Not Just Small Talk These Days
“Lovely weather we are having today, don’t you think?”
Okay, unless you enjoy the cold it might be a bit chillier than normal in Philadelphia. But the weather and climate are not just small talk topics these days.
Starting yesterday until December 18, 2009, the United States, along with nearly 200 other nations, will be discussing the issue of climate change in a global meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. Political officials of the represented nations are set to discuss the most crucial issues surrounding the environment.  Tom Zeller of The New York Times states: “Among the most difficult hurdles, many participants acknowledged throughout the day (Monday), are achieving adequate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions—particularly from big polluters like the United States and China.” Zeller also noted that in days leading up to the global meetings many of the big polluters such as the U.S., China, India, etc. announced new emissions goals. According to some officials and participants, those projected emissions targets were arguably too low to prevent temperatures from swelling more in the future.
In efforts to promote climate awareness, GreenLaces (an ELISE friend) sent Caitlin Fisher from the London School of Economics to be an ambassador at the Copenhagen meetings. GreenLaces was founded by Natalie Spilger, a professional soccer player (Football, fútbol, footy/footie, etc. depending on your location) for the Chicago Red Stars. The GreenLaces movement promotes the idea of making promises for a better planet. They do so by activating the global athletic community to wear green shoe laces in honor of their commitments. For example, Dhani Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals and formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, promised to ride his bike to work 50% of the time and get three of his teammates to join him.  According to the GreenLaces Web site, with the help of professional athletes such as Dhani and Natalie, the GreenLaces’ community of on-line promises is saving over 100 tons of carbon dioxide and $5,600 each year. Over time their ultimate goal is to accumulate one million promises for a better planet.
Mohandas Gandhi once stated: “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” Even though many of us do not have the opportunity to attend the Copehagen meetings, everyone of us does have the ability to make and keep a promise to help GreenLaces reach and exceed their ultimate goal.