TexasLibGirl's Blog

Thursday, 09 August 2007

Live Earth Is Over But Not My Commitment

Compact Flourescent Bulb

Live Earth has come and gone. Many of us watched the global concerts and speeches all weekend long. It was quite an event. Many famous artists and musicians donating their time to perform in concerts that were simulcast simultaneously in several countries around the world. Immediately after the concerts I wrote a blog detailing my views of the concerts and commitment to fight global warming.

It has been one full month since the Live Earth concerts. It is now August. Temperatures are soaring all across the country with record temperatures in several states in the southeast. The weather here in Texas has been extremely erratic varying from flash floods to scorching hot temperatures and sunny skies. Yesterday a tornado touched down in Brooklyn. Yes, I said BROOKLYN! The northeast which normally gets consistent rain is experiencing a drought. And, all of this is just in the United States.

We have had a couple of presidential debates both Democrat and Republican. I have watched each and every debate since they began. I can only recall one question about global warming and climate crisis throughout all of them and that one happened to be from a citizen during the "You Tube" Democratic debate. This issue or non-issue has yet to be discussed in any detail by any of the candidates, Congress, or the President.

I sat down with my future mother and brother in law this past weekend and watched An Inconvenient Truth with them. It was their first time to see it and my 4th or 5th. Because they are both caring people with common sense, they were even more concerned than ever after watching the documentary. Taylor, who is 15, got online and sent messages to his friends about what he had seen in the movie.
He genuinely was concerned about the fate of our planet and asked excellent questions about what we could do to change the direction we are heading.

The next day my fiancee and his mother went to the store and purchased CFL (compact flourescent) light bulbs and proceeded to change out every light in our house. The CFL bulbs only use 26 watts compared to a 100 watt standard incandescent bulb. They are guaranteed to last five years. In other words, one CFL bulb lasts as long as TEN incandescent bulbs. And, of course, they use much less electricity, 75% less energy than standard bulbs. The package, which contained six bulbs, states that one package will save $296 in energy.

In addition to saving electricity and being much better for the environment, the bulbs emit much less heat than a regular incandescent bulb. 90% of the energy used by incandescents turn into heat, only 10% of the energy is converted to light. My mother-in-law pointed this out in a way that I hadn't thought of before. Remember the "Easy Bake Ovens"? There isn't a heating element that cooks the cakes. They contain an incandescent light bulb which emits heat that cooks the cake. So, when you are burning incandescent light bulbs, not only are you using more electricity, you are also producing more heat in your home which makes your air conditioner have to work harder and use more electricity to cool your home.

So, the initial investment in switching to CFL bulbs is not much. We bought two different styles and one package was $15.43 for six bulbs and the other package was $10.86 for six bulbs. We replaced each and every light in our house including the ones in the closets and lamps. That was one of the commitments that I made when I signed Mr Gore's "7 Point Pledge" and I can proudly say I have fulfilled it.

So, once again, I urge everyone to convert their old, inefficient incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient and environmentally safe CFL bulbs. By doing so, not only are you doing your part to help fight global warming and leave a planet that is livable for future generations, you will also be saving money which everyone can agree is a good thing.

I am not done yet. We have one hybrid vehicle in our household. I would like to get another one as soon as I can feasibly do so. I have been riding the train and bus to and from work every chance I can. We have converted our entire house to CFL bulbs and we recycle everything the city will take as recyclables.

But, there are many more things we can do. The number one thing that will make a difference is pressuring our lame representatives into making global warming and the climate crisis a real issue and find real solutions. As I said earlier, I have yet to hear any of the presidential candidates on either side of the aisle address global warming or propose any solutions. Until our government and our representatives make it an issue and work to find real national and global solutions, the small efforts that you and I make are not going to be enough. I know there are many issues that we want our representatives to address, all good & worthy issues. But, if our planet isn't livable in the future, the rest of the issues really won't matter. So, email, call , write your reps. Remind them that global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels is an issue that we want to see addressed. Maybe one of these days they will actually listen to us or we'll find a candidate who will.

