In Dubious Honor of 400ppm...

Here it is!  A new blog dedicated to raising awareness, commitment, and money for reforestation projects. 

Sitting in my dining room in Providence, it is hard to imagine what impact I can have on the global warming crisis in which we find ourselves today.  We have reached a landmark 400 parts per million CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.  According to Wikipedia and just about every other authority on the matter, this may be our highest reading in 20 million years.

We need to do something.  So I began to wonder, just what is it that I can do?  I have already changed my light bulbs to compact fluorescents.  I have already insulated my house.  I eat very little meat.  I use only "renewable energy" from National Grid.  I compost, I reduce, reuse, recycle...  I even bought a nice, fuel-efficient Hyundai Elantra last year.  Did it make a difference?  I don't kid myself.  If everyone in the world lived the way I do, we would still be plummeting into the carbon abyss.

So what can be done?

Many people feel hopeless at this point.  In fact, I felt that way myself until very recently when I started reading about reforestation.

Reforestation is a Viable, Achievable, Sustainable Solution

 The debate always seems to come down to the old, frustrating discussion of how to get people and businesses to stop emitting so much CO2.  We all consume too much.  This must be part of the solution.  We all need to live more responsibly.  But it is the most difficult solution to the problem because it is impossible to make everyone else do it.  If your neighbor drives a Hummer, how to you offset that?  Well, the good news is you can.  And the solution is right in front of our faces every day: Trees.  Not just a few trees.  Not just a tree in your back yard.  No, millions and millions and millions of trees.

Here is the simple equation that can solve our problems in 30 years:

• Millions of starving victims of deforestation +
• Lots of first world folks with a little extra money and lots of good intentions +
• A network of trainers who can put these victims to work planting, raising and protecting trees for as little as 10 cents apiece.  Yes, just 10 cents apiece.

Billions of Trees

The great news is that this network is being built as we speak!  For as little as $10/month you can pay for 100 trees to be planted by donating to the The Eden Projects.  If this wonderful organization can continue to scale their work, they can literally save the world for your grandchildren.  They have the solution but they need LOTS AND LOTS of money to implement it on a scale that will accomplish this herculean feat.

Carbon Offset Calculator

Check out your own carbon footprint with this carbon calculator.  Remember, you need not only to offset your own current consumption but also all of your past consumption and that of a number of other people who do not understand the importance of this move.  A very modest contribution of $10 per month will (by tree maturity) offset the current consumption of, perhaps, 30 average Americans.  Consider that!  For perhaps 10% of the money you spend on heating oil or natural gas, you can:

• Employ one person in impoverished Ethiopia, Madagascar or Haiti
• Plant enough trees to make a difference

Begin Small. Tithe 5%

What can you contribute to save the world?  I am currently giving 5% of my net income after expenses to The Eden Projects.  I will, however, give up to 10% if I can inspire some matching donations.  Please tell me how much you are willing to give this year.  I will match it up to my maximum.  Let's do this, folks.  It may be the most important decision you make this year!