Southern United States: Climate Change Impact

Remember when our only worry in the summertime was the swimming pool chlorine turning our hair green? Now the whole Globe is experiencing a Green Wash with everyone wanting a Green Piece of the Pie.

Speaking with Dr. Donald Davis of Dalton College, professor of Ecology and author of the book, Southern United States: An Environmental History. I asked if he believed Global Warming was a natural occurrence or man made event? He replied both. "Ice ages and warm ups are on a 40,000 year cycle period caused by volcanic activity." "Human consumption patterns also contribute to the environmental destruction. Although, only 1/4 of all toxic waste is generated by American households. 3/4 is produced by Eastman-Kodak, General Electric and Dow Chemical. Though they are only supplying to our demand."

I asked Dr. Davis what solutions he supported, "In our environmental sociology classes we teach alternatives of using solar, wind power and bio fuels to lower our carbon foot print. " "There is strong evidence that an ancient version of global warming may have caused the mass extinction of 90% of all marine life and three-fourths of land based plants and animals."

Murray Bookchin, founder of "Social Ecology" who hold the belief that the current ecological crisis is the product of Capitalism. "We can't focus only on cosmetic solutions. [recycle bins at the local store] Root of environment decay lies within socioeconomic relationships that must be challenged and altered to restore balance of nature."

According to local Boat Captain and native Floridian, Tony "Speedy" Hood, when I asked what changes he has witnessed on the Florida coast. "There has been a warming trend since the 1960's but 2006 was the warmest on record in the US since record keeping began 112 years ago." "Hurricanes are getting stronger with a record 21 named storms in 2005." "The rivers are the lowest I've seen in many years. I've even spotted a couple of sharks in fresh water. The only time you see sharks this close to shore is when the river is low. Normally, the river isn't this low until Fall. " When I asked what he saw as the future for the Florida fisherman. "All commercial fish and seafood is predicted to collapse within the next 40 years." "Red tide caused by the increase in sea water temperature and water pollution by humans makes shellfish poisonous for human consumption."

The Southeast's biggest wildfire since 1898 was reported by Ernest Sweat. [ the name wasn't lost on me either.] The wildfire caused by drought burned 578,000 acres- 903 square miles in Georgia and Florida. The fires total foot print covered an area 2.8 times larger than New York City.

Due to the drought police have to become "water cops" according to Sgt. Velarde of Alabama Police Department. "People are beginning to think like criminals to come up with ways to water their lawns during the mandatory water ban." "Police drive through the neighborhoods looking for tell tale signs of wet grass, clean cars and mop buckets. Officers have to keep an eye out at night as well for the ever vigilant midnight waterer. Similar patrols are under way in Atlanta, Florida and Texas. Police even get calls from neighbors reporting on violators. It seems to be they are thinking, if my grass burns, so is yours."

According to the United Nations, livestock is more responsible for global warming than all the cars in the World combined. Methane gas from cows cause 20 times more global warming than carbon dioxide. By 2050, aircraft emissions threaten to become one of the largest contributors to global warming. This year, 2007, China is expected to surpass the United States as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

John Kansas woke up in the middle of the night with an idea to kill cancer cells. The generator he invented uses radio waves and is powered by salt water. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to fill up with salt water instead of gasoline at $3 a gallon? Investment bank, Goldman Sachs, predicted in a 2005 report a barrel of crude oil could reach $105 a barrel. In 2002, a barrel was less than $20- currently it hovers between $60-$70.

Not to worry, the Earth will start to cool down in 200-300 years. One solution suggested by scientists at Science Daily has been to make Mars habitable by injecting greenhouse gases. Terra forming Mars, melting the polar caps to create an environment suitable for humans. There goes the neighborhood.