Areas of hypoxia, or low oxygen, have long existed in the deep ocean. These areas – in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans – appear to be spreading, however, covering more square miles, creeping toward the surface and in some places, such as the Pacific Northwest, encroaching on the continental shelf within sight of the coastline.

“The depletion of oxygen levels in all three oceans is striking,” said Gregory Johnson, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle.

In some spots, such as off the Southern California coast, oxygen levels have dropped roughly 20 percent over the past 25 years. Elsewhere, scientists say, oxygen levels might have declined by one-third over 50 years.

“The real surprise is how this has become the new norm,” said Jack Barth, an oceanography professor at Oregon State University. “We are seeing it year after year.”

Barth and others say the changes are consistent with current climate-change models. Previous studies have found that the oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

“If the Earth continues to warm, the expectation is we will have lower and lower oxygen levels,” said Francis Chan, a marine researcher at Oregon State.

As ocean temperatures rise, the warmer water on the surface acts as a cap, which interferes with the natural circulation that normally allows deeper waters that are already oxygen-depleted to reach the surface. It’s on the surface where ocean waters are recharged with oxygen from the air.

Commonly, ocean “dead zones” have been linked to agricultural runoff and other pollution coming down major rivers such as the Mississippi or the Columbia. One of the largest of the 400 or so ocean dead zones is in the Gulf of Mexico, near the mouth of the Mississippi.

However, scientists now say that some of these areas, including those off the Northwest, apparently are linked to broader changes in ocean oxygen levels.

The Pacific waters off Washington and Oregon face a double whammy as a result of ocean circulation.

Scientists have long known of a natural low-oxygen zone perched in the deeper water off the Northwest’s continental shelf.

During the summer, northerly winds aided by the Earth’s rotation drive surface water away from the shore. This action sucks oxygen-poor water to the surface in a process called upwelling.

Though the water that’s pulled up from the depths is poor in oxygen, it’s rich in nutrients, which fertilize phytoplankton. These microscopic organisms form the bottom of one of the richest ocean food chains in the world. As they die, however, they sink and start to decay. The decaying process uses oxygen, which depletes the oxygen levels even more.

Southerly winds reverse the process in what’s known as down-welling.

Changes in the wind and ocean circulation since 2002 have disrupted what had been a delicate balance between upwelling and down-welling. Scientists now are discovering expanding low-oxygen zones near shore.

“It is consistent with models of global warming, but the time frame is too short to know whether it is a trend or a weather phenomenon,” Johnson said.

Others were slightly more definitive, quicker to link the lower oxygen levels to global warming rather than to such weather phenomena as El Nino or the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a shift in the weather that occurs every 20 to 30 years in the northern oceans.

“It’s a large disturbance in the ecosystem that could have huge biological changes,” said Steve Bograd, an oceanographer at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Southern California.

Bograd has been studying oxygen levels in the California Current, which runs along the West Coast from the Canadian border to Baja California and, some scientists think, eventually could be affected by climate change.

So far, the worst hypoxic zone off the Northwest coast was found in 2006. It covered nearly 1,200 square miles off Newport, Ore., and according to Barth it was so close to shore you could hit it with a baseball. The zone covered 80 percent of the water column and lasted for an abnormally long four months.

Because of upwelling, some of the most fertile ocean areas in the world are found off Washington and Oregon. Similar upwelling occurs in only three other places, off the coast of Peru and Chile, in an area stretching from northern Africa to Portugal and along the Atlantic coast of South Africa and Namibia.

Scientists are unsure how low oxygen levels will affect the ocean ecosystem. Bottom-dwelling species could be at the greatest risk because they move slowly and might not be able to escape the lower oxygen levels. Most fish can swim out of danger. Some species, however, such as chinook salmon, may have to start swimming at shallower depths than they’re used to. Whether the low oxygen zones will change salmon migration routes is unclear.

Some species, such as jellyfish, will like the lower-oxygen water. Jumbo squid, usually found off Mexico and Central America, can survive as oxygen levels decrease and now are found as far north as Alaska.

“It’s like an experiment,” Chan said. “We are pulling some things out of the food web and we will have to see what happens. But if you pull enough things out, it could have a real impact.”

Article by Les Blumenthal, McClatchy Newspapers

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The benefits of nettles have been documented for centuries, with claims both anecdotal and scientific, that nettles treat a wide range of maladies. Nettle tea is used to improve heart action, for headaches and for any internal bleeding. Nettle is said to be extremely beneficial for the kidneys, being useful in expelling gravel from the bladder and dissolving kidney stones. It is a powerful blood purifier that drives out toxins and metabolic wastes by stimulating the kidneys to excrete more water. Nettle tea is said to clean out the entire intestinal tract while activating the body’s natural defense mechanisms. It is used as an overall health tonic and to treat high blood pressure, anemia, skin inflammations and more.

