Help stop global warming

Method 1 of 4: Political Action

1. Be well informed about global warming. Global warming disrupts millions of lives daily by way of destructive weather patterns and loss of habitat. Becoming educated on the subject is the first important step to taking action. On a personal level, you'll be more apt to change your lifestyle if you know the truth; on a political level, you'll be better able to inform others and inspire change if you study the issue first.
   • Sir John Houghton, climate specialist and co-chair of the IPCC Working Group, discusses catastrophes such as heat waves, floods, droughts and storm surges that are impacting us heavily. What is happening is only the tip of the iceberg, Our children and grandchildren may suffer the most from global warming. Millions of people may be exposed to famine, water shortages, extreme weather conditions and a 20 - 30% loss of animal and plant species if we do not reduce the rate of global warming and GHG emissions.
   • On the other hand, having warmer winters means longer growing seasons in temperate and subarctic climes, allowing additional crops to be planted and harvested each year, simply making the existing crops more productive. Knowing both sides of the story will make you a better spokesperson for your cause.

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2. One way to broaden your impact is to rally other people to your cause. The more scientific facts you know to back yourself up, the better you can persuade people to make simple, effective changes in daily behavior. Energy-saving techniques are initially expensive (for example, solar power) or take extra time (for example, recycling), so many people need to be convinced that their efforts matter.
   • Demonstrate the benefits of these activities and highlight how each person can play a vital role in reducing global warming. Show examples of what will happen if these actions are not taken.
   • Remember, civil society does not respond well to moralistic scolding, so use education to enlighten, not frighten.
3. Influence your government. Vote for candidates that prioritize finding solutions to global warming. Contact governmental officials with telephone calls, e-mails, and letters stating your position. Attend meetings with those who represent you in government.
   • Learn as much as possible about policies that you advocate; solving one problem often creates others. For example, replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs has increased mercury contamination in homes and landfills. Fluorescent light bulbs are still preferable to incandescent bulbs (see below), but one must be careful to recycle them and to not break them, so that mercury is not released.The push to grow corn for ethanol has contributed to higher food prices while saving little energy, if any at all.
   • Know that corporations have more impact on global warming than individuals. In order to end global warming, it's necessary to get corporations to adopt earth-friendly production and distribution practices..

• Stopping global warming
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• Stop global warming