Blog Action Day - Climate Change

If I could fix everything for you, believe me I would
Do you feel the same, feel the same as me?
Its hard for me to know, well maybe I should just let go.
But what if it all means something?
(What if it all Means Something by Chantal Kreviazuk)

I was happy when Climate Change was the topic chosen for Blog Action Day, but it is such a vast topic. Climate change is one of the major problems in the world today. It has such consequences but it is something that we can all do something about.

Last year, I was writing "Green Tips" for my mothers' group to give ideas on how we can live greener lives. There are multiple websites where we can sign up to show support for living greener lives including the World Wildlife Fund and A Million Acts of Green.

Most of us know what to do though...simply put...Reduce Reuse Recycle, so I didn't want to blog about what we can do.

I could have gone in so many directions with this topic, but my recent visit to the Toronto Zoo got me inspired to write about polar bears.

I have a daughter who is an animal lover. Being exposed to her love of animals every day has raised my awareness of issues facing animals today.

We often go to the Toronto Zoo. This summer, the new 10 acre Tundra Trek was opened and three polar bears came back after being in Northern Ontario during the renovation.

Along with getting a chance to see these beautiful animals, the zoo is using the new exhibit in order to educate the public to the dangers of climate change to the Arctic.

Polar bears are one of the animals most threatened by climate change. They depend on ice platforms in order to hunt seals. Climate change is causing less ice to be formed, or for it to be formed later in the season. This is causing many bears to die of starvation. The leading cause of death in cubs in Hudson Bay was found to be lack of food or lack of fat in nursing mothers.

Lack of opportunity for hunting is also causing polar bears to venture into villages and towns.

There is less sea ice because we humans are producing more green house gas emissions which is making the earth warmer.

In 2008, the Arctic sea ice shrank to its second-lowest level since satellite measuring began in 1979, ending the year 34% below the long-term average for 1979-2000.

Of course, I have to add a musical reference. Chantal Kreviazak visited Churchill and spoke with a polar bear expert for Polar Bears International.




So what can we do to ensure the polar bears don't go the way of the dinosaurs? We can continue to do our share to help decrease greenhouse gas emissions. We can encourage our governments and companies to do the same.

The Toronto Zoo is going more green every year. They have information on their website about their conservation and green programs. They are even offering a one day event for executives to teach them how they can make their companies green.

The bottom line is that Climate Change is a problem that can be solved if we all work together to make a difference.