TexasLibGirl posted @ 15:58 - Link - comments

Saturday, 21 July 2007

The State of U.S. Healthcare and Bush's Ass

Bush's Recent Colonoscopy

This morning President Bush went in for a "routine test", a colonoscopy. For a few moments, President Cheney was in charge. I don't know about you, but, that wasn't very comforting to me. However, that is not what I would like to talk about today.

MSNBC was discussing Bush's procedure and the fact that the doctor found five polyps which have now been sent off to pathology. A physician that was being interviewed said that the chances that the polyps are malignant (or cancerous) is very low. He said that President Bush did the "right thing" by getting a routine colonoscopy which is a procedure used to diagnose benign (non-cancerous) polyps and remove them before they have the chance to turn into anything more serious such as cancer. He made a statement that "this is what every American needs to do" meaning all of us should be getting routine diagnostic procedures to prevent something small from developing over time into something more sinister.

Well, wouldn't THAT be peachy? Yes, I'm sure most Americans would much prefer to get diagnostic testing in order to prevent cancer or other such diseases. There is only one small problem with that. 46 MILLION people do not have health care coverage in this country and millions more are under insured and can't afford diagnostic testing even with their insurance. Most of us can't get adequate treatment when diagnosed with such dreaded diseases either due to lack of insurance coverage.

Yes, Mr President. If you did the right thing. You went in for a diagnostic procedure, something that all doctors encourage everyone to have after the age of 50. I'm sure Pickles had her annual mammogram and I'm sure the twins had their annual gynecological exams and routine physicals. Isn't it a comforting feeling to know that you had these tests and that if anything were wrong, you most likely caught it early enough that it is easily cured?

Well, wake up Mr President! Wake up Congress! That just so happens to be a luxury in this country. I am a nurse and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't had an annual exam in almost 5 years. I haven't been to a doctor in years other than to take my children when they have been sick. I have insurance and I can't afford to go get diagnostic testing or use it unless I'm forced to. I have a $500 per person deductible which has to be met before anything is covered. THEN, I still have to pay 20% of the bill regardless of how high that might be. Fortunately, at the moment I don't have a chronic condition (that I know of) so I rarely go to the doctor, hence, when I do go, the entire visit comes 100% out of my pocket. And, those $30-50 visits don't exist anymore. The last time I saw a doctor was for an infection and I paid $120 for an hour long wait in the waiting room and a 4 minute visit with the doctor just to get an antibiotic which I couldn't afford. And, that isn't even taking into account what I pay each month for this lovely insurance plan. My employer deducts the cost of my insurance out of my check every two weeks. I pay $136 EVERY 2 WEEKS! I don't know about you, but, I don't consider that a good deal especially being that I can't and don't use the plan except on rare occasions.

And, then of course, there are the millions of people without any coverage whatsoever. My friend Kyle, AKA Mighty on the UNN message board, is one of those people. He has tried to get coverage through several companies but due to preexisting health conditions, he has been turned down over and over. Read more of Kyle's personal story at his blog, The Mighty Liberal . My boyfriend, Kris, AKA SensiScholar on the board, is yet another example. He is a self-employed, small business owner (like Kyle) who can not afford a decent health care insurance policy. But, you know what is even more pathetic? Our two dogs have health insurance but he doesn't. Now, what is wrong with this picture? Good, hard working people can not afford health insurance for themselves or can afford it but get turned down. Meanwhile, our dogs are covered.

I also met a woman the other day at the hospital where I work. Her husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a nasty form of cancer often caused by asbestos in the work environment. He is 67 and was still working. Bu, since his diagnosis he has been unable to work and was just starting his first round of chemotherapy. They lost their insurance and medicare isn't making a dent in their medical bills. They are already on the verge of losing everything and it has only been 3 weeks since their nightmare began. They checked into additional coverage through AARP and found out that if they get it, medicare will not cover the expenses that they are covering as of now. As she relayed her story to me, a perfect stranger, she cried. I hugged her and wished I had some encouraging words for her. But, unfortunately, I know how the system works all too well and there was nothing comforting that I could say.

