THE CHALLENGE OF THE

              ANTHROPOCENE AGE            

By Juliette Blasor

THE revolution must begin from within. 

Saving Earth from its current drive toward self-destruction is the responsibility of each one of us… if we care. Of course, it would be nice if scientists could come up with a neat solution to all the planet's problems that would absolve people from having to make any explicit effort. No such quick fixes exist, except perhaps in the mind of a well-paid Hollywood screenwriter. In the meantime, day in and day out, the madness continues.

HERE's one example. Each year, a million ton of fish are unnecessarily killed in the North Sea because fishermen exceed European Union catch quotas and dump the excess fish back into the ocean. Environmentalists are lobbying to reform the Common Fisheries Policy but any change is not expected until 2013. In the meantime, more fish will be needlessly killed.

Born 4.5 billion years ago, Earth has been home to man (hominids first, then Homo sapiens) for the past 4.4 million years, maybe more. Now the future of mankind is in jeopardy. Its threats include global warming, extreme weather, dwindling resources, loss of biodiversity, overconsumption, overpopulation, pollution of water, air and land. Addressing these awesome challenges requires that governments and societies enact large-scale initiatives, actions that often run into conflict with the agendas of influential sectors, such as big corporations, important industries, powerful political parties.

Enter the individual consumer. Now more than ever, every single consumer can become a catalyst for change. One person's effort might appear to have little impact in the overall scheme of things but just consider if enough people were to take action. Multiply that single action tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold and it would swell into a giant tide -- a tsunami even -- that could ultimately achieve change on a grand scale. And it is happening already, with many people making lifestyle changes aimed at lessening their impact on the environment.

ONE such change is eating less meat. The likelihood of the world suddenly turning vegetarian is highly unlikely but reducing consumption of meat makes a lot of sense. Here's why. According to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the livestock industry accounts for between 13.5 and 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, or a little over half of the total emissions resulting from food production. Musician Paul McCartney spearheads a campaign promoting reduced meat consumption through the website, meatfreemondays.com. Says McCartney:  "By joining together in having one meat-free day each week we'll be making great steps towards reducing the environmental problems associated with the meat industry. You'll also be giving your own health a boost, and with the added benefit that vegetables cost less than meat, having one meat-free day each week means it's good for your pocket too."

This is but one way to take on personal responsibility in our new Anthropocene age, or the age of man, as coined by Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen. At the recent 3rd Nobel Laureate Symposium on Global Sustainability in Stockholm, Sweden, more bells of alarm were set ringing.

"Unsustainable patterns of production, consumption, and population growth are challenging the resilience of the planet to support human activity," concluded this group of Nobel Laureates, assorted experts, and representatives from NGOs and politics.

"Humans are now the most significant driver of global change propelling the planet into a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. We can no longer exclude the possibility that our collective actions will trigger tipping points, risking abrupt and irreversible consequences for human communities and ecological systems. We cannot continue on our current path. The time for procrastination is over. We cannot afford the luxury of denial."

The time for action is NOW. We're all in this together. And yes, we can….but only if we care.

                                 In the winter I'm a Buddhist;

 By Bob Bowers

                   In the summer I'm a nudist.

                                  - Joe Gould

O SOLE MIO!

 After all the rain Puerto Rico has been getting lately, it will be nice to welcome the sun back. But for extended periods under the sun, make sure to protect yourself with hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Not all sunscreen is created equal, as reflected in 

an exhaustive survey by the Environmental Working Group of more than 1,700 sun products. Go to www.ewg.org to check the best sunscreens in the market, plus information on issues surrounding sunscreens in general. According to EWG, sunscreens with the minerals zinc or titanium are "the right choice for people looking for the best UVA protection without any sunscreen chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor." EWG also advises consumers to steer clear of sunscreens with oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate (vitamin A); to select creams or lotions over sprays; and to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after getting wet or sweaty.

by Denise Blasor

The grave's a fine and private place,

But none I think do there embrace.

Andrew Marvell, "To His Coy Mistress"

Copyright©2011 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved