Dot Eco

The Sierra Club and the Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Dot Eco) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:27:00 +0000

Many of us have heard the name once or twice, but very few of us are actually aware of what exactly it is, or what exactly The Sierra Club does. But in fact, The Sierra Club is the United States' oldest and largest grassroots environmental campaign. Founded by John Muir in San Francisco, California all the way back in 1892, and has continued to promote a safer and healthier community, work on developing environmentally friendly technology, and help to preserve our nation's forests and wildlife.

Since 1892, The Sierra Club has actively continued to expand on it services, its locations, its goals, and of course, its employees. Currently with offices in every state, as well as an office in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, The Sierra Club is doing its best to help out not only our own nation's global warming issues, but those of our neighbors as well; but as you might expect, the group really has their work cut out for them.

When the group originated, neither global warming nor climate change was even on the minds of the founders. In fact, the founding fathers of The Sierra Club had three very specific goals in mind when putting the group together:

- To establish Glacier and Mount Rainier National Parks
- To convince the California legislature to give up Yosemite Valley to the United States Federal government
- To try and save California's beloved redwood trees

Once these goals were fully met, The Sierra Club later acted in support of the National Park Service and started improving on forest trails and expanding on parks. They believed the Forest Service was doing an inadequate job; and in 1916 the National Park Service was indeed founded.

But what really put this organization on the map was a mid 1950's effort to exclude the Echo Park Dam from the Colorado River Project. Thanks to this victory, The Sierra Club was all but a household name; and boasted a group membership of 15,000 strong.

Since this highly prolific victory, they have spearheaded a number of campaigns both in opposition and in support for a variety of topics. This includes such things as:

- The ongoing protection of National Forests, parks, and rivers
- Opposition against the creation of new nuclear power facilities
- Opposition to coal power plants
- Explaining the urgency for an increased use of renewable energy

Recently The Sierra Club has announced their support for Dot Eco. Dot Eco LLC is pushing for the establishment of the .eco top level domain. This new initiative will donate over 50% of domain registration proceeds back to fund scientific initiatives and research in climate change, ocean analysis, economic policy, and other environmentally-related areas.

Dot Eco LLC is dedicated to securing and utilizing the .eco top level domain to increase environmental awareness and to effect positive environmental change. Follow Dot Eco on Facebook to learn more.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint - It's Easier Than You Think

noreply@blogger.com (Dot Eco) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:20:00 +0000

With all the talk today about global warming, pollution and going green, most people are becoming overwhelmed with the vast amount of information out there about how to reduce what is known as your "carbon footprint." Well, it's not as complicated as one might think. First, let's start by defining just exactly what a carbon footprint is.

A carbon footprint is a calculated figure that is determined by various factors in which one might be impacting the environment. Factors include how often you drive an automobile, what you do for a living and how your home is heated. When individuals take proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprints, the effects are collectively felt. Here are some simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint!

First, look around you, right now. Are there appliances on that you aren't specifically using, for example, the television buzzing in the background? Turn these appliances off. You won't miss anything, and you'll even save a few cents here and there on your electric bill.

No matter where you are in the world, there's a good chance you have either your heat or central air running. If it's the air conditioning, turn up the temperature a degree or two. If it's the heat, turn it down a few degrees. If your systems have timers, use them because unless you're at home, it's not necessary to heat or cool your home as much.

Water, water everywhere... so the old verse goes. Unless we conserve water, however, we're going to feel just as helpless as that author caught at sea with no water to drink. So wait until your washer and dryer are full to run them, and only fill water glasses with as much as you are going to drink. Turn the water off when you're brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers, and stop flushing tissues; use the wastebasket instead of the water it takes to flush the toilet for no reason.

We all know that smog is unsightly and unhealthy, but smog is just a visible representation of the much deeper damage caused by CO2 emissions. So try to do a weekly trip to the grocery store instead of many short trips. If you're in the market for a new car, consider a hybrid model. Take public transportation when you can, or try to cycle and walk if you're going a short distance. The benefits of this will help you as well as the environment.

Another way is to register a website with a .eco extension when it comes available. The concept behind the establishment of this new dot eco top level domain is that Dot Eco LLC will donate over 50% of domain registration proceeds back to fund scientific initiatives and research in climate change, ocean analysis, economic policy, and other environmentally-related areas. Also, remember to host your website with a green hosting company.

These are all small steps you can take immediately to reduce your carbon footprint. Make these small changes in your daily lives and you too will officially be green.