Nettle tea is relatively safe for children and adults, although it is always recommended that you consult a medical doctor before taking any new herb. Never take nettle tea when on prescription drugs without first consulting a doctor, as serious reactions could occur.

How to find and identify nettles

I first learned about nettles the hard way. While clearing a fence line. I smelled mint among the nearby plants. Looking to harvest the mint for tea, I plucked a handful of leaves from the closest plant and put it to my nose to get a deep whiff of the lovely mint smell. But instead I got what felt like a dose of pepper spray in my face. I had to run off and stick my face in a bucket of water for relief.

Stinging nettle or common nettle, Urtica dioica, is a perennial flowering plant, native to most of the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Nettles usually appear in bunches or groves in the same places year after year. Look for them in rich soil, disturbed habitats, moist woodlands, thickets, along rivers, fence lines, and along partially shaded trails. Considered a weed by many farmers and gardeners, no one will complain if you harvest a few nettles.

Nettles are easy to identify. The dark green, opposite leaves are a few inches long, with a rough, papery texture, and very coarse teeth. The leaf tip is pointed, and its base is heart-shaped. In springtime, the nettle shoots will be close to the ground with only a few rows of leaves. The plant grows rapidly to a mature height of about 2 meters (6.5 feet) in summer. In fall the plant dies back, but re-emerges in the same location the following spring. Once you find a patch of nettles, you can harvest year after year in the same spot.

How to harvest nettles

‘Stinging’ nettles are given this name for good reason. If you touch any part of the plant, you will be stung. The sting is mildly painful and can last for hours. Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirt and long pants when hunting for nettles. Use a scissors or garden clippers to cut the top two bracts of leaves, leaving the rest of the plant to regenerate. Set a pot or bag alongside the plant and clip directly into the container. About a cup of fresh leaves is sufficient to brew a cup or two of tea.

How to brew nettle tea

Simply add water to your collected nettle leaves and heat to a near boil. Use about two cups of water for a cup of leaves; there’s no need to measure. You can make the tea stronger by steeping longer, or weaker by adding more water. Once the water is near boiling, reduce heat and simmer for a couple minutes. Pour through a small strainer and the tea is ready to drink. Some people prefer a small bit of sugar added to the tea, but I find the taste is just fine without any additives.

The cooked leaves can also be eaten with a bit of butter melted over top, or they can be added to soups and stews. If you are going to eat the leaves, taste a small bit first to be sure the sting has left.

A word of caution

Any new substance should be introduced gradually to your body. A cup or two of nettle tea per day is sufficient to enjoy the benefits which nettles offer. Those new to nettles should start out with small amounts.

If you will be bringing children along while harvesting nettles, which is a good learning experience for them, be sure to take adequate precautions to keep them from being stung by the leaves. Long clothing and gloves should be worn at all times when handling nettles. Once they are cooked or brewed into tea, they lose their sting.

So if you’re looking to shake the winter blahs and reinvigorate yourself for spring, a simple restorative elixir may be as close as a nearby weed patch. And since nettles grow in the same area year after year, it only takes one discovery to bring you a ready supply of nature’s miracle tonic for spring.

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The images below are sourced from dailycognition.com.

In the Antarctic region, icebergs sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions. When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.

Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

In the cold Antarctic region, water freezes the instant it comes in contact with the air. The temperature of the water is already some degrees below freezing. Here we see a wave froze in mid-air!

These marvelous creations stun us with their simple visual beauty, and inspire us to be caring stewards of our natural environment.

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An existing garden can be modified to accommodate a wheelchair or walker, with the main requirements being pathway width, grade and surface condition. Pathways need to be well-spaced for wheelchairs, at least 3’ wide, with turn-around areas built into the garden layout. Pathways should be near level, with grades not exceeding 5%, and the surface condition should be solid in varying weather. Dirt pathways can become rutted with use, with low spots holding water after a rain and eventually becoming a muddy track difficult to wheel through. Pathways can be improved with pavers, flagstone or wood. Gravel or compact mulch such as small bark chips are more difficult to wheel through, but still manageable for people in wheelchairs. Be sure to put down a layer or two of landscape cloth before adding the surface treatment.

Modifying an existing garden can require substantial work and investment. Ideally, the beds should be raised to a height of 24” or more for a person in a wheelchair to work comfortably. This is a big job, but worth it for the wheelchair gardener with a long-term commitment to gardening.

An option for those without an existing garden is to use smaller raised garden beds, or ‘elevated planters’, which can be situated in easily accessible areas with firm ground, such as patios, balconies and decks. Smaller planters can also better accommodate gardeners with limited energy who prefer to garden intensively in a smaller space.

In writing this article, we have drawn on our own gardening experience and also consulted with an occupational therapist specializing in creating gardens at rest homes and health care facilities. Here below are some tips which may help the wheelchair-bound, disabled, or elderly gardeners enjoy the benefits of tending their own garden.

