A few weeks ago, the U.S. Senate bill on energy and climate change died a whimpering, ignominious death. While companies like Waste Management have worked at voluntary efforts to put a price on waste CO2 like the Chicago Climate Exchange, and Greenopolis partner Nike has spearheaded a groups of companies working for sensible climate policies that rein in waste CO2, the Senate seems stuck in the 19th Century. The conservatives are failing to conserve the most basic thing we have- our planet, and the liberals are liberally folding up their tents in an election year. These guys are always going on about waste! Will the suffering of millions come down to the lack of courage and foresight of a handful of white men? Can I switch sides? I’d like to be a wise Latina, please.

Here at Greenopolis we focus on waste, recycling and conservation issues. Climate Change is all these. It’s a waste issue- greenhouse gasses, for the most part, are waste products of fossil fuel use. They are a sign of inefficiency, as all waste is. It’s also a conservation issue. As we conserve resources, especially energy and reduce, reuse, recapture and recycle more, our waste CO2 will drop. Recycling will help tremendously in this regard by slashing energy use and reusing what we’ve got.

Russia is experiencing the worst droughts and fires in 1000 years, as seen in the NASA photos of fires and smoke above. That’s not a typo. 700 people are dying every day in the Russian…heat. The old proverb says that “Russian bones love warmth” but this is a bit much. The pattern fits all climate change predictions. Are we next?

So since our elected officials have decided not to execute faithfully their commitment to the people that elected them, what can we as individuals do?

Well, what we have been preaching here at Greenopolis all along. Turn off the lights, Use less water, especially hot water. Recycle everything you can get your hands on. Drive less, walk more, and combine trips and people when you do travel. Put in CFL bulbs. Compost food scraps. Eat lower on the food chain. You get the point. When the government fails to look out for the interests of the people, it’s time for the people to take action themselves. That’s the essence of democracy- governing ourselves. Time to recycle the Senate.