Hot, Flat & Crowded

(Author's note: I wrote this the day after seeing Thomas Friedman but for whatever reason, forgot to publish it).

The other night I attended the lecture of one of my most favorite journalists, Thomas Friedman. It was well worth the $10 and even though I forgot my book to have him sign, it was still a memorable time.

Most people know Friedman from his column in the New York Times but I much prefer his books. In The World is Flat, he talks about the benefits of globalization to the United States and other countries world wide. My strong support of globalization makes me a bad Democrat, I've been told; but those who told me probably never read this book.

In his new book, Hot, Flat & Crowded, Friedman discusses how, because more and more people around the world are becoming more like Americans, our world is literally becoming hot, flat and crowded.

Hot, because of the very serious and very real threat on our world of global warming. Friedman joked that Al Gore needed to write the first sentence of his Op-ed on global warming as: "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Global warming isn't happening as I said in my movie. It's happening MUCH more quickly."

Flat, because more and more people around the world are becoming "middle class." They are becoming more like us Americans, specifically our middle class. The larger this group becomes, the more resources we will use more quickly which leads to...a increase in global warming.

Crowded, because of a serious increase of the world's population. The more people, the flatter and hotter it becomes.

Friedman discussed the solutions to these problems and fears that people just don't care enough to change. That, and because our culture almost forces us to make things as easy and as cheap as possible. His argument is that saving the world isn't easy. It can be cheap, in the long run, but we must be committed for the long haul.

One of the major solutions, Friedman argues, is that we need to seriously reduce our dependence on foreign oil (surprise!) and invest our time and energies (literally) into new Energy Technology (ET). His theory is that the country that first develops the best, most cost efficient and practical ET's will become the new Superpower (my word, not his). America has long been the leader in new ideas, technology and ideologies. This won't last long the more our world becomes hot, flat & crowded, however.

Our economy is already seriously strained so could you imagine if another country (Japan or India) were to come up with new ET's and suddenly jobs and money WORLDWIDE will all be funneled to them? What would our country end up looking like?

There is a lot to think about after reading any of Friedman's books. Listening to him inspired me and I only hope I can actually do enough to help.

But I guess all revolutions happened with single people all working together.

An easy and different way to save the planet

Blackle By Google

What is your carbon footprint?

In case you didn't know, we are facing a global crisis. Today in Utah, two wildfires are destroying our beautiful forests. In the past month, in the rest of the United States, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, heatwaves and mudslides have been occurring every day. Soon, it will be hurricane season.

It's sad that so many refuse to admit or realize this is a problem.

This past Saturday, musicians from around the world used their celebrity and talent to increase awareness and raise money for the fight to stop global warming. With former Vice President Al Gore leading the way, a worldwide, 24-hour music jam called Live Earth. The concerts kicked off for a year-long campaign to combat the global climate crisis. Artists like Jack Johnson, Madonna, Snow Patrol, Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, James Blunt, John Mayer, Kelly Clarkson, even the Pussycat Dolls performed to create awareness about this long overlooked issue. I watched some of them online. The performances were inspiring. It's time that everyone stepped up and started doing something to change what is happening.

Take some time and visit the website. Find out what your carbon footprint is. Find out what small and simple steps you can take to help fight global warming. Everyone doing just one thing will make a significant impact. Sign the pledge below. It's up to us to stop this.

1.To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;

2.To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"

3.To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;

4.To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;

5.To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;

6.To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,

7.To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

Al Gore is a God.

Time Magazine's cover story is about Gore and his new life, why he isn't running for President and includes an excerpt from his new book, "The Assault on Reason."

Seriously, he needs to run for President. But then, because he isn't, he is able to devote his time to changing minds one-by-one on the environmental crisis we face. If there was ever a global human rights issue that affects every single living person and thing on this planet, this is it.

Admittedly, I wasn't much of an environmentalist (or even environmentalist-leaning) until his movie, "An Inconvenient Truth." Why? I don't have a good answer. I guess Gore's straight-forward and hard-hitting facts anecdotes really put things into perspective. The day after I saw the movie, I rushed out to buy a package of CFL Bulbs. For me, this was huge! You see, my view once was, "F#%k the environment! There are so many other people who care about it, I don't really need to worry about it."

Baby steps, man, baby steps.