Choose the ideal height and width for raised beds

Raised beds which have the soil level at 24”- 30” from the ground are ideal for gardeners who must work from a seated position. This height enables a gardener to dig or transplant without developing arm fatigue, since most work will be oriented slightly downwards. If the bed is any taller, it makes it difficult for the gardener to lift a watering can, hose, or soil amendment high enough. Also, a 24” bed height makes harvesting easier for people growing vegetables, since taller plants like tomatoes and beans will require the gardener to reach upwards as much as 3’ higher than the soil.

An exception to the recommended height of 24” is for gardeners who wish to work frontwards, with their knees under the raised planter. By placing the knees under the planter, the gardener can get closer to the bed when working frontwards. The height of the planter at soil level will need to be about 36”. This allows up to 12” soil depth and leaves 24” beneath the bed for knee space. With a 36” tall bed, the seated gardener will be working at approximately shoulder height, which can be more tiring over time. Also, while this height may be easy enough for flower gardening, it will be more difficult to harvest vegetables as the plants get taller.

24” and 36” tall raised planters are available here.

The width of the bed should also be considered. While many raised garden beds are 4’ in width, raised planters for seated gardeners may be more convenient with a 3’ width. Seated gardeners are not able to stretch as far to easily weed and tend plants in the center of a wider bed.

Situate the planter for maximum access

Access is improved if the planter is near a wide door with a low threshold, and situated to allow wheelchair access to opposite sides of the planter. Orientation to the sun must also be taken into consideration, with at least six hours per day of unobstructed sun. Southern exposure is usually considered ideal.

Work to the side, rather than from a frontal position

If the wheelchair or seat is positioned sideways to the planter, it is easier to tend the garden bed. Working directly frontwards requires a more extended reach, and bending forward from the waist, which becomes tiring. When working from a sideward position the gardener also has the option to switch sides for comfort and balanced exercise. Working to the side also prevents the wheelchair from creeping forward or backward as you work. (Even with the brakes on, wheelchairs can move slightly, which is disconcerting while trying to work.)

Store garden tools nearby

Keeping tools close at hand makes it easier to garden on a regular basis. A raised bed provides the opportunity to hang tools directly beneath the bed, where they will be out of the rain but within easy reach. Cup hooks can be easily screwed into the slats beneath the raised bed. You can also hang the hose from a cup hook, just be sure to get a hook which exceeds the diameter of the hose. Tools can also be stored in a tote beneath the planter (see next tip).

Provide a small wagon or roller-tote for carting seed trays and soil amendments

Moving sacks of potting soil, compost and soil amendments like rock phosphate, vermiculite or peat moss can be difficult for wheelchair gardeners, the elderly and handicapped. A small child’s wagon is useful for this, since it has 3” sides which keep things from falling off, and it is easily pulled using the extended handle. A rubberized tote with built-in wheels is even better, since it has a lid so it can be left outside in the rain. Also, the lid can be used as a potting table – a 12” tall tote provides the right height for potting from a seated position, and the lid can be easily rinsed off after use. The tote can be stored under the bed for real convenience, providing the bed has 12” clearance beneath, of course.

Have a second chair nearby

Gardening is a wonderful meditation when working alone, but every gardener wants to show their garden to family and visitors. People confined to wheelchairs get tired of looking upwards when talking with people who are standing. Have a simple “visitor’s seat” nearby, so the wheelchair gardener can entertain friends eye-to-eye. This simple act also makes the visitor more comfortable, leading to longer, more enjoyable visits.

Think ‘vertical’ for increasing the harvest

If you’re growing vegetables in a limited space such as a planter, the harvest can be increased by adding a trellis along the back of the planting area. This allows climbing plants like tomatoes, beans, peas and squash to get the exposure they need for maximum production. On a 24” tall planter, a 3’ trellis is about the right height, since the seated gardener would have to reach 5’ to pick the top produce.

Use low-maintenance gardening techniques

You can reduce garden maintenance and extend time between waterings by using mulch beneath your plants. This will aid in soil moisture retention and reduce watering requirements, while at the same time preventing weeds from sprouting. Watering in the morning will reduce slug problems. Small drip-irrigation systems, timers and soaker hoses are additional ways to reduce watering needs. Planting local varieties of flowers and vegetables will usually yield better results overall. For more information about efficient, organic garden practices, see our Grow page.

Gardening offers a sense of purpose and self-empowerment which people with handicaps and mobility limitations can especially benefit from. It is well worth the effort it takes to provide access to gardening to anyone and everyone.

This 24” tall raised bed is available here.

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Although there are several variables which account for bird strikes, the primary cause is reflection. Birds become confused or startled and rush to cover or open sky; unfortunately they often mistake a reflection for the real thing.

In cities the biggest kills typically occur at night during spring and fall migrations, when building lights appeared to lure birds into deadly collisions. Light-dimming campaigns, such as those led by the Toronto-based Fatal Light Awareness Program, have helped reduce the problem.

