What changes have you seen that inspire you?

I grew up watching the 5 o'clock local news everyday and I always took interest in news talk with other people. Current has made my interest in current events and others a global experience and I am always excited to respond and discuss news...music...art...video and tech around the globe.

CURRENT has inspired me :D

plus finding out Linux the fast and powerful system i sue i also energy efficient

You know, I know Earth Day is over, but one thing that has inspired me is seeing my DAD recycling! If you knew him, you would understand why. He's one of those guys that would LOVE to raise and butcher his own cow to feed his family, thinks vegetarians and marijuana are the enemy and here he is, taking his plastics and old news papers to the recycling plant... it makes me feel good.

"Mindwalk" is a movie that inspiried me over a decade ago. That movie expresses how/why Cartesian thinking is being replaced by "Systems" thinking and how we are all realated to everything around us. It also talks about "Politics of the Impossible" as to how this thinking might be applied to the people of this earth. "We don't evolve on this planet, we evolve WITH this planet." Using my new "eyes" given to me from this movie I see a world leader that is applying "systems thinking" through relationships by example and action. I see many other's following suite with real attitude changes that are manafesting themselves in forging new relationships with people, products, services and conversations that are intent in bridging the "Cartesian" gap to create a better world with each other and with the planet we live on. I see it everywhere. I myself, own a small farm in the midwest and I am turning pastures into prarie. I am so excited to see all the new relationships that will form from this action. Though it is a small action it is contagious to others who are watching me do this. I will leave this planet in a little bit better shape than what I found it in.

Will you please just run for president, and win this time?

Please?

I wanted to follow up w/ some more stuff:

1- http://current.com/items/88854891_earth_hour_2008
the official word after i sent out the "earth hour" email at work came only from two ppl . one general manager (leaving 12 silent) saying "we wont be able to do this cause our building facade's lights are on a timer" (?????????????????).
THEN the interesting one, the chief of operations, the right hand of the ceo, said "we do not want to inconvenience people" (?????????????????????????????????)

2-Very upsetting that there are only 16 replies on this post, and, not undermining the staff's relevance at all, but 3 replies means roughly 20%, that is quite a large chunk.

I know sanity is only found momentarily and after a lot of effort, but the circumstances are pushing us to alienation.

move the conversation forward? all in front of us are brick and concrete walls.

2/3s of 2008 left, pivoting point, now what?

we CAN see some good signs, like the debacle of the airline industry and hence a much needed deep change. crude oil still not peaking but at least showing how truly expensive it MUST be if we are to use those monetary resources properly to compensate for the harm that it creates, only that now those profits are staying in the hands of a few, who by the way want more tax cuts. also china running out of coal, right? ....ha!

we are jumping from one foot to the next, paying attention to an election that has been artificially inflated, having our eyes covered by anything and everything that can CAP OUR ATTENTION TO NEEDED ENLIGHTENMENT

we say what we do not mean and we mean what we do not say; now, then and soon

we live in a hive of lies and distractions, WE ARE GUILTY

I walked outside of my home in the inner city of Indianapolis one of the worst offenders in the country in terms of industrial pollution and I saw snakeskins, a red tailed hawk landed in my back yard last week, and when I walk to the creek that runs through my neighborhood I see trout, frogs, cray, and even a beaver! A beaver! Eight years ago that would have been impossible there were on average eight tons of waste being dumped into the creek every year, and we learned that was a low estimation. It was hurting the wildlife and for a time it was unlawful to even go near the creek. Now after the initiation of ecological incentives and programs in my citys government, among them greenprint which maps individual neighborhoods carbon footprints has lead to an overhaul of the sewage system and the promotion of green energy and building practices. Even the office in the nighborhood park is now geothermaly heated and has a liferoof where several trees have been planted reducing its evironmental impact on wildlife and its carbon footprint.

The best, most inspiring idea I have ever heard in my life is Electranet. I heard some guy named Al Gore talk about it when I was doing a POD for Current TV. Really shocked me that a politician had that much trust in the people to innovate or just accept good ideas that had real, ignored road blocks. Modern prefab houses, earth houses are kinda cool too. The compressed Air Car by MDI and Tata is just unbelievable. I could name some more (X-Prize, etc) but Electranet is really up there for me. Greater than the internet.

