San Francisco...spare the air day! Carbon footprint reduced!

Yesterday, I reported on a heat wave that descended on San Francisco, which has lock-stepped locals and tourists alike in a happy upbeat mood this week, as they embark on their daily treks about the picturesque city-scape.

Post:  08/23/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/08/san-franciscoheat-wave-delights.html

And, it appears from a news alert late yesterday afternoon, that sophisticated San Franciscans are going about their chores - and what have you (as the Big Lebowski might conjecture) - without their trusty autos to propel 'em 'em around the terrain.

When it came to the TV station's attention that Monday was a "spare the air" day, like myself, the news staff were anxious to determine if West Coast residents were paying any heed to the ominous carbon footprint that threatens to snuff out our quality of life.

Around the dinner hour, for example, the on-camera reporter took a jaunt out to the Bay Bridge to get a look-see at the traffic.

Instead of bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic, he encountered a light flow of vehicles moving along effortlessly and devoid of snarling delays on the freeway.

A check with Bart revealed the remarkable truth.

Employees in-the-know at the public transportation office confirmed that there was a surge in commuter numbers on the trains on Monday morning to the tune of thousands.

Uh-huh!

Unless a large segment of the community all suffered engine trouble, it is likely that day-workers were taking up the task of reducing the carbon footprint.

Today, it is also a "spare the air day".

In addition to parking the car, residents are being asked to conserve energy from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. by taking the stairs instead of an elevator, turning off appliances not in use, and being mindful of wasted energy resources around the home whenever possible.

Just imagine - if residents in cities across the country took a nod from the forward-thinking folks in the Bay area - how much "greener" the U.S. would be.

And, there would not be any need for Government intervention - or a nasty move on the part of local or National officials - to create controlled environments in the future where a misuse of energy may result in penalty.

Although the concept of habitating in a "glass bubble" is science fiction today, it may be a sobering reality tomorrow, perchance.

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Beijing Olympics...China ignorant about Global Warming. "Dog meat" consumption revolting notion!

China's last gleaming...

Protests in San Francisco...

In anticipation of a host of swarming masses descending on the Olympics in the next few weeks, China has issued some ultimatums to create a "greener" setting for the games.

For example, Officials have restricted the use of private automobiles on the streets over the next few weeks to reduce smog.

And, have increased mass transit in a bold-faced effort to alleviate the problem as well.

What a joke!

According to recent statistics, at least sixteen of the twenty most polluted cities are in China.

And - in spite of the fact the Chinese government has recently begun to relocate factories, haul old clunkers off the street, and plant trees to get a jump on global warming - it's all a little too late, isn't it?

The 11th hour actions should have been prompted by concerns about the environment, not by a deceitful attempt to gloss over the obvious - and in the process - conjure up a superficial image to the Nations of the world!

In essence, the whole bold-faced ploy is a white-wash.

In fact, China's efforts are akin to slapping a band-aid on a deep wound that has been hemorrhaging for years.

Indeed - some of the damage caused to the environment - is undoubtedly permanent.

The idea that restricting vehicle traffic for the next three weeks will rid the skies of green house gases is a ludicrous notion!

What really turned my stomach, though, was the announcement that a popular entree - "dog meat" - would be taken off the menu during the duration of the games to ensure foreign visitors were not offended during the course of the athletic celebration.

Are they going to allow a few stray dogs to wander the streets for appearances sake, too, before they herd them back to the chopping block at the close of the Olympics?

Talk about inhumane conduct!

This is a country populated by savages, in my estimation.

The arguments for "Boycott" are ripe!

Blog action day...tribute to the environment!

As a tribute to "Blog Action Day", and the theme of the environment, I've organized a stellar series of film clips, animations, and music videos - in sum, a whole, thought-provoking, delightful, insightful series of works from leading conservationists and activists around the globe...

Trusting that you find the posts appealing as you scroll down...

Global warming quote, "Because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget us"...Henrik Tikkanen

Quote..."When we heal the Earth, we shall heal ourselves" David Orr