So, yes the man that was being interviewed on MSNBC this morning was correct. It is the wise thing to do to go in for diagnostic procedures and testing in order to catch a problem early enough to treat it before it develops into something more sinister. However, the truth of the matter is that most Americans can not afford to do so due to lack of coverage altogether or inadequate coverage. The new Michael Moore film, Sicko, does a great job, in my opinion, of shedding light on the dark truth of our broken health care system in this country. But, what is it going to take for Congress and our President to acknowledge that fact and actually do something about it? Sure, there is plenty of rhetoric floating around Washington about the need to improve our health care system. But, that is all it is, empty rhetoric. We need a solution and we need it fast. What is it going to take to get the guys on the hill to take notice and actually do something about it?

I believe the answer is in the streets of other countries. People have to wake up and decide that we have had enough. We need to literally take it to the streets. That is what people do in other industrialized countries and even in countries that are not so industrialized. People in Europe don't hesitate to march in the streets and protest when they perceive they have been wronged. People in the Middle East take matters into their own hands when they want to effect change. But, here in the United States, people bitch and moan but that is about it. Nobody is willing or perhaps, able to do anything about it other than that. Until we the people decide we have had enough, there is only going to be more of the same. More people will be diagnosed with fatal diseases such as cancer. More people will die each year because their illness was not caught in time to do anything about it. And, more and more people will continue to chose food over the medicine and health care that they need and deserve.

Michael Moore has taken it upon himself to bring this issue out into the open for the whole world to see. But, will that be enough to get our leadership to take the matter serious enough to actually do anything about it? I sincerely doubt it. Have you heard of any health care debate going on recently on the hill? No, because the insurance companies are actively lobbying our representatives on the hill. That is what WE need to be doing. We can't afford to pay them off like the insurance companies do. So, the only thing we can do is make some noise and continue to do so until they finally decide to take notice. We need to force a national debate on this issue. This is our country. This is our health and we deserve to have the same type of diagnostic procedures and treatments that our President and Congress get. Hell, we certainly work harder than they do. Look at the number of days these guys take vacation each year. How many of us are able to take literally months off each year to enjoy vacation?

Michael Moore's movie was a great first step. But, ultimately, the change rests with us. It is up to us to stand up and demand that our leaders pass real legislation that takes away the power from the insurance companies and gives it back to us. Health care should be a right that every American deserves. It shouldn't be a luxury item. But, that is exactly what it is as it stands now.

I'm sure President Bush will receive news that the polyps they removed today are benign. I'm sure his doctor will say something like "It's a good thing you had this procedure. You did the right thing. Now, we caught something that potentially could have developed into cancer at a later date". Yes, Mr President, you did do the right thing. It is a crying shame that the majority of Americans can't do the right thing too.

TexasLibGirl posted @ 09:47 - Link - comments (3)

Sunday, 08 July 2007

I'm Awake!

My boyfriend and I watched the Live Earth concerts yesterday by streaming them online. We watched the entire NY & UK shows and caught a few acts in other countries such as Lenny Kravitz in Brazil, Linkin Park in Japan, and a couple of others. But, by far our favorite was Melissa Etheridge who performed in New York.

Melissa came on stage and stood there silent until the crowd quieted down. Then that distinct voice that I have come to love over the years started to sing. In the first verse of her first song, she mentioned a mother who had lost her son in Iraq. I listened and very soon realized that she was talking about someone I consider a friend and hero, Cindy Sheehan. I literally jumped out of my chair and cheered. As the song went on, I sat there in awe listening to her words.

Then Melissa Etheridge began to ask "what happened to us America?" She told the story of how when she was a child we had a president who was a criminal. She recalled how the American people wouldn't stand for it and "the president" eventually resigned under the pressure. And, then she asked again "what happened to us America?"

She went on to sing a second song, just as beautiful as the first. And, at the end of the song she chanted "truth is of the people, by the people, for the people" and the audience began to chant along with her. It was enough to give me goose bumps. She went on to say how we as a country need to wake up. She said we need to stand up to this administration who has run away with our country and our freedoms. She stated that we need to wake up and do something for our precious planet before it is too late. And, what she said next brought me to tears.