Here are 9 ways to reduce bird strike occurrences in homes and small buildings:

1. Observation

Bird strikes often follow a pattern – the same windows on a house or building may be repeatedly struck, while others are never struck. Observation and attention to bird attractions such as water, food and cover, will help identify the small percentage of glass area in your home which causes the most problem.

2. Block ‘through-house’ line of sight to the outdoors

Are any windows in your home oriented such that, from the outside, there is a clear view through the house and to another window looking to the outside? A bird may see this as a flight path. This can be changed simply by putting up a shade on the one window, or closing a door or similar obstruction which breaks the open view.

In our home, for example, we noticed that bird window collisions seemed to occur most often in a corner window on the second floor. While on the roof one day cleaning the eavestroughs, I stood outside the window and observed it from a bird’s point of view. Sure enough, a path of vision to a window on the opposite side gave the impression you could fly right through. This was corrected by lowering the blind on the opposing window, and leaving the slats open for light. We have not seen any window strikes since.

3. Reduce window reflection

Birds often strike windows because they see a reflection of clouds, sky or trees which gives the mistaken impression that they are flying into open air. Put a screen or a shade cloth over the window which is nearest to bird activity. A shade cloth, available at hardware stores, is a plastic mesh that allows you to see through, yet keeps the windows from having reflections. If you have blinds, turn them so they are slightly closed, this will reduce reflection. White shears also work to reduce reflection while being able to see through.

4. CollidEscape and window decals

CollidEscape is a transparent film which adheres to the exterior surface of a window, and allows ample light to pass through to the interior, while reducing the window’s exterior reflectivity and transparency. This material is primarily used for commercial and retail advertising on glass. The cost is approximately $4.00 US per square foot.

Many different window decals are on the market for applying to your window for bird strike prevention. These commonly come in the outline form of a hawk silhouette or spider web. While these may be effective, it is difficult to judge if they make a difference in reducing strikes. Birds may not be deterred by stationery objects such as decals.

5. Place a hawk silhouette on your window

Most smaller birds will avoid the company of hawks, especially the sharp-shinned hawk which flies low into cover, often near feeders, and preys on small birds. A hawk simulation can be placed on your window or glass door to discourage birds from flying in this direction. The key is to hang this on the outside of the window, using a suction cup with a bit of clear fishing line to hang the silhouette so it swings in the wind.

You can make a life-sized hawk silhouette by copying the image here, and scaling it up to an 11” wingspan. Trace the image onto a piece of corplast (available in building supply stores) or similar black plastic, and cut it out with a razor knife. Use fish line and suction cup to suspend from the outside of the window.

Hanging a plastic owl is not effective over time, as the figure never moves and birds quickly learn to ignore it.

6. Tack up a temporary cover

Sometimes a more aggressive behavior occurs, typically in the breeding season, where a bird repeatedly ‘attacks’ a window. Seeing its own refection as another bird, it’s trying to drive it away, as songbirds are competitive during breeding times. A cloth, piece of netting or solid material can be placed on the outside of the window for a few days to break the bird of its habit. Or you can install indoor-outdoor blinds on the outside of the window.

We have a robin that appears in the spring and repeatedly attacks the window of our car in the carport. The bird is seeing its reflection in the window, and perceives this as a territorial intruder. Hanging a small towel over the window stopped the behavior, and we only needed to do this for a few weeks during the spring.

7. Place sun ornament, crystal or other objects in your window

Sun ornaments, crystals, strips of cloth and other objects in the window will help birds know they can’t fly through. Avoid hanging plants in front of windows which are in areas of high bird activity – this can further confuse the bird which may fly towards the plant looking for shelter. Double-pane windows have enhanced reflection and are harder for a bird to see through.

8. Locate prey and food attractants away from windows

During spring and summer, bright flowers on the inside windowsill can attract hummingbirds. Hummingbirds usually approach quickly, then hover, before putting their beak into the flower. If the flower is right against the window, the bird will likely stop in time. But if the flower is set back 6” – 12” from the window, an accidental strike may occur.

In our home, we used to keep a fish tank on a counter near the front window. Over time we realized that in the evening an owl would perch outside and occasionally strike the widow, apparently attracted by the fish, since the tank was illuminated by the interior room light. Moving the fish tank solved the problem. If you have a hamster cage, fish tank, or similar attractant, you may consider moving it if you have noticed repeated bird strikes against a nearby window.

9. Locate bird feeders adjacent to, or further away from windows

Bird feeders should be positioned either further back in the yard or up close within 2 or 3 feet of a window. By placing the feeder up close, birds come in at a slower speed; they’re less likely to get hurt during escape because window strikes occur at slower speed. By placing the feeder further out (10 feet or more), the bird has more room to maneuver. Cats are usually wise to the presence of birds around feeders, and the bird needs space to escape in any direction. Locating the feeder in the 3’ – 10’ zone from the window may result in more window strikes.

Window mounted bird feeders do not encourage bird window strikes.

