If you live in a place where you are allowed to vote, it is very important that you do. If you live in the US, the midterm elections coming up on November 8 are VERY important at the local, state, and national levels. Many significant issues will be decided based on the policies and laws that will be put in place by the candidates and political parties selected in this election. And your vote does count. Many election races are decided by a relatively small number of votes. If you are not registered to vote, you will need to register within the next several days to be eligible to vote on November 8. Make sure you are registered to vote (even if you were previously registered) and then check the voting procedures for your precinct to make sure your ballot is submitted according to your state and precinct’s requirements. Many states have changed their voting procedures since 2020. Once you are registered, research the candidates and the political parties – don’t rely on soundbites, commercials, and social media. Go to the candidates’ websites and read their statements on the issues. Listen to debates between the candidates. No candidate is perfect, and sometimes you may have to vote against a candidate you really don’t like rather than for a candidate you do like. And remember that local and state elections are just as important as the national election.
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Many areas of the world are experiencing drought and water shortages that are expected to worsen due to climate change. Water conservation will become ever more important in these areas as water supplies become less abundant. Even in locations where there is plenty of rainfall, conserving water in your yard, home, or business will reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Per the US Environmental Protection Agency, in the US, “on average, the annual energy used to deliver and treat water for only 10 households could power a refrigerator for more than two years. In some areas of the country, that estimate is very low. Heating water for showering, bathing, shaving, cooking, and cleaning also requires a considerable amount of energy.” As another example from the US EPA, “letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.” The article at the link below has a lot of information on conserving water, with many links to other articles. Here are a few of the highlights:
According to the attached article, in the US 28% of carbon emissions come from transportation. This includes personal cars, trucks, airplanes, and trains. In most US areas, public transportation is not widespread enough for people to completely avoid traveling in a car, but how you use and maintain your car can reduce your carbon emissions. The attached article has more information, but here are some things to consider:
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