show some love to a natural place:

My hope for this evening is to head to my favorite local wild place with the stuff needed to pick up trash, recyclables, and manmade stuff that just doesn't belong in a wild place. It's been a breeze-trashy winter and it's time to undo some of the damage.

Use less plastic:

There're lots of ways to go about this: re-usables (mentioned above), being more conscious of packaging when you're buying groceries, invest in quality utensils/dishes that will last longer than plastic, choose restaurants that serve in real dishes and cups; say no to straws, lids, and single-use plasticware.

Bring home less crap:

Chotchkies, swag, knick-knacks, collectables, figurines, novelties, promotional items - all that useless stuff that ends up on a shelf, in a drawer, or in the garbage - think before you bring it home. Less stuff means less stuff to worry with!

Seek out simpler recreation:

A friend was telling me yesterday about some birds nesting in his family's backyard, and how it's transformed his time with his wife - every chance they get they're out in the backyard with binoculars. Last night, our family went for a bike ride followed by a stroll with the dogs. Yes, I admit that I'm getting old and boring, but we find more and more time that requires little in the way of earth-harming resources and supplies us with a great deal more health and joy.

To be fair, if you do everything on this list, you will make very little contribution to making the world a heathier place, but you will help in creating momentum, and if you share your successes, you'll encourage others.

If you want to make a bigger impact:

Encourage others to live cleaner, support organizations that work for bigger change, and encourage your local politicians to vote and live cleaner. Here are a few organizations to check out if you're looking for a place to start.

Click here

Click here

Click here

Click here

Celebrate Earth Day, Lubbock!

In case you have not heard about it, there is a Stand up for Science Rally and Health Fair today at the LHUCA from 1-3pm. Lots of cool stuff will be happening: live music, information booths, and there will be three speakers. You can learn a great deal about living healthier, helping the entire planet to live healthier, and about getting involved in supporting those who are working hard at creating a healthier world. Some of my favorite local organizations will be there. Be sure to stop by the Citizen's Climate Lobby table and check out all the cool stuff at the Texas Tech Recycling booth.

May we strive to know what is happening around us and work to create healthier solutions for all.

For Lubbock folks who want to fight climate change

Mark your calendars!

March 29, 6-8pm

Yes, I am excited! The local chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby is having its first meeting of the year. Here is what I wrote about the CCL back in November (before US environmental policies all went to hell in a handbasket):

Citizen's Climate Lobby

Watch the Intro Video

I support the CCL because I am a cynic and the CCL offers me a different type of hope. The CCL is a multi-partisan approach to helping us reduce our carbon while supporting the economy and offering (financial) hope to all citizens. Their approach is not one that expects altruism to save our environment. They are offering a sensible approach that is based on a carbon tax and dividend (while making life better for all).

I really hope to see you there!

May we all work together to protect our earth and all those that live upon it.

It matters, Snagit! (Eco Role Model-ism)

 I've been seeing that one article more often lately. It's that article that says it really doesn't matter what a single individual does at home to save the world. You can't make any impact whatsoever by riding a bike or using a rain barrel or bothering to recycle. The article always says that we have to change laws, governments, economic systems, and the role of business in shaping our environmental survival - that we have to get political in order to make a difference. And snagit, I know it's (mostly) true.

It's pretty easy to walk away from those articles beaten down.

You don't remember a bike in that scene?

But there's another side to it.

While an individual's singular actions really don't make a trackable difference in the environment, an individual's singular actions can make a very trackable difference in social circles. And we are absolutely social.

A Negative Example

[It's about to get ugly here.] If you don't believe it, look at climate change denial. The proof is in. Everywhere that people live (and in several places where people don't live) the proof of man-made climate change is visible to everyday people who just pay attention. We don't even need scientists to tell us that we are doing major damage. (But we definitely need scientists to help us understand it better and to learn how to deal with, adapt to, and confront it.) Yet, a large and powerful social voice in our country has made it socially unacceptable to believe in climate change. It's a case of Social vs. Science, and we are social creatures.

On a More Positive Note

We need to be recycling, composting, riding bikes, driving electric, avoiding plastic, eating local, and everything else that does make a super super tiny impact because we are social creatures, because each of us is a role model. (In the same vein, we should all be kind to others.) By doing positive things, we make it socially acceptable for those around us to do positive things.

I've been at this a little while now, and once in a while I sit back and am a little shocked at the number of people who have watched and listened to my actions and words. While not all of Lubbock has sold their cars and bought electric cargo bikes, two have now bought plug-in cars and several others plan for their next car to have a plug in. Recycling amongst my co-workers is up about 3000% and growing. My gearhead buddies all want a Tesla. My little brother goes around shaming people for driving gas-powered vehicles. (We are really working on that tact thing with him.) And snagit all to Midland - Grizz rides a Sondors now. And the roots just keep spreading.