If you find a bird stunned by a window collision:
Often when a bird collides with a window, it is just stunned and will be flying again within an hour, after regaining its senses. With gloved hands, carefully pick up the bird and place it in a safe area away from cats and other predators. In cool weather, place the bird in a well-ventilated box in a warm area to recover. Avoid handling the bird and the box as much as possible. Never handle birds or any other wild animal with your bare hands.

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Bloom Energy, based in Sunnyvale, California, is about to launch a public release of its “power plant in a box”, which it hopes will revolutionize the way energy is produced, stored and transmitted. Dubbed the ‘Bloom Box’, this device uses fuel-cell technology which mixes oxygen with fuel to produce electricity with no burning, no combustion and no power lines.

The Bloom Box developer is K.R. Sridhar, an aerospace engineer who worked on NASA’s Mission to Mars program. The technology is based on an oxygen-producing module developed for the now cancelled space mission. The Bloom Box technology reverses this process, using oxygen in combination with natural gas or plant waste as fuel while producing relatively little carbon dioxide.

The current working Bloom Box is about the size of a household refrigerator, and houses a collection of fuel-cells which are stacked into brick-sized towers sandwiched with metal alloy plates. The individual fuel cells are made of sand that is baked into small ceramic squares and painted with a proprietary green and black ink. Each fuel cell has the potential to power one light bulb. About 64 stacks of fuel cells could power a small business like a Starbucks franchise, according to Sridhar’s interview, below, on CBS 60 Minutes.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

In the Bloom Box, electricity is created when oxygen is fed from one side of the fuel cell while any of a range of different fuels, such as natural gas, bio gas from landfill waste, solar, or wind, is fed to the other side providing the necessary chemical reaction required for power. A block of approximately 30 of these cells will power a residential home. And because the process works with different fuel sources, the Bloom Box lends itself to clean electric generation in off-grid locations such as remote areas and developing countries.

(Image source: 60 Minutes/CBS)

The concept of clean energy fuel cells is not new – NASA has been using devices based on similar technology for years. Sridhar’s accomplishment has been to make the process cost-effective for practical commercial use. And the process has advanced beyond the prototype stage, with over 20 corporate customers including Starbucks, Ebay, FedEx and Google; Google being the first to implement and test this technology for the last 18 months. Ebay installed five Bloom Boxes nine months ago, and they fuel about 15 percent of its San Jose campus, said CEO John Donahoe in the 60 Minutes interview. “It’s been very successful thus far,” Mr. Donahoe says, adding that the company has saved $100,000 in electricity costs already.

The corporate-sized cells cost about $700,000 to $800,000. Units for the general public for use in residential applications will not be available for at least 5 – 10 years, the estimated time it will take to get unit costs down to $2000 – $3000. However, with over $400 million invested in the Bloom Box program, and high-profile backers such as former Defense Secretary Colin Powell on the Board of Directors, there is considerable momentum behind the project.

At this point in time, further details about the Bloom Box are still shrouded in secrecy. Much attention will be focused on the official launch tomorrow, which hopefully will shed more light on this interesting and encouraging development in clean energy technology.

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Less than a square kilometer in size, the island of Apo has pulled itself out of the spiraling decline which affects so many communities which have depleted their natural resources and fallen into economic despair. What began as a small fisheries management experiment in the 1980s has blossomed into a twenty-fold increase in local fish biomass, a secure nursery for future fish stocks, and a growth in spinoff businesses which cater to both fishing and the restored tourism industry.

Apo’s population base of 500 -700 residents has long depended on fishing for its dietary needs and its economic base. But years of destructive fishing practices which included the use of dynamite and arsenic had severely damaged the island’s coral reefs which provide critical fish habitat. And as the fragile coral reefs were being converted to rubble, local fishermen had to go further for their catch, which increased their cost of business. The local tourism industry subsequently fell into decline, as the reef destruction and diminished fish population no longer attracted divers to the island.

But Apo’s fortunes began to change when a marine biologist from nearby Negros Oriental, Dr. Angel Alcala, introduced the concept of community-based marine reserves to the struggling Apo community. The concept was simple: leave 15% of the 104 hectare surrounding coral reef off-limits to fishing.

The concept was simple: leave 15% of the 104 hectare surrounding coral reef off-limits to fishing.

By 1982, the “no take” zone was in place and accepted by the community. Within a few years, fish abundance and diversity within the “no take” showed improvement, and restoration of coral cover became apparent. Fisheries in the adjacent reef areas improved, as ‘spillover’ fish populations migrated outwards from the reserve zone. Ultimately, the fish biomass increased from approximately eight tons per square kilometer to about 155 tons per square kilometer.

The ripple effect of the success of this small community-based marine reserve continues to expand. Local fishermen have become aware of the negative impact of destructive fishing practices, and more likely to participate in stewardship of the resource. The local tourism industry has rebounded by attracting divers to the blossoming marine reserve, with locals guiding divers through protected areas and catering to tourist needs. A number of small businesses have found their footing providing souvenirs, food and accommodation to the tourists, and the mood of the population has become more optimistic and self-assured.

