'Too hot not to handle': Must see television

Heat waves. Melting glaciers. Rising sea levels. Catastrophic storms. Migrating viruses. Population displacement. Over the past 100 years, the mass consumption of fossil fuels, especially in America, has contributed to a dangerous warming of the earth that has adversely impacted the way we live. The cautionary documentary TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE offers a guide to the effects of global warming in the United States.

This is without a doubt, the best, clearest explanation we’ve seen yet to define the problems and offer solutions.

SYNOPSIS:

A primer on global warming, TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE features contributions from leading scientists in the field. In addition to in-depth discussions of such subjects as the greenhouse effect, hurricanes, snowpack, hybrid vehicles, and alternative power sources, the film shows how businesses, local governments, and citizens are taking positive actions to reduce global warming emissions.

Over the past century, consumption of carbon dioxide-emitting fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) has risen to staggering levels, especially in the United States, where five percent of the world’s population is responsible for 25 percent of the world’scarbon dioxide emissions. TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE offers a wealth of chilling evidence that the greenhouse effect is intensifying and the Earth is warming faster than at any other time in human history.

Among the startling facts revealed are:

Deadly heat waves in the U.S. have increased threefold since 1950 and today kill more people than hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning and blizzards combined.

The average temperature in Alaska has already risen five degrees, causing 99 percent of its glaciers to be melting, retreating and shrinking.

Rising sea levels are eroding our shoreline and may eventually displace large numbers of Americans.

The intensity of catastrophic storms, such as 2005’s devastating hurricanes Katrina and Rita, , has increased dramatically in the last half-century, as hurricanes draw their strength from warm ocean water.

Deadly viruses like West Nile, aided by higher air temperatures, are spreading to new parts of the globe, including the entire continental U.S.

“My personal hope is that every viewer will be inspired to become part of the solution to reducing our carbon emissions,” says executive producer Laurie David. “As the film shows, everything we need to address this pressing problem already exists, and the time to act is now.”

Encouraging viewers to think “outside the barrel,” the film explores innovative ways Americans can reduce global warming and literally change the world with Earth-friendly options such as biodiesel and hybrid cars.

I encourage everybody to check their local HBO listings and watch this documentary.

In the meanwhile …

25 Things You Can Do To Save the Environment
1. Reduce your driving (walk, bike, ride mass transit, carpool).
2. Choose a more fuel efficient car.
3. Choose more energy-efficient appliances, especially major ones like refrigerators and water heaters.
4. Buy “green power” like wind energy from your electric utility - many offer this option now.
5. Reduce discretionary air travel and purchase carbon dioxide offsets for any air travel you can’t avoid.
6. Recycle everything you can: newspapers, cans, glass bottles and jars, aluminum foil, motor oil, scrap metal, etc.
7. Don’t use electrical appliances for things you can easily do by hand, such as opening cans.
8. Use cold water in the washer whenever possible.
9. Re-use brown paper bags to line your trash can instead of plastic bags. Re-use bread bags and the bags you bring your produce home in.
10. Store food in re-usable containers, instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
11. Save wire coat hangers and return them to the dry cleaners.
12. Take unwanted, re-usable items to a charitable organization or thrift shop.
13. Don’t leave water running needlessly.
14. Turn your heat down, and wear a sweater.
15. Turn off the lights, TV, or other electrical appliances when you are out of a room. 16. Flush the toilet less often. (If you cut flushing in half, you’ll save up to 16.5 gallons a day.)
17. Turn down the heat and turn off the water heater before you leave for vacation.
18. Recycle your Christmas Tree. (Read all the things you can do.)
19. Recycle office and computer paper, cardboard, etc. whenever possible.
20. Use scrap paper for informal notes to yourself and others.
21. Print or copy on both sides of the paper.
22. Use smaller paper for smaller memos.
23. Re-use manila envelopes and file folders.
24. Hide the throw-away cups, and train people to use their washable coffee mugs. Use washable mugs for meetings too.
25. Avoid buying food or products in plastic or styrofoam containers whenever possible. (They cannot be recycled and do not break down in the environment.)