I PLEDGE:

1.To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
2.To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"

I have a lot to do in this area, and I have purchased a book entitled Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds--Be Part of the Global Warming Solution! It is a work book with ideas, calculators, and checklists to help my household become carbon neutral. In the meantime, my wife and I do recycle and use compact florescent light bulbs in all our light fixtures except one--compact florescent bulbs don't work on dimmer switches.

3.To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;
4.To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;

We have already started working on the house, and will by the end of summer purchase bicycles to use for commuting to work. We both live close enough to our workplaces to make this an easy option. I will be interested to calculate, with current gas prices, how many round trips it will take before we have saved enough in gas to pay for the bikes.

07/25/07 My Wife and I purchased bikes tonight; so I should be giving the self powered commute thing a try by the end of the week.

So, I rode my bike home yesterday from work for the first time. It isn't a long ride maybe a mile or so. I tried to pick a route that reduced the number of hills I had to climb, and in doing that, doubled the distance I think. It was also about 97 degrees outside with a heat index close to 104. The weird thing is, it didn't feel too bad when I got out and got going. However about 4/5ths of the way through it was like I hit a brick wall. After twenty minutes of throwing up on the side of the road, I was able to continue home; where I threw up some more. Apparently, riding the exercise bikes at the YMCA is not the same as riding a real bicycle. I'm still going to try to keep to the goal of commuting at least three times a week. Yesterdays experience just