While these businesses are modest in scale, they provide a big impact to an island with a small population. The success of the small marine reserve has likely touched the entire community.

Perhaps the greatest success of Apo’s community-based marine reserve has been the inspiration it has provided to neighboring communities facing similar fisheries resource depletion. Today there are over 500 small reserves in the Visayas island group, with many small communities looking to mirror Apo’s success. And while only 1% of the world’s oceans are currently set aside as marine reserves, the concept is gaining attention worldwide as a realistic and manageable solution to building sustainable fisheries for all.

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The cross-country ski race I’ve been training for, set for today high in the Green Mountains: cancelled, lack of snow.

Meanwhile, across the continent, backhoes and helicopters are moving snow down British Columbia’s Cypress Mountain in an attempt to cover the Olympic ski courses, and technicians are burying cooling pipes beneath the moguls to keep them from melting. Some climate-conscious jokers put out a video pushing the sport of “bobwheeling” for future snow-challenged Olympiads.

And apparently there was some snowfall in the greater Washington area last week.

When you’re trying to launch snowboarding tricks on dry ground and simultaneously shutting down the U.S. government because the snowbanks are casting shadows on the Washington Monument, something odd is going on. This isn’t a good old-fashioned winter for the District of Columbia, not unless you’re remembering the last ice age. And it doesn’t disprove global warming, despite Sen. Jim De Mint’s cheerful tweet: “It’s going to keep snowing until Al Gore cries ‘uncle.’ ”

Instead, the weird and disruptive weather patterns around the world are pretty much exactly what you’d expect as the planet warms. Here’s how it works:

In most places, winter is clearly growing shorter and less intense. We can tell, because Arctic sea ice is melting, because the glaciers on Greenland are shrinking and because a thousand other signals send the same message. Here in the mountains of the Northeast, for instance, lakes freeze later than they used to, and sometimes not at all: Lake Champlain remained open in winter only three times during the 19th century, but it did so 18 times between 1970 and 2007.

But rising temperature is only one effect of climate change. Probably more crucially, warmer air holds more water vapor than cold air does. The increased evaporation from land and sea leads to more drought but also to more precipitation, since what goes up eventually comes down. The numbers aren’t trivial — global warming has added 4 percent more moisture to the atmosphere since 1970. That means that the number of “extreme events” such as downpours and floods has grown steadily; the most intense storms have increased by 20 percent across the United States in the past century.

So here’s the thing: Despite global warming, it still gets cold enough to snow in the middle of winter. It even gets cold enough to snow in Texas and Georgia, as it did late last week. And the chances of what are technically called “big honking dumps” have increased. As Jeff Masters, the widely read weather blogger, pointed out last week, a record snowstorm requires a record amount of moisture in the air. “It is quite possible that the dice have been loaded in favor of more intense Nor’easters for the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, thanks to the higher levels of moisture present in the air due to warmer global temperatures,” he wrote.

The climatalogical climate is only part of the equation. The political climate counts, too — and there’s no question that it’s harder to make legislative progress when Sen. James Inhofe’s grandchildren are building an igloo next to the Capitol with a big sign that says “Al Gore’s New Home.” The timing here is particularly tough, for the snowstorms come against the backdrop of renewed attacks on the pillars of climate science — charges that hacked e-mails show some researchers to be venal or that key scientists have financial ties to energy industries.

Looked at dispassionately, those political attacks essentially buttress the consensus around global warming. If that much money and attention can be aimed at the data and all anyone can find is a few mistakes and a collection of nasty e-mails, it’s a pretty good sign that the science is sound (though not as good a sign as the melting Arctic). The British newspaper the Guardian just concluded a huge series on the “Climategate” e-mails with the words: “The world is still warming. Humanity is still to blame. And we still, urgently, need to do something about it.”

Looked at dispassionately, the round of ‘snowmageddons’ crisscrossing the mid-Atlantic carries the same message. But it’s hard to be dispassionate when you’re wondering, six hours of shoveling later, if there’s a good chiropractor in the neighborhood and what kind of dogsled you might need to reach her.

It’s almost like a test, centered on ground zero for climate-change legislation. Can you sit in a snowstorm and imagine a warming world? If you’re a senator, can you come back to work and pass a bill that blunts the pace of climate change? If the answer is no, then we’re really in a world of trouble.

Bill McKibben is a scholar in residence at Middlebury College and the co-founder of 350.org. He is the author of “The End of Nature” and the forthcoming “Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet”

Related posts:

1. Global Warming: background
2. Global Warming / Climate Change: What we can do about it
3. Geoengineering – will schemes to reverse global warming do more harm than good?

It’s natural to look to charismatic leaders who can deliver sweeping progressive change to those of us who yearn for a more sustainable future. But as the President-elect stated, this change must come from the bottom up. That means us. The actions of individuals and families are the real building blocks of culture and economy.