Is my little social circle saving the world?

Absolutely not. But this little group is paying more attention. And they are starting to notice news articles about the EPA and the climate. And they ask me more and more questions. And they are seeking news from different sources rather than trusting social media for their news. And I've seen a few of them getting politically active.

So, here's my answer to those articles:

It matters. The more we do, the more people notice. So, get out there and recycle proudly. Tell people why you have reusable bags and what is so damn cool about driving a plug-in hybrid. Do the right thing AND talk about it. Be an eco-dork proudly (but not obnoxiously).

I guess it's time for me to quit writing, go home, and start making ECO-DORK t-shirts!

May you live very well and encourage others to do the same.

PS. The CCL lives in Lubbock again! Watch this space for details!

Environmental Apathy

Great sunrises lately - what a blessing!

I found myself in great luxury this morning - I had quiet time to think and write. As a human, a writer, an environmentalist, and a Christian, I have been struggling lately and haven't found time to gather my thoughts.

So, I started writing and it quickly turned into a letter to the editor of the local paper. I intended to write a (somewhat) angry letter about our new president's cabinet picks. (These aren't climate deniers, they are environment destroyers, snagit!)

Instead, however, I went back to a Bible verse that often impacts my actions, James 4:17.

(James keeps me in line a lot.)

 

It's the verse that speaks to me each time I start up a gas-powered car or order a drink in a Styrofoam cup. It's the verse that drives my quest for Personal Carbon Reduction.

It's also the verse that points out my apathy.

I haven't contacted my local congressional representatives to ask them not to approve Rex, Rick, and Scott. Each time I contact them they tell me that they acknowledge my concerns but they do not find those concerns anywhere near as important as economic growth being pumped out of the ground. (It always lets me know that my beliefs don't match my location. Which makes me wonder if I am really needed or really stupid here.)

So, if you run across a letter to the editor in the Lubbock AJ that mentions a certain Bible verse, encourages people to look at the impact of their choices and actions, and encourages them to look at the Citizens Climate Lobby, you'll know that I got a letter published and squashed my apathy in a tiny way.

Now, where is that congressman's phone number?

May our resolve outweigh our apathy, and may we not be distracted from our beliefs.

Recent Texas Tech Grad on Years of Living Dangerously

I've been working my way through Season 2 of Years of Living Dangerously on Hulu. Episode 6 held a very nice surprise for me - there was Jordan Vogel right there on my TV! "Jordan who?" you may ask.

Meet Jordan!

 

Jordan was the leader of the Lubbock Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby until he graduated last spring. My wife and I worked with Jordan and a hand full of others to spread the word locally about our approach to tackling climate change (and a collection of related societal and economic issues.)

Jordan has worked with the CCL locally and in Washington, DC

(Actress) Nikki Reed, Jordan Vogel, and activist friends

You know it's a big deal when a Hollywood star calls you a badass!

 

Years of Living Dangerously Season 2 Preview - Arnold style!

 

So Lubbock folks, if you've not yet seen an episode of Years of Living Dangerously, Season 2 Episode 6 is right up your alley. And if that's not enough, you can see footage shot in Lubbock and Plainview in Season 1, Episode 1 (Free on youtube) with TTU's own Dr. Hayhoe. Either way, you can't go wrong!

 

Episode available in many formats

 

May we tackle international challenges locally, nationally, and everywhere we can make our voices be heard!

Low-Hanging Eco-Friendly Fruit 5: Getting Around (Plus Climate Change!)

[Without getting too political, this issue, more and more, is in OUR hands. If it's going to happen in the US, it will be we, the people, who make it happen.]

A few weeks ago, about 9 pm on a Wednesday night I was walking up the sidewalk to my house (in the dark) and decided to check on the tomato plants that had just exploded in the last few months. It was very dark outside, but I was comfortably wearing a short-sleeved shirt. I shined my relatively-smartphone-flashlight on the plants and found several new green tomatoes.

Green Tomatoes (in the dark)

So I headed to the porch and saw a tiny, newborn gecko scurry across my path. To recap - mid-November, short sleeves, new tomatoes, newborn tiny reptile. I realize that I live in a place known for crazy weather, but steadily warmer has become the new norm. And the new norm is happening a lot faster than most climate scientists had predicted. The climate is changing quickly and we are responsible for making it happen.

