May 18, 2018 
Issue No. 31
Notes from Chapter One
By Shanti Moorjani  

In the first chapter of the book, A Global Warming Primer by Jeffrey Bennett, the opening quote in the introduction says: "Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge: it's common sense" President Ronald Reagan, January 25, 1984 (State of the Union address). The first chapter of this book starts with basic science, suggesting it is not that difficult and understandable to an average 4th or 5th grader. The key is to be informed and see the big picture.

"Is human-induced global warming a real threat to our future?", the first, of many questions Mr. Bennett asks.   He asserts his 3 goals in this Primer book is to, 1) To show anyone can understand the basic science of global warming, 2) To understand arguments from skeptics and make your own decision, and 3) To know there are bi-partisan ways to solve these problems and protect the earth for future generations.
 
He starts with "The Tale of two Planets", Earth and Venus. They are both a live-able distance from the sun and both about the same size. The average surface temperature of Earth is 59 degrees and Venus is 880 degrees. This difference in temperature is because of carbon dioxide. Earth has just enough carbon dioxide to keep in the heat of the planet and make it live-able, while Venus has 200,000 times as much as Earth......too much of a good thing. The trapped heat makes the surface of Venus "hotter than a pizza oven". This example makes it clear that excesses of carbon dioxide, which we call "greenhouse gases" does heat up a planet!
 
The author suggests the arguments for global warming are as easy as 1 -2 - 3.
 
First , "Carbon dioxide" is a greenhouse gas (a gas that traps in heat) and makes a planet (like Earth or Venus) warmer than it would be otherwise."
 
Second , "Human activity, especially coal, oil, and gas all release carbon dioxide when burned - adding significantly to the amount in the atmosphere."
 
Third , "The inevitable conclusion is we should expect the rising concentration of carbon dioxide to warm our planet bringing more severe consequences as more is added."
 
Mr. Bennett goes to explain Fact #1, showing how particles of light that enter our earth from the sun can either escape back to space, or stay to give heat. It's a delicate balance that has worked for human life here on earth.   His analogy of too much greenhouse gases (including H20, Carbon dioxide CO2, Methane CH2) is likened to a "blanket" that traps in too much heat, like Venus. Using basic physics and sophisticated instruments, these measurements of light have been calculated.
 
The rest of this first chapter in the Global Warming Primer book answers every imaginable question of even a hardcore skeptic, supporting the answers with hardcore proof. The final conclusion is we should expect global warming. The next questions are how much can we handle and how long until the balance is upset? Part of the answer to that will be coming up in Chapter 2, discussing climate trends, past, present, and future. More later!
Summer Film & Speaker Events from Person of the Planet   
Films to make us think - documentaries this summer with the organization Person of the Planet. The series covers sustainability, health, environmental impacts and literally, the whole earth. All films will be shown at Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington, Kensington. Parking across the street from the church. www.personoftheplanet.org
 
Film Series:
June 13, Wednesday, 7pm "Cowspiracy"
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following intrepid filmmaker Kip Andersen as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today - and investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it.
 
Film Series:
July 6, Friday, 7pm "What the Health"
We follow filmmaker, Kip Andersen, as he uncovers the impacts of highly processed industrial animal foods on our personal health and greater community, and explores why leading health organizations continue to promote the industry despite countless medical studies and research showing deleterious effects of these products on our health.
 
Film Series:
July 22, Sunday, 4pm "Bag It "
Try going a day without plastic. Plastic is everywhere and infiltrates our lives in unimaginable and frightening ways. In this touching and often flat-out-funny film, we follow "everyman" Jeb Berrier, who is admittedly not a tree hugger, as he embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of our plastic world. What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a wholesale investigation into plastic and its effect on our waterways, oceans, and even our own bodies.
 
Speaker Series:
July 25, Wednesday, 7:00 PM Climate Reality Leaders "If You've Only Got Five Minutes for the Planet..."
 
Summary:
Come learn about the fundamentals of grassroots climate action with three Climate Reality Leaders who trained with Al Gore. Not only will you hear the abbreviated climate reality talk, but you'll learn tactics for generating change in your own community that allow you to take action in small ways when you have the time. In fact, everyone will leave this presentation having completed one act of grassroots activism. So even if you've only got time for the planet for this one evening, you can be guaranteed to make an impact!
 
Bios:
 
Jessica Day, Climate Reality Leader
Jessica Day is Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing & Communications at IdeaScale, a company that has grown from a small-scale start-up to the world's largest idea management platform in the world. She is a communications specialist who has worked with industry leaders, such as Citrix, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, NASA, the New York City Police Department, Princess Cruises and many others. She was trained by the Climate Reality Project and is a member of the Albany Climate Action Coalition.
 
Day lives in Albany, CA. She holds a MFA in English, Creative Writing.
 
Eric Larson, Climate Reality Leader
Eric Larson is Product Manager at Zeiss; his passion is advocating solar and renewable energy to combat climate change. President of NorCal Solar and trained at Climate Reality project, he is committed to making positive changes in our environment and community.
 
 
Film Series:
August 12, Sunday, 4pm "Plastic Ocean"
A PLASTIC OCEAN begins when journalist Craig Leeson, searching for the elusive blue whale, discovers plastic waste in what should be pristine ocean. 

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