Creating change of any magnitude begins with small steps, and while these steps may seem insignificant, the rewards are immediate and tangible. Even the first spade in the ground of a new garden makes one feel proactive, in control, and hopeful. Making the simple decision to not use lawn chemicals is enlightening, as it begins the process of looking at the yard as part of an organic ecosystem which contributes to the well-being of our family, pets and local wildlife. Sewing a patch on a torn pair of jeans liberates us from the feeling that our fashion sense is dictated by the whims of designers, and helps instill the message of thrift as a family value.

Here are 6 ways we can each start building a sustainable future for ourselves and the world.

1. Get growing

Building a sustainable future begins with developing a healthy relationship with our environment. The natural cycles of life and the connections between healthy soil, water and air and our personal well-being become obvious to the gardener. If you have a yard, set aside a space for growing vegetables and get the whole family involved. Even a small plot will serve to teach your children the basics of our intimate connection with the environment. If you live in an apartment, even a small container garden on the balcony can accomplish the same.

In 1900, more than half the U.S. population lived on farms, 46 million out of the 76 million total population. By 1990, there were 3.87 million people living on farms, only 1.6 percent of the total population.

Besides the benefit of awareness, of course, a garden plot can also help defray food costs. However, this is not always the case. Gardening can be labor intensive and costly. If you hope to save on your food budget by gardening, here are some tips about the most ‘cost-effective’ vegetables to grow, and organic methods which can reduce the need for more expensive garden supplements.

2. Champion thrift

Lost in the mirage of consumerism are the timeless values of thrift and modesty. Today, many consumer purchases are not based on real need, but rather to maintain an inflated standard of living that has been influenced by corporate agendas and clever advertising. This marketing has become so pervasive that many of us feel poorly about ourselves if we aren’t driving a late model car, wearing the latest in fashion or using the newest iPhone.

We need to remind ourselves and our children that thrift is the cornerstone of sustainability. Many of us remember our parents or grandparents being proud of being thrifty, not wasting a thing, extending the usable life of an item in an imaginative way. A simple modest lifestyle is a welcome change to the pressure of constantly trying to keep up with ever-increasing consumer standards. Mend clothes, fix things in lieu of replacing them, compost food waste, conserve water in the home and yard, buy clothing with timeless styles, visit thrift shops….you get the idea. Make thrift a family value.

3. Break from the car

While auto companies are retooling to produce more energy-efficient cars, there will always be significant environmental costs associated with driving. We can help mitigate these costs by being more miserly with our use of cars. Setting a family policy of “no driving for trips under 1 mile” or similar restriction, will help everyone get the point.

Consolidating trips deters impulse buying.

Public transportation, bikes, and walking need to be embraced as reasonable alternatives for short trips. The simplest method, consolidating trips, goes without saying. In our family, we now drive to the mall once a month instead of once a week. We simply keep a list and wait till there’s enough to warrant a trip. This has been easy, and I enjoy the extra time at home on weekends. And the funny thing is that by waiting, we often decide we don’t really need some of the items on the list. Consolidating trips deters impulse buying. Our current “car culture” is not realistic in a sustainable future. Walk more, bike more, car pool whenever possible.

4. Avoid using pollutants and toxic materials in your home and yard

Most people trust the safety of products found on store shelves, especially since we have considerable government oversight to ensure consumer safety. But in many instances this trust is unfounded. Many household cleaners, air fresheners, interior paints, carpets and even furniture items contain hazardous chemicals that can harm us. Young children are especially vulnerable, partly because of increased exposure. Everything goes in their mouths and they virtually live on the floor. And children are more sensitive because they are still developing the basic body system; the brain, internal organs, respiratory and immune systems are not fully developed until adolescence.

“How can we, as one of the most advanced countries in the world allow these to enter our household for small children, without the appropriate testing to see that it’s safe?”

Dr. Gideon Koren, Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Learn about common indoor pollutants (read our article, How to reduce exposure to indoor toxins), read the labels on products coming into your home, and look for nontoxic alternatives for home cleaning and painting. Outdoors, be aware of the hazards of lawn care chemicals found in “weed ‘n feed products. Consider the safer natural alternatives, or look to ways to reduce the size of your lawn. Better yet, convert your lawn to an edible landscape or backyard vegetable garden.

5. Teach your children

As every parent knows, time flies when it comes to raising children. The early years pass quickly while young parents try to balance the demands of career-building with child rearing. Young children today spend a disproportionate amount of time in nurseries and daycare programs, and watching TV at home. The younger the child the more impressionable.

Two-thirds of infants and toddlers watch TV an average of 2 hours a day. Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games.

Kaiser Family Foundation

It is essential that young parents make it a priority to spend more time with their children, especially the youngest ones, to teach them your values. Teach them the importance of a healthy environment and how it relates to their personal and future well-being. Schools are remiss in this regard – they do not teach environmental stewardship in core curriculum. It is up to the parents, and essential for any hopes of a sustainable future.

