While not exactly a "green" post, I thought I would pass this along. The US EPA has released a smartphone application that provides you with a daily UV index forecast in your selected area. You can read the entire news release and download the app here.
In addition to information on the application, the EPA provides some tips about how to prevent sunburns and skin damage from UV exposure - an important topic given that exposure to UV radiation can damage your eyes and cause skin cancer.
And if you are looking for some more information on sunscreens, you can go to the Environmental Working Group's 2010 Sunscreen guide on-line. They have tested a number of sunscreens and compared their performance with the claims on the label.
So enjoy the summer, but keep safe in the sun!
7/30/10
7/8/10
Risk vs Certainty
One argument often used in the climate change debate is that the science is uncertain. The argument goes something like this - because there is no science/data/proof that says 100% that humans are causing changes to the Earth's climate through the combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial air emissions, we should not take any actions to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Not every group buys into this argument - including one that might surprise some people:
US Military Commanders
Military action is full of uncertainty - conditions can change rapidly on the battlefield, and the best plans can fall apart in moments. Military leaders, especially those at the top, are trained to deal with uncertainty and to make decisions with imperfect information. If, as a military commander, you wait for a perfect plan or perfect information, you will almost certainly fail.
Military leaders tend to see differences not as stark contrasts, but as varying degrees of risk. Inaction is not an option for the military - they have to take the information that they have and form a plan around it. Then they move forward and execute the plan, changing it as they go to fit the conditions they encounter.
Over the past 12-18 months, I have seen a number of articles, videos and discussions about the US Military's view of climate change, and the actions each branch is taking to counteract the potential risks.
Force Multiplier
For example, armies need food and fuel to function - when the supply trains are long, they are vulnerable to disruption and the army is at risk (ask Napoleon about his Russian campaign). In the case of modern US operations, fuel represents a large risk to troops because of the large quantities that are required and the often long distance that the fuel must travel. Additionally, if a major portion of the fuel supply comes from a nation that is hostile to the US, or funnels profits to groups that are hostile to the US, our own money is turned against our troops. All of the branches of the US military are engaged in projects to reduce fuel use and use renewable fuels in order to improve their own security and reduce dependency on foreign goods - here are some examples:
US Army
US Navy
US Military Commanders
Military action is full of uncertainty - conditions can change rapidly on the battlefield, and the best plans can fall apart in moments. Military leaders, especially those at the top, are trained to deal with uncertainty and to make decisions with imperfect information. If, as a military commander, you wait for a perfect plan or perfect information, you will almost certainly fail.
Military leaders tend to see differences not as stark contrasts, but as varying degrees of risk. Inaction is not an option for the military - they have to take the information that they have and form a plan around it. Then they move forward and execute the plan, changing it as they go to fit the conditions they encounter.
Over the past 12-18 months, I have seen a number of articles, videos and discussions about the US Military's view of climate change, and the actions each branch is taking to counteract the potential risks.
Force Multiplier
For example, armies need food and fuel to function - when the supply trains are long, they are vulnerable to disruption and the army is at risk (ask Napoleon about his Russian campaign). In the case of modern US operations, fuel represents a large risk to troops because of the large quantities that are required and the often long distance that the fuel must travel. Additionally, if a major portion of the fuel supply comes from a nation that is hostile to the US, or funnels profits to groups that are hostile to the US, our own money is turned against our troops. All of the branches of the US military are engaged in projects to reduce fuel use and use renewable fuels in order to improve their own security and reduce dependency on foreign goods - here are some examples:
US Army
US Navy
In this video, a number of former, high-ranking US military commanders talk about their concerns regarding climate change. Climate change is often considered to be a force multiplier - meaning that the impacts of climate change could add to or increase threats that already exist. Rising sea levels threaten Navy and other military bases located in coastal cities; water shortages can lead to new regional wars; food insecurity can topple fragile governments and provide a way for extremist organizations to take power. Each of these scenarios is a potential threat to national security, and military commanders have taken notice.
Perhaps we can learn something from our men and women in uniform. In the face of uncertainty and risk, make a plan and move forward - waiting for certainty in the case of climate change may mean that we are too late...
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