Temperature Rise Graph - thanks, Nova!

We are throwing more and more carbon into our atmosphere and we are taking away the natural buffers that have protected us in the past. It's a bad, bad combo.

So, what's a Mesquite Hugger to do?

1. Find ways to stop releasing more carbon (by reducing our consumption of gasoline, diesel, coal, and natural gas.)
2. Strongly encourage others to find ways to stop releasing more carbon. Stat!
3. Pursue ways to restore some natural buffers (like composting and restoring native plant life to barren areas

So, let's look at getting around.

Here at Mesquite Hugger, we love tiptoeing around on the smallest carbon footprint possible. Lubbock, however, is a place that does not always make it easy. So, I am a big fan of walking, of biking, of e-biking, and electric cars. I am also fond of Citibus - our local public transportation.

[OK, I'm back. My brain just daydreamed off to a place where my tiny garage had a nice pair of hiking boots, a commuter bike, an electric cargo bike, and a Citicar parked happily together.]

From this Treehugger article

So, dear reader, here is what I will ask of you:

• Please analyze each trip you are about to take and choose the least harmful mode of travel available.
• Please analyze all of your trips collectively. See which ones are unnecessary. See which ones can be combined or changed.
• See if it's time to find more efficient methods of travel.

Riding the Bike

I write a lot about bicycles. I write too much about bicycles, but there's a big reason for it - bicycles (and electric bicycles) are some of the least damaging vehicles on the planet for short trips. And most of us take a lot of very short trips. Add in the fun factor, the super low cost, and the health benefits, and the bike becomes a bit of a miracle machine.

Taking the Bus

A bus traveling by itself is not a very efficient vehicle. It's large, heavy, and cumbersome, but the math changes when you put people inside the bus. The more people you haul, the more efficient the bus becomes in terms of carbon released per person, especially when compared with the carbon release of that many people riding solo in cars. If you'd like to try it out in Lubbock and fight hunger, this week is the week to do it:

Learn more about Lubbock's Citibus here

Carpooling

Not many things are sadder for the eco-conscious than the number of single-occupant cars on the road. But here, that single occupant vehicle is deeply ingrained in the culture. The next time you are near a busy intersection, do a little survey - how many cars around you have only one person in them? (We won't even jump into how inefficient each of those vehicles is.) If you have co-workers or neighbors who can share a ride, you can divide your carbon footprint by the number of people in the car. As much as I am not a fan of big SUVs, I have to admit that four people riding in an SUV is more efficient than four people riding in four sedans. (But four people in one sedan makes even less pollution.)

Electric Cars (and Plug-in Hybrids)

I spend too much time talking about electric cars too, but for a culture so deeply addicted to the car, they make a lot of sense (and cents). The advantages can be huge. Imagine cutting your fuel costs by about 75% and cutting your maintenance costs by about 75% too. Imagine not having to go to the gas station and not being worried about the cost of gas going up. Imagine driving in a vehicle that does not promote asthma, lung disease, or cancer. Imagine a vehicle fueled by locally produced energy. No, a fully electric car won't cover each driver's needs, but it will cover most drivers' needs. And a plug-in-hybrid will cover most of the rest. (And it's not hard at all to find a late-model, low-mileage electric for around $10,000.) They make an excellent second car.

Trains, we don't have no stinking passenger trains around here.

Gasoline/Diesel Cars and Trucks

These are by far the most dominant form of local transportation, and the most damaging. If you do find yourself stuck in these, please do what you can to limit your pollution:

• Keep your vehicle in good tune and keep the tires at maximum inflation.
• Do your best to stop idling. Skip the drive-thru and go in.
• Carpool.
• Plan efficient routes for your travels.
• For multi-car households, drive the most efficient car in your driveway as much as possible.
• Slow down.

All of these things collectively can lighten your eco-load.

Regardless of what you drive, strive to be courteous to others, There's enough stress and frustration out there - please don't add to it with the way you get around. And please, watch out for that dorky blogger on the bike!

May you tread lightly and may we all be better for it.

Where do we start? The EPA

Myron Ebell, a man who has made a career of denouncing climate change, is our new president's choice to head up the Environmental Protection Agency.

Do a little research.

Think for yourself.

Don't look at memes on social media to form your opinions.

May education and wisdom guide your actions.

Low-Hanging Eco-Friendly Fruit: Cheating with the Before the Flood Followup

Shameless. Absolutely Shameless. When a lazy blogger just steals someone else's material for his blog content and puts it out there in a blatant attempt to make life better for the entire world. Yes, I am that scumbag! (Sometimes it feels good to be a scumbag and definitely furthers my rep as a bad mofo - I occasionally need that to counteract the reflective vest I wear while commuting on a bicycle.)