6. Adopt a piece of nature

We each have our favorite places in nature where we can find renewal and inspiration. A lovely spot in a park, a bit of shoreline, a forest path or mountain trail. Because we share these places with others, we may not feel responsible for their maintenance or protection. When we see garbage or the gradual degradation of the natural beauty, the easy rationalization is “someone else will deal with it”.

I’ve taken to bringing a plastic bag once a week when visiting one of my favorite spots, and it is most satisfying to pick up the garbage and clean the site. This simple act bonds me even more to the site, and heightens the pleasure of each visit.

Pick a natural spot that your family values and become ’silent stewards’. This doesn’t mean starting a ’save the trees’ campaign or engaging others to take action, but rather it’s about building a personal relationship with nature and sharing the importance of this with your family.

Right now is a special time in history, when optimism and enthusiasm for change have captured our imagination, and the status-quo seems unfulfilling and untenable. Now is the time for us each to participate as agents of the change we seek by incorporating sustainable living values and practices into our everyday lives.

Greg Seaman is the founder and editor of Eartheasy.

Related posts:

1. Family Values and Food Sustainability
2. How to get your child excited about nature
3. Pesticides & Kids – why you should be concerned

Surely, the most perplexing commercials in recent memory are the prescription drug “gallery of miracles” announcing that once we’ve secured prescriptions for anti-depressants, allergy inhibitors, hair growth stimulants and sleep inducers, our troubles will be over. That is, if we learn to accept extreme nausea and elevated risk of stroke as part of the miracle.

It’s the same with many other products that flow through our household economy in search of the drain – they contain stowaway side effects. But we can eliminate many of those side effects by directly providing more of our own health, entertainment, food and transportation. If we make our households more productive and less consumptive, we can also write much lighter checks to Visa.

“Yeah, right,” you say. “How? Where will the extra time and human energy come from?” Quite a bit of it can come from letting the Joneses go their own way, as fast as they want. Just by redefining what we personally value as “wealth,” we can reclaim much of the disposable time, and income, we’ve lost in recent years.

We’re not talking about sacrifices here, but quality of life improvements that employ greater precision and smarter design; fascination with other cultures and new ideas; a desire to connect and cooperate with friends and neighbors; and an interest in becoming more active politically. These are basic tools to shape a household income with fewer side effects.

It won’t be easy. In a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that tracks consumer spending patterns, an average Milwaukee family is identified as a “consumer unit.”

Is that what we’ve come down to? What if that family’s annual expenditures of roughly $37,000 were redistributed? What if their purchases (and decisions not to purchase) brought more durability, greater vitality, more satisfying entertainment, greater intellectual growth and more laughter into their houses? Their choices might result in significant attitude adjustments that would make discretionary time seem more valuable and a huge income seem less necessary.

Let’s look at how the average family in the labor report spends its income. In rough terms, 67 percent is spent for housing, transportation and food. Each of these categories represents huge opportunities for reducing waste, stress and “disposable” income.

About 35 percent is spent for housing (that’s the house, utilities, furniture and supplies). The family could win back time, money and vitality by living in a smaller, better-designed house with efficient appliances and good natural daylight; buying well-built furniture that doesn’t need constant replacing; and having a different attitude about what a house is for.

If they consider it as a “display unit,” they’ll spend hours a week decorating and redecorating it; cleaning it or paying someone else to clean it. If their house becomes more of a healthy verb rather than a tired noun, there may be a great garden out back and a convenient place to store bicycles. The house will be comfortable, and so will its residents.

If their house becomes more of a healthy verb rather than a tired noun, there may be a great garden out back and a convenient place to store bicycles. The house will be comfortable, and so will its residents.

About 20 percent is spent for transportation. If the house is located near the things the family needs – work, friends, groceries, bank – the Milwaukee family can reduce transportation costs by at least a tenth, or about $750. Getting rid of the second car would yield even greater benefits.

About 12 percent is spent on food, down from the 30 percent their grandparents spent in the 1930s. Since 43 percent of that is for food eaten away from home, the family could save $500 a year by eating out less. More important, if the food they eat delivers energy rather than lethargy, they’ll exercise more, walking to the library or bank, and playing sports rather than buying them. Health care costs will be lower and weight-loss programs won’t be necessary. With better food in their lives, they’ll go to the doctor less, and require less insurance. They’ll spend more social time eating, reducing their entertainment costs. Almost certainly, they’ll feel a greater sense of contentment and wellness.

By slowing to the speed of life, the Milwaukee family can become more than just an “average” family. They can be an exceptional family. Instead of disposing of their income, they can save it, eat it, and live it.

David Wann is co-author of Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic and author of The Zen of Gardening. He lives and gardens in a co-housing community in Golden, Colorado that he helped design.

Related posts:

1. Living Large in a Tiny House
2. Saving water in the bathroom
3. Good Food Nation – reversing the obesity epidemic with local foodsheds