She asked "will you one day tell your children and their children that this was the time that we woke up and took back our country?" Having children of my own, this question hit me hard. Will my children have a world that they can grow old in? Will my children have a country that they can participate freely in their government? Will my children have clean air to breathe and beaches to take their children to for vacation? What kind of world are we leaving for our children?

Yes America, Melissa is right. It is time to wake up! We have precious few years left to get things turned around. Our planet is in a crisis. Our children's and grandchildren's futures are at stake. We can't sit around waiting for Congress and our President to do the right thing. They have proven time and time again that they are incapable of it. It is up to us! "We the people" need to take matters into our own hands.

Each and every one of us can take action in various ways. We each need to make a pledge to reduce our carbon footprint. Turn off lights that you are not using. Change your light bulbs to compact flourescent bulbs which save energy and are more efficient. Wash and rinse your clothes in cold water. Set your water heater to 130 degrees. Use reusable dishes and glassware.

Carpool, or better yet, take public transportation. I started taking the train and bus to work a little over a month ago. It is something that I never thought I would do. But, now that I am, I absolutely love it. I am spending much less on gas & putting less wear and tear on my car. The commute is comfortable and it beats the heck out of sitting in traffic 3-4 hours a day. I sit and read, listen to my i-pod, which allows me time to catch up on my UNN podcasts, and have a nice relaxing trip to and from work. I have even made a few friends commuting this way. If you never thought you would be riding mass transit, give it a try. You may very well be pleasantly surprised. I was. And, the first day I stepped off the train to come back home, I felt really good about myself. It is quite gratifying knowing that I'm not contributing as much to the oil companies' record profits and their CEO's ridiculous salaries, as well as doing my part to help reduce global warming. And, if you must drive, be sure to keep your tires properly inflated and your car properly maintained to obtain the best fuel efficiency that you can.

When you purchase your next vehicle, make it a hybrid. We just purchased a Prius and so far we are averaging over 90 miles per gallon. 90 MILES PER GALLON!!! The car may look small on the outside, but it is as roomy as our old, large sedan inside. And, did I mention 90 MILES PER GALLON? More and more automobile manufactures are making hybrids. They are no more expensive than any other car and the money you save on gas is astronomical. And, of course, the benefit to our planet is undeniable.

Recycle! Most cities now have special containers for recyclables. We recycle everything from newspapers to plastics. The only difference is that we put those items into a different trash receptacle than we did before. Ooooh, that is hard, huh? If your town doesn't have a recycling program, start demanding that they get one in place. In the mean time, take your aluminum cans to a recycling container. You will even make a little cash for your efforts.

Think before you purchase. There are many companies today who are focused on new technologies and manufacturing products to help our environment rather than continue to harm it. Buy Energy Star appliances and products. Shop at stores and buy products from companies who have made a pledge to help save our planet. Buy food from local farmer's markets and/or grow your own.

There are so many things that each of us can do to help the environment and turn things around before it is too late. And, you don't have to install solar panels on your house or buy a hybrid to make a difference. If you want to know what your carbon footprint is and how to reduce your environmental impact, take three minutes to get your "live impact score" and create your very own "earth conservation plan" by clicking this link.
Carbon Profile Quiz
Taking this brief quiz and becoming aware of your carbon footprint is the first step in doing your part to save our planet.

Take Al Gore's "7 Point Pledge". Say it out loud with me:
1. I will demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth.
2. I pledge to take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and off setting the rest to become "carbon neutral".
3. I pledge to fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2.
4. I pledge to work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, work place, school, place of worship, and means of transportation.
5. I pledge to fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on coal and oil.
6. I pledge to plant new trees and join with others in preserving and protecting forests.
7. I pledge to buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crises and building a sustainable, just and prosperous world for the 21st century.
Sign the pledge here: Seven Point Pledge . The goal is one million signatures. Be a part of the solution in this global crises.(View Gore's message here: Gore's Seven Point Pledge)