By the way, Before the Flood is available streaming (for free) this week only in multiple formats. Here it is on youtube.

I posted earlier this week about watching Before the Flood. And it was a shot in the arm for me as an eco-dork. (Even bad mofo eco-dorks need a little encouragement.) After watching the film, I went to the Before the Flood website so I could see what actions I could take. I found a list of 14 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Own Carbon Footprint.

Some of the fourteen we've already touched on in the Low-Hanging Eco-Fruit Series and others are on the list for future parts of that series. In the list you can find links to useful things like a carbon calculator and an electric car calculator and places to pledge and vote and good stuff like that. Those NatGeo people have their stuff together! They even have a link to eco-tip cards like this:

You know how excited I get about infographics!

 

So, please check out the list and see where you are what you can do next to help. We all need to be taking little steps, medium steps, AND big steps if we are going to make a difference, and snagit, we desperately need to make a difference.

 

May you find ways and inspiration to make very necessary changes.

 

PS. For those of you who need a little more drama in your Before the Flood coverage, here is Katherine Martinko's article where she explains that Leonardo, Fisher, and Scorsese wussed out: Leo DiCaprio plays it safe with his new film, 'Before the Flood'. (I like her!)

 

 

PPS. Check out the Citizens Climate Lobby - one of my favorite groups to help you take bigger steps.

They say it's your birthday, Mesquite Hugger

[Blogger warning: prepare to read a lot about me me me if you venture past this point!]

Yep, it happened again, my birthday rolled around this weekend. And it was a great birthday weekend. Not anything crazy, but good times with great people and a little slowdown time. Good stuff.

I get all reflective around anniversaries and such, so I sat down and started looking at where I am. I won't bore you with all of the details, but I will bore you with the mesquite huggery stuff.

So, what have I been doing right this year? Carpooling the recycling, riding a bike, and trying to spread the word.

Carpooling recycling: Thank you, Texas Tech recycling!!! Thursday is now recycle day - I drive the truck to work. My office and three households load their recycling into the truck. I swing by my mum's house and pick up her recycling, and (of course) I take our recycling and a fair amount of neighborhood stuff to the university. (An old friend of mine is working over there and putting his life back together after some hard times. Through him, I can see where the recycling program is doing much more for our community than just recycling.) Thank you, Texas Tech!

Love the bike!

Yes, you knew I couldn't skip the bike. Lots of miles going to work and running errands. I feel better. The planet breathes easier. Our bank account is suffering less too. Pedaling is good stuff!

Yep, I represented there!

Spreading the word: I gave a few talks, worked with the Citizens Climate Lobby, and blog readership is up. We are making some progress.

What have I been doing okay? Giving up the gasoline, gardening and greener yard work, being politically active, and being friendlier to others.

Second-hand mower that needs no gas!

 

Giving up the gasoline: It's not just the bike! I have been planning my trips better and driving a bit more mellowly. And there's a lot of pedaling. I picked up a second-hand cordless lawnmower, a second-hand cordless weedeater, and a first-hand cordless chainsaw. Still burning more than I want to be, but it's progress.

Food Is Free Planter

Sweet! (pepper)

The carbon munching garden? It's doing pretty good, especially the Food-Is-Free planter. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and squash are growing like weeds! The weeds aren't growing like weeds! The roly polies are under control, the squash bugs are (somewhat) under control, and the tiny predators are fat and happy! The olla planters are doing well but would be doing better with more time devoted to them. The compost boxes are cranking out plenty of compost.

Basil Flower

Eggplant Flower

Squash Flower

Political activity: I learned early on not to talk politics and religion in polite company.*

People keep smiling back at me!

Where have I stunk the place up? Project completion, decluttering and minimizing, and pursuing solar power.

Project completion: The electro-pigeons gather dust. Electric Bridget gathers dust. The electric pickup gathers dust. The greenhouse pieces gather dust. (I should become a dust collector since I seem to have a knack for it.) But the home-made panniers have been a great boon to my biking.

Decluttering and becoming a minimalist: I have actually re-homed quite a bit of stuff this year, but it is spoons full from a mountain. And I really want a cargo bike, snagit!

Pursuing solar power: I do consistently use a solar-powered bike light, but that's about it.

May your reflections show that you are blessed and ever more green!

I'd marry her!

 

*I thank God for each and every one of you who takes time to read this blog and I pray that you are blessed regardless of your political affiliation, religious beliefs, gender identity, or hatred of dorks on bikes.