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JAIN DIGEST
* Carbon dioxide (CO) * Chloro-fluorocarbons (CFCs) * Nitrous oxide (NO) * Methane * Low-level ozone
Our expensive taste has led to expensive habits. Each day, we throw away items that cost the earth, without ever recognizing the price we are paying.
Choose positive action. Understand that the new global currency is natural resources, not money. Contact your council or local environmental group and find out about recycling centers. Change your habits. Do anything you can.
But begin by feeling the connection. The paper from which you read these words is made from a tree. Now act.
These gases are created by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas, petrol, wood and peat to heat and light our homes and businesses and to run our cars, applicances and machines. The destruction of forests, production of plastics and solvents, beef cattle farming, wet rice agriculture, rubbish tips, chemical fertilizers and pesticides also contribute large amounts of greenhouse gases.
by Shilpa Mehta
What will Happen? Scientists predict that if the production of greenhouse gases continues to rise at the current rate, there will be widespread flooding and it is likely the polar icecaps will melt leading to destruction of entire ecosystems and to crop failure. Large areas of low-lying countries such as Bangladesh, Egypt and Indonesia will be underwater as will many coastlines where one-third of the world's population live. There will be millions of environmental refugees. The weather will generally become more extreme with major storms, typhoons, tornedoes and hurricanes. Intense rains and droughts will affect key food producing areas. There will be mass extinctions of species who cannot adapt to the rapid changes. Because all nature is interdependent, any change in one species will have a knock-on effect.
The green-house effect is all our environmental nightmares rolled into one. If we solve that, we solve many other problems as well.
Prince Philip with International Jain leaders in Buckingham Palace
The greenhouse effect- the ultimate
violence
What Can We Do? It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem, but everyone can do something to help? The fundamental issue is to reduce our use of natural resources.
hat is the Greenhouse Effect?
The earth's temperature is largely controlled by its atmosphere. Certain gases in the atmosphere allow the sun's energy to penetrate while trapping the heat radiated back by the earth. The phenomenon is known as the 'green-house effect' because it is similar to the way a greenhouse lets the sun's energy in through its glass walls, then traps the heats inside.
The earth's atmosphere has always created a natural green-house effect. If it did not, this planet would be a frozen, lifeless wasteland. Housever, through our overuse of natural resources, humanity is increasing the amount of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere beyond the natural balance. We are turning up the global temperature from a point that will sustain life to a point that will cause catastrophic destruction of it.
What are the Greenhouse Gases? There are five main gases that contribute to the green- house effect:
Saving Energy at Home
The coal, oil and gas burned in our homes and power stations give off carbon dioxide and other gases which contribute to both the green-house effect and acid rain which destroys our forests and buildings.
Every year the average household in the developed world produces 20-30 tons of the greenhouse gases. By being more careful in our use of energy, we can dramatically reduce the output of these gases and save ourselves money.
* Insulate, insulate, insulate - the walls and attic of your home, your hot water heater, the doors and windows with draught strips. These measures can reduce your heating costs and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40%.
Fluorescent lightbulbs cost more to buy than ordinary ones but they last eight times longer and use one-fifth the energy. Each bulb will save half a ton of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere and save you about _ 35.
Buy energy-efficient brands of electrical applicances. Ask the sales assistant for the energy consumption figures or look them up in the library in the national consumer magazine, Which?'
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