I was also inspired by "An Inconvenient Truth". This is a topic that has been discussed in some of my college classes. I have not done all that I could do to offset my own carbon footprint, but I am working on it. We reuse our plastic water bottles, instead of buying new ones. We have energy saving lightbulbs, and low flow shower heads. I recycle aluminum cans, and the plastic shopping bags. Soon, these will be taxed, and I will be buying the reusable hemp shopping bags. Best of all: I drive a hybrid.

T he fact that everyday man made changes that destroy nature and release pollutants and the changes in weather inspired me.

Awareness about this is spreading so much after Al Gore's campaign, my 6 yr old son expressed this, Why people use so many cars and give so much smoke? they should go by horses.

simple solution to the pollution is to start planting trees and start using rain water,use solar energy,shut down nuclear plants and factories. Make topics on climate protection a compulsory part of school education .Create jobs that produce bioenergy in developing countries.

I know we can't succeed unless we all become involved. Not just talk about it but become involved. I'm encouraged by communities that have taken individual responsibility instead of waiting on government to implement sustainable plans for them. A recent post on Current.com about training citizens to install solar panels for installation on homes in depressed areas inspired me. I'm now looking into programs with our local electric company to install solar panels on our company's commercial buildings with the blessings of my boss. I would love to see our mayors, nationwide, budget for and implement programs for solar panels on the roofs of our cities and begin installation of windmills.

Without you, Mr. Gore, we would not be aware of the peril of our futures, and not even having these discussions. Like stephenthompson, I sincerely hope you will be working closely with our next administration to promote the correct solutions and keep up the sense of urgency.

what some said here gave me some hope
http://current.com/items/88897805_god_vs_science

i have not witnessed much more than the nyc subway system now promoting the fact that they recycle and sort out their garbage, though still not offering different receptacles, just one big black can

more people wearing green :-) soon it'l be the new black, right?

apart from agreeing w/ stephenthomson's last statement, i dont have much more to add

What HAS sounded encouraging is that the leading Democrat (and likely the next president of the USA) has publically pledged to work closely with you. Anything less would be unacceptable, so I'm hopeful.

I'll tell you what change I have NOT seen, Mr. Gore. I have not heard you say much about the beef industry. It was only through other committed individuals that I learned that the beef industry actually overshadows the transportation sector in GHG emissions including methane. is this true? If so, why has it not been a part of your rhetoric?

Dont you think we should be tackling carbon and methane emissions from all angles?

I haven't seen change. I've heard political wordplay from sitting public officials and candidates from the local level to the national level... But most of the time it's just words, with cynical obstructionists saying "we can't go that far, that fast... or go far at all... we ought to explore this entirely."

That denial, that indolence, that complacentness is what inspires me to do my part, because those in power and those around me aren't doing enough to influence societies change as a whole.

I have seen a definite change in my coworkers and those in my family, mostly due to my nagging about this ;-).

And even though I believe we have a way to go to seeing more governments, in particular the U.S. government stepping up to the plate I am inspired by the number of cities and states that have taken it upon themselves to make changes to their cities and to abide by the Kyoto Treaty. I am also grateful to see the global water crisis getting more exposure, because next to the global climate crisis it is the most crucial environmental crisis we will face this century.

I am inspired by the scientific innovations in photovoltaics and biofuels (not corn) and that more people are becoming aware of alternate energies and their potential. I am inspired by the work of organziations that help bring this message to the masses, and organizations like Tree Nation that I am involved with seeking to plant 8 million trees in the heart of Niger to mitigate deforestation, and the response to a petition I placed there signed by people from all over the world pledging to be climate messengers. I am inspired mostly however, by my own son, who at 17 is already aware and committed to doing what he can to be a part of the solution.

And if I may say, I am inspired by you, Mr. Gore. Your passion and commitment to this cause have inspired me to spread this message and to live my own life more sustainably and demand it from this government. Thank you for that, and for all that you do for our planet.

What inspired me was seeing a little movie called: 'An Inconvenient Truth'. Now I try to make every day 'earth day' instead of just the one selected day. As well as trying to lower my own carbon footprint, I have been writing letters to editors, emailing, calling and writing government officals and pretty much talking about the climate crisis to anyone who will listen and sometimes, to those that don't want to listen. I have been trying to raise awareness of this.
What gives me hope is my grandchildren. My middle granddaughter goes to a gifted school and the whole school has been trying to answer the call. They reuse or recycle as much as they can. They have drives to get the community involved. They talk to everyone about about it. They all bring in news clippings or website info to pass on to the rest of the school about the climate crisis, and I should tell you, this is an elementary school. Can you imagine what they will be capable of in high school? With people like this in the world, I know we can solve this.