Would I joke about a thing like this? Look, here's proof.
I figure, now, all my trips to the vet are covered, the shipping of my food and acquisition of Yeow! Brand Cat nip toys is covered, production of the (biodegradable) packaging and manufacture, even, of my portion of my litter might be covered. Basically, I hope I'm a carbon neutral cat, perhaps the first home-based carbon neutral cat. That's pretty cool.
And speaking of pretty cool - the Adirondack Council is a very effective not-for-profit organization working to protect the Adirondack Park. They had the foresight to buy 5,000 tons of carbon credits during the big RGGI "allowance" auction in 10 Northeastern states. Those 10 states got together and decided on a cap on carbon emissions. Then, they made all the commercial power plants in the 10 states buy one carbon credit for each ton of carbon dioxide they would spew into the atmosphere. If they use less, they get to sell their credit. And that's the goal, to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% by 2018. When the Adirondack Council folks bought a bunch of credits, they, in effect, secured the retirement of those credits. Supporters can "buy" 3 tons of credits with a $25 donation. I got my three credits when I joined North Country Public Radio - they partnered with our Council friends to provide these to new NCPR members.
The Adirondack Council works on myriad conservation issues large and small. They advocate for conserving the forests and wild places of the Adirondack Park, rehabilitating abandoned mines, curbing mercury use and acid rain (don't even get me started on coal and "natural gas"), and they work on one of my pet issues, reducing road salt use. They aren't the only group doing good conservation things in the park but they get my vote (and my peoples' support) for helping me get this carbon thing under control. It was giving me a bum rap.
Showing posts with label road salt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road salt. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Contradictions
MrrrRrr Friends,
It has been a long time. I hope all of you are well.
You know, I just reread my past two blogs, and I realize that they seem a bit contradictory. On the one paw, here’s me talking about the need to curb consumption, and, on another paw, here’s my people buying another petroleum-powered vehicle. Granted, the little green car may be more efficient than the black car, now happily living in Indiana, but why not a hybrid? Well, after a quick look at their checkbook, it becomes apparent…I think they spend too much on cat food.
My female person loves to drive…it’s a problem with people of the Midwestern persuasion. Cars are a convenience and they’re practical – imagine taking me to the vet on a bicycle!
Nevertheless, cars are probably one of the biggest contributors to global warming. And all that metal, plastic, and stinky, gooey transmission fluid, anti-freeze, and brake fluid just adds to the junk pervading the environment. Sure, it’s great that BMW and several other car-makers use a lot of recycled metal and plastic in their cars, but…
Road salt is another by-product of cars and the insatiable desire to drive. Road salt actually attracts mammals and birds to roads in the winter. Both have salt cravings, and birds may use road salt as grit to aid in their digestion. Unfortunately, road salt is toxic to wildlife. Not only is there evidence that road salt can poison birds and mammals, but salt toxicosis impairs them and makes it difficult for them to notice and therefore avoid cars. A vicious cycle… The number of road kill birds soars in snowy winters. As a bird-lover, I cringe to think of it.
The ecological consequences of all that dissolving salt sprinkled on roadsides and then draining into local soils and waters – and into groundwater – is a problem too. If you want all the gory details, I’ll post a link to a nifty study produced by our esteemed neighbors to the north – the scientists at Environment Canada.
Roads themselves – not that I’m in any way advocating off-roading, except on your own paws – are virtually synonymous with ecosystem fragmentation. Non-permeable surfaces, they divide up the world of snakes, turtles, caterpillars, mosses, wrens, moose, ferns, porcupines, trees, and owls and invite people to build things…things I would like to point out they have in other places that, likely, they just came from…by driving.
I could go on, but I’m out of practice and my tail is tired from hitting the shift key.
If you have a car, any kind, just take care of it for as long as seems practical. Find a nice, honest mechanic – they are out there, my person used to be one – and have them help you keep your car running safely and efficiently. No skimping on tire pressure or exhaust systems.
In the end, the best solution is to drive as little as you can. I’m proud and relieved that both my people both work from home. If they thought about it and took a little extra trouble, a lot of businesses could help their working people drive less, do more work from home, and - critically - have the opportunity to care full-time for their cats. The internet offers all kinds of communications options - many are best accomplished with a furry friend on lap. Take it from me, a blogging cat!
It has been a long time. I hope all of you are well.
You know, I just reread my past two blogs, and I realize that they seem a bit contradictory. On the one paw, here’s me talking about the need to curb consumption, and, on another paw, here’s my people buying another petroleum-powered vehicle. Granted, the little green car may be more efficient than the black car, now happily living in Indiana, but why not a hybrid? Well, after a quick look at their checkbook, it becomes apparent…I think they spend too much on cat food.
My female person loves to drive…it’s a problem with people of the Midwestern persuasion. Cars are a convenience and they’re practical – imagine taking me to the vet on a bicycle!
Nevertheless, cars are probably one of the biggest contributors to global warming. And all that metal, plastic, and stinky, gooey transmission fluid, anti-freeze, and brake fluid just adds to the junk pervading the environment. Sure, it’s great that BMW and several other car-makers use a lot of recycled metal and plastic in their cars, but…
Road salt is another by-product of cars and the insatiable desire to drive. Road salt actually attracts mammals and birds to roads in the winter. Both have salt cravings, and birds may use road salt as grit to aid in their digestion. Unfortunately, road salt is toxic to wildlife. Not only is there evidence that road salt can poison birds and mammals, but salt toxicosis impairs them and makes it difficult for them to notice and therefore avoid cars. A vicious cycle… The number of road kill birds soars in snowy winters. As a bird-lover, I cringe to think of it.
The ecological consequences of all that dissolving salt sprinkled on roadsides and then draining into local soils and waters – and into groundwater – is a problem too. If you want all the gory details, I’ll post a link to a nifty study produced by our esteemed neighbors to the north – the scientists at Environment Canada.
Roads themselves – not that I’m in any way advocating off-roading, except on your own paws – are virtually synonymous with ecosystem fragmentation. Non-permeable surfaces, they divide up the world of snakes, turtles, caterpillars, mosses, wrens, moose, ferns, porcupines, trees, and owls and invite people to build things…things I would like to point out they have in other places that, likely, they just came from…by driving.
I could go on, but I’m out of practice and my tail is tired from hitting the shift key.
If you have a car, any kind, just take care of it for as long as seems practical. Find a nice, honest mechanic – they are out there, my person used to be one – and have them help you keep your car running safely and efficiently. No skimping on tire pressure or exhaust systems.
In the end, the best solution is to drive as little as you can. I’m proud and relieved that both my people both work from home. If they thought about it and took a little extra trouble, a lot of businesses could help their working people drive less, do more work from home, and - critically - have the opportunity to care full-time for their cats. The internet offers all kinds of communications options - many are best accomplished with a furry friend on lap. Take it from me, a blogging cat!
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