Enough with the ostrich act: This is real and it’s not going away

After Sandy tore through our area, I watched the news footage of the destruction. It was horrifying and terrifying. This storm, not even a hurricane by the time it made landfall, tore apart the vital infrastructure of the power, water and transportation systems of one of the worlds most populous cities, along with the surrounding areas. The aftermath has left us reeling. Lives were lost, people are homeless, and possessions are but a memory; add to that the people still without power as the temperatures dipped below freezing and the inability to get gasoline to our area.

They said this storm was a once in 300-500 years event. They said we’ve never seen anything like Sandy. They said we could never have prepared for such an event. They said it was worse then they could have imagined. They said it will cost the state billions of dollars to recover. Let me repeat that, it will cost New York State billions of dollars to recover from Sandy, a superstorm yes, but not even a hurricane. Maybe it’s time we took science seriously.

For decades, the scientific community has been warning the public about the dangers of rising global temperatures. Call it global warming, call it climate change, it doesn’t matter because it all adds up to the same result. On a planet that has seen the average temperature rise dramatically in a relatively short period of time (since the beginning of industrialization), we must learn to expect more extreme weather like what we just experienced.

This year alone, our nation suffered through record drought. The Mississippi River dropped to levels never before recorded. As the waters dried up, boats were stranded, wreaking havoc on the system of transporting goods up and down the country. Farmers in the middle of America saw their crops wither and die from lack of water, raising the price of corn, thereby raising the price of meat, as corn is one of the staples of animal diets in the U.S.

Wildfires ravaged the western U.S. in 2012. Since January, over nine million acres have burned. According to the Center for Disease Control, the year-to-date fire size was the most since 2000 for any January through October period, and nearly twice the 10-year average (based on 2001-2010). The drought conditions had a huge impact on the fires and the fire fighters ability to fight and contain these disasters.

In recent days, Governor Cuomo has acknowledged the reality of climate change. According to Newsday.com, he called the storm a wake up call and said that extreme weather is here to stay. “Climate change is a reality,” Cuomo said. “That political argument has gridlocked us from moving forward for too long.” He’s calling for an update of our systems and a shoring up of the weaknesses in our infrastructure. Because the scientists are telling us that it will happen again, that storms like Sandy will no longer be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

What the science says is that we have to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. That’s a great term, and makes for a great soundbite, but what does it mean? It means we must cut back on the usage of anything that utilizes fossil fuels. Drive less, whenever possible, or switch to a high MPG vehicle or hybrid, or a bicycle. Turn down the thermostat. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Choose alternative energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal.

Make our officials pay attention, let them know you support steps to cut back on fossil fuels and convert our systems to renewable resources. They are, after all, of the people, for the people, and by the people. When the people tell elected officials they want change, it will happen. But they must hear you; call, send a letter, write an email.

Many worry about the cost of renewable energy. Yes, changing our fossil fuel dependent systems over to alternative energies will cost money. Not as much as you might think though. And remember, Sandy, just one non-hurricane, cost New York alone an estimated $33 billion. And people lost their lives, and everything they had.

I know Sandy has me rethinking how I do things. I can, and should, leave my car in the driveway more often, but sometimes I tell myself, “I just don’t have time to walk.” Whether that’s true or not, for Christmas this year, I’m asking Santa for a bike, replete with a big ‘ole wire basket and even side saddle bags. And the next time I replace my vehicle, it will be with a more fuel efficient car, a hybrid, or maybe even an all electric vehicle. With the solar panels on my roof, the cost of fueling that type of vehicle will be nominal, to my pocketbook as well as the environment.

I will also keep lobbying my elected officials to make policy changes that acknowledge and deal with the causes and effects of climate change. I will teach my children how important the choices we make today are for future generations. I will do unto the earth as I would have done unto me. I will walk more, bike more, and use less.

Do you already have a bicycle? Maybe you’d use it more for errands or to ride to work and such, if you had a place to put all of your stuff. You can get a big basket for the front or back of your bicycle. Or invest in a trailer that will give you added stability and lots of room to pack a few bags of groceries. If you’re looking for something inexpensive, try making this cheap and easy carrying system for your bike, recommended by a Mother Earth News reader:

Use small, rectangular plastic wastebaskets.
Drill quarter-inch holes under the rim along one side of the baskets, and a few more in the bottom for drainage in wet weather. Then use nylon rope to tie the bicycle baskets to the rear rack. To carry a dozen library books or a couple days’ worth of groceries, use 16-quart bins.

Has Sandy got you rethinking how you go about your daily life? Do you have some tips for reducing our carbon footprint? Let me hear it at laurie@riverheadlocal.com.

Laurie Nigro, a mother of two, is passionate about natural living. Laurie resides in downtown Riverhead and is co-founder of the River and Roots Community Garden on West Main Street. Contact her by email to laurie@riverheadlocal.com.

Laurie resides in downtown Riverhead and is co-founder of the River and Roots Community Garden on West Main Street. 

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