WiLD Blog

Okay, we all know about global warming. We’ve all heard about the extreme weather. We’ve seen the hybrid car commercials on TV. We’ve heard about the Live Earth concerts. We’ve changed our light bulbs, turned off the lights when we leave the room, etc. But honestly… do you care?

A day before the Live Earth concerts, a poll showed that 56% of people in the UK believed that there is no scientific consensus that human beings are causing climate change. More people felt that dog messes and litter were bigger problems than the destruction of our planet. That same day, Michael McCarthy, the environmental editor of a British newspaper, wrote an article on why we shouldn’t be shocked by public apathy, by bringing up the differences between activists and citizens.

The greenhouse effect (graphic by NACC/USGCP)

“Activists are on top of the agenda, hyper-aware of problems and issues, and because they mainly talk to other activists, they think everyone sees the world the way they do. But most people don’t. Most citizens, most ordinary people, are not idealists, never mind activists; their main concerns are naturally self-regarding. Thus polls tell us they care most about their income, and then about their health, and then about the education of their children.”

“It is not evil, or even lamentable; it is the human condition. If people seem unconcerned at the greatest threat to their well being of all, it is for a simple reason: money, health and schools are now, but global warming takes place in the future.”

All of us here at WiLDCOAST can be considered activists. We are passionate about protecting and preserving the coast and wildlife. We read the news and blog about the environmental degradation going on, we work with and educate people, and we fight hard to protect the things important to us. But we understand that not everyone agrees with us, we understand that people don’t know or haven’t seen the things we have and we understand that everyone has different priorities. Not everyone is as passionate about the environment as we are. When is the last time you’ve heard a question about the environment at a presidential candidate debate? It’s because people have other, more immediate concerns about their lives.

Graph showing increase in economic losses due to weather related events (source UNEP)

To me, that’s why the Live Earth concerts are so important and why the work we do is so important. We need to raise the issues, we need to generate the discussions, we need to get the people thinking and looking at not only their own lives, but also the lives of other people and of the environment. Even if you’re not extremely passionate about the environment there are still ways you can help. Education is key here, the more you know, the better educated and aware you become of your actions and the actions of others. From there you can take action.

Taking action isn’t all about angry protests and carrying signs. There’s more to action than being loud and verbal. Take action by being responsible for your actions. Make the effort to reduce your carbon emissions, support make the educated choices to be more environmental friendly and conscious. Taking action also means generating discussion and educating others. Be willing to listen and discuss. Some wise advice I got from a friend once was to avoid discussions that generate more heat than light. Just helping others become aware of their impact on their environment is a step in the right direction.

McCarthy observed that: “… by the time most ordinary people see their own vital interests are indeed threatened, it may be too late.”

Lets make sure it’s not too late.

-Calvin Lee

Google Earth is a virtual globe program that maps the Earth by superimposing images. All images are taken from satellite imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe. Google Earth is available on a personal computer as long as it meets system requirements and because it is downloadable via the Internet anyone can use it. Google offers three different licenses: Google Earth, a free version with limited functionality; Google Earth Plus, which includes a few more features; and Google Earth Pro, intended for commercial use.

Image of Baja California produced using Google Earth

One practical application of the program is for realtors selling property over the Internet. With Google Earth one can look at a plot of land and its surroundings anywhere in the world with resolution from 45 ft. to views as precise as 6 inches. Many people are adding their own data on images to highlight specific locations and sites of interest. In addition, one can view an area, such as mountain ranges, in 3D and not just directly from the top.

Recently, Google has launched an outreach campaign to benefit the public and non-profit organizations. Through their Earth Pro license grant program Google is offering free use of their new photographic software to any U.S. based non-profit which aims to benefit the public. The only other requirement in applying for the grant is that there is a working employee who has experience with HTML and Google Earth/KML.

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation is a tri-lingual non-profit created by Canada, Mexico and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. They have utilized Google’s generous offer and today use Google Earth Pro to map industrial pollutants from over 30,000 industrial facilities. Anyone can now see a current map of pollution sources and accumulation anywhere in North America. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation has created an interactive map by including what pollutants are generated and how each of the facilities handles them.

Google Earth updates images so that none remain more then three years old and most are undated annually. Many public organizations are using them to create a visual tracking method of changes in our environment. For example, WWF now provides a virtual tour of the Amazon in order to enhance awareness of deforestation and to better describe the projects in the region. Once baseline images are created each consecutive year can be compared to the previous and members as well as web surfers are able to track progress or, in a more depressive case, observe environmental destruction as it happens today.

At WiLDCOAST we are working to raise money to preserve land in rural Mexico at risk of turning into resortland Mexico. Along with site-specific scenic photos, it is incredibly beneficial to be able to show people aerial views of these unique areas found nowhere else in the world.

Just as Al Gore states in his presentation of An Inconvenient Truth, satellite photographs of the Earth were the single most influential images in the environmental movement. Today we continue to view our world from new perspectives in order to understand it better. Images of glaciers five years ago as compared to today are prime example of an argument that needs no words. I applaud Google for providing such a valuable service at no charge and hope everyone takes the time to take a step back and look at the earth every now and then.

If you’re a working on conservation in a non-profit visit the Google Earth Outreach program website.
Corina Marks