And, finally, each and every one of us need to let our representatives know that we are not going to tolerate their lack of action where our planet is concerned any longer. They need to pass REAL fuel efficiency standards NOW, not years from now. We need to be investing in alternative energy and end our dependence on oil once and for all. The technology is available. It works. But, Congress has to make a commitment to stop accepting money from corporations who only have their bottom line in mind rather than what is best for our country and the planet. And, if our representatives are not willing to make that commitment then we need to let them know that we aren't willing to keep them around. Call their offices, write letters, or send emails. You can obtain their addresses here: Congress Contact Information

Melissa Etheridge pleaded with us to wake up. She jokingly said make a sign that reads "I'm Awake" and place it on your car. I think it is a great idea. Can you imagine what Congress will think if they begin to see "I'm Awake" signs all over the country? Who knows? It may just wake them up and force them to realize that we, the American people, are fed up with their lack of action to address this very real problem of global warming. Just remember folks, the big oil companies and other corporations may be lining their pockets but ultimately we are the ones who employ them. It is high time that we let them know that we hired them and we can most certainly fire them.

I'm awake America, are you?
Check out the video "I Need to Wake Up"

I'm Awake Sign

TexasLibGirl posted @ 09:07 - Link - comments (2)

Thursday, 05 July 2007

Happy July 5th

Growing up I have always loved the Fourth of July. My family and I normally spent the holiday camping at our favorite lake, swimming, boating, cooking out, and, of course, watching fireworks. My sisters and I played with sparklers and gazed in wonder at the colorful firework displays in the night sky. I remember talking about what the true meaning of July 4th was and feeling thankful that we didn't live in a nation where we weren't allowed to express our opinion or have a say in our govt.

Fast forward to 2007. Now I have a family of my own. The war in Iraq drags on and on. Global warming is actually being debated like there is any question as to whether it really exists. Our govt has been taken over by a rogue administration who has no regard for the Constitution and we have a Congress who is too afraid, for political reasons, to hold them accountable for any one of the crimes they have committed. And, I sat here on July 4th wondering why I'm not excited about the holiday as I once was. Go figure.

I didn't cook out yesterday. I didn't take the kids to the lake. We simply walked outside and watched a fireworks show off in the distance that we could barely see. And, all the while I kept thinking "what is wrong with me?" Why did I feel such apathy about a holiday that I once loved? Because as I look at my kids, I can't help but wonder what this country will be like for them as adults. And, as I contemplate that thought, I become increasingly sad. This isn't the country of equal opportunity, "hot dogs & apple pie", and freedom & liberty that I have come to love. Sadly, I hardly recognize my own country anymore. It has turned into the land of the ultra rich and poor, corporate America at it's finest. Our representatives care more about their campaign contributions and kickbacks than they do about the welfare of the American people. The cost of everything from gas to food has sky rocketed and continues to rise. 46 million people are without health care and even more are with inadequate coverage. Our economy is going down the tubes with the war in Iraq raging on, the govt allowing more and more jobs to be outsourced, and wages not increasing on pace with the rising cost of living.

And, for those of you who think things will magically turn around when Bush is out of office, I hope you are right but I have my doubts. Looking at the field of candidates on both sides of the field, I don't think we should hold out a lot of hope that whoever elected as President in 08 will put our best interests first. Look at the campaign donations that are being reported. Who do you really think their loyalty will lie with?

So, as I sit her on July 5th thinking about yesterday, feeling bummed out that the holiday came and went with no feelings of joy or excitement that I once shared, I can only hope that I'm wrong about my pessimistic point of view of our future. I hope that one day my children will live in a country that is great again, a country that cares about it's citizens above all else. I can only hope that our Congress will wake up and hold this criminal administration to account. I can only hope that one day soon all of our troops will come home and stop being played like pawns in a sick chess game. I hope that one day all Americans will have health care. I hope that my children will have the opportunities to live their dreams and not be prevented from doing so due to things beyond their control. I hope that the world will still be revolving, they'll have clean air to breathe, and not be living in underground bunkers because of a handful of idiots who debated whether global warming was real. This is why I choose to be an activist. Not only do I love my country, but, I cherish my children and I want to leave them a world in which they can live and be happy.

TexasLibGirl posted @ 09:36 - Link - comments (2)