Dot Eco LLC is dedicated to securing and utilizing the .eco top level domain to increase environmental awareness and to effect positive environmental change. Follow Dot Eco on Facebook to learn more.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

An Inconvenient Truth Educates, Forewarns

noreply@blogger.com (Dot Eco) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:15:00 +0000

Although global warming has been an issue on the forefront of modern science and society for years now, it wasn't until 2006 that an eye-opening documentary about it was produced. Based on the book An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It, written by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, the documentary of the same name was directed by Davis Guggenheim and was first shown at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The film made its way to the states then, debuting in New York and Los Angeles on May 24th, 2006.

The film centers around Gore and his efforts to convey to the public just how severe the problem of global warming has become. An Inconvenient Truth focuses on the ways Gore has personally been impacted by climate change by highlighting his studies at Harvard with climate expert Roger Revelle, a car crash that almost killed his young son, and his sister's death from lung cancer. The documentary also successfully portrays a worldview that many of us aren't accustomed to examining, which is that in comparison to all of space, Earth is merely a tiny speck, but all of human history has happened here and it's our only home.

Ripe with scientific data surrounding climate change and the negative effect on Earth and its inhabitants, the documentary is both interesting and foreboding. A main focus of the film is Gore's own analysis and research about the annual temperature and CO2 levels in Antarctic ice samples, which has been on the rise. Other examples are used to convey the consequences of global warming on animals and humans alike. Perhaps the most poignant visual is the possibility of a major ice sheet in Greenland collapsing that would cause coastal flooding and result in 100 million refugees the world over.

This documentary is sobering and almost terrifying in its severity; however, there's a message of hope here as well at the end of the film. Gore argues that the effects of global warming can indeed be reversed should the appropriate actions are taken now. Steps to take include the proactive action of releasing less CO2 into our atmosphere, coupled with the reactive action of planting more vegetation to combat and consume the existing high levels of CO2 currently wafting around the planet.

An Inconvenient Truth earned $49 million at the box office worldwide and is the 5th highest grossing documentary film to date in the United States. This film taught the public at large to stop viewing global warming as a myth or something for future generations to worry about, and to act now to prevent the collapse of the planet.

The minds behind this documentary Al Gore and Davis Guggenheim are engaging in a new initiative to take a more active role in the fight against global warming. They have backed the Dot Eco initiative to establish the .eco top level domain. This new initiative powered by Dot Eco LLC, will donate over 50% of domain registration proceeds back to fund scientific initiatives and research in climate change, ocean analysis, economic policy, and other environmentally-related areas. Dot Eco is a powerful and truly innovative initiative that can help save our environment.

To learn more about Dot Eco and how you can help this initiative please visit supportdoteco.com or follow Dot Eco on Twitter.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

Fighting Global Warming

noreply@blogger.com (Dot Eco) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:54:00 +0000

There are multiple lists of tips on how to reduce global warming. Many of these tips are really common knowledge now and even before saving the planet was cool, some of these tips were presented as ways to save money. Tips such as weatherizing your home, insulating the hot water heater and taking a shower instead of a bath were all money saving tips before they were tips on fighting global warming.

There are so many other ways people can fight global warming on their own small scale and in their day to day lives. All it takes is a small idea to get the ball rolling into a large movement.

For instance, one very large concern is water bottles. Everybody knows those will sit in a landfill forever. There has been a movement recently for people to purchase a reusable bottle and refill their own water at home instead of continuing to purchase cases of bottled water.

Eating and buying food is another area where global warming can be fought. It is not often thought of as a place where this can be done but looking at it, one can see where it would be a viable place to do just that. Purchase food locally. Many big cities and even small towns have farmer's markets where produce can be bought. These foods have not traveled across the country to wind up in the local large chain stores but are grown locally and brought to the market with much less fuel used to get it there. An added bonus is if the locally grown food is organic because that means the farmers are not using chemicals to grow the foods that wind up in our bodies, our water supply and in the ground.

Of any tip a person can use, the most important one is making your voice heard. Talk about global warming and what you are doing to fight it. Invite your friends, family and co-workers to join you in some small changes that can make a big impact. Let your lawmakers know that you want what is best for the planet and encourage them to fight with you by passing helpful legislation.

With new ways to fight global warming being discovered and used every day and making changes in your day to day life, there will be so many benefits to the planet as a whole. Encouraging others will further the cause and make the movement stronger.

If you want to help the fight against global warming help support the Dot Eco initiative to establish the .eco top level domain. This new initiative powered by Dot Eco LLC, will donate over 50% of domain registration proceeds back to fund scientific initiatives and research in climate change, ocean analysis, economic policy, and other environmentally-related areas. Dot Eco is a powerful and truly innovative initiative that can help the fight against global warming.

Follow Dot Eco on Twitter to see the latest updates. You can also show your support by becoming a fan of Dot Eco on Facebook.

Source: Ezine Articles