Oh God, not my wine!

Today is BLOG ACTION DAY and the topic is one close to my heart, Climate Change.  Always an advocate for recycling and cutting down my personal and family's waste, this seemed like a natural subject for me to expound on.  When researching the subject, I was astounded by the many ways that climate change is effecting our planet and lives.

We all joke about "global warming," especially when the Chicagoland area has been experiencing one of it's coolest years in years. (There was barely a summer and fall has quickly given way to winter-like temperatures.  Where's the warming part of global warming?)  But long-term, there will be drastic changes to the world as we know it if we don't take action soon.

Even if you don't care about saving the polar bears and grey whales, climate change will change your life and mine in ways you never imagined.  Good God, light dry WINES in California and France -- like one of my  favorites, Pinot Noir -- will no longer be the same due to the warmer temperatures effect on the grapes.  GUACAMOLE, NUTS, and FRENCH FRIES will all be harder to grow/produce due to the higher temperatures. BASEBALL won't have ash bats anymore thanks to a combination of killer beetles and higher temps.  Ski VACATIONS, snorkeling and visiting remote island outposts will also be things of the past.  This is serious people!

What can each of us do to help?  Plenty. Walk or ride your bike more and drive less; cut down on long-distance travel (Can you handle your business with a conference call instead of a face-to-face meeting?); consume less and be more efficient (that includes our appliances too); eat local whenever possible; switch out a few lightbulb in your home to compact flourescents; save a tree and use less paper. 

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of what we can each do to help save the planet for our children and grandchildren.  Or if not for them, then for wine-lovers like me!