The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

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In my daily reading this morning, I came across something that I have discussed before, but I can’t remember if it was on mylot, or on the other site on which I used to post things. In any case, this will be from a new angle, I’m sure, because it’s been a long time since I’ve posted specifics about the GREENHOUSE EFFECT. A lot of controversy exists on this subject. Some persons disregard the negative information and choose to believe that nothing has changed. Me? I think that things have changed a LOT. You see, the Greenhouse Effect when it is functioning like it’s supposed to, keeps the planet Earth warm. It’s actually like a blanket of natural gases in the atmosphere that allows sunlight to reach the Earth, but prevents the heat from escaping. Just like the glass in a greenhouse. This is the GOOD thing about Greenhouse gases. My brother has a greenhouse in his back yard and he often tells me about his plants growing very early in the Spring, which they couldn’t do if they were outside. However, for the very first time in history, there has been an altering of the Earth’s climate due to HUMAN activity. In the past two hundred years, humans have managed to increase the amount of several gases into the atmosphere. We don’t have to wonder how this has happened. Two hundred years ago, there were no factories, or motorized vehicles, or the burning of fossil fuels, or the destruction of forests, that have provided oxygen. It’s a simple matter of adding and subtracting. Adding emissions and greenhouse gases and subtracting the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. This is the BAD thing. What are these greenhouse gases? Here is the UGLY! 1. Nitrous Oxide: This is formed by microbes that break down chemical fertilizers, and by burning wood and fossil fuels. 2. Ozone: Formed by ground-based pollution from motor vehicles, oil refineries, and power plants. 3. Methane: Is produced by cattle, rice fields and landfills. 4. Chlorofluorocarbons: (CFCs) which are destroying the Earth’s ozone layer. 5. And the biggest culprit, which is responsible for 50% of the greenhouse effect, is Carbon Dioxide: Think about this! Every year, Humans add 6 billion tons of Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere, mainly by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas. Add to that the destruction of forests, which release CO2 when they are burned. The average American family produces about 100 pounds of trash every week, which goes into landfills, instead of recycling bins. I have personally reduced my trash and increased my recycling efforts, but most people don’t even think about it. I also try to use just one day to run errands. That saves gas money for me and reduces my contribution to the CO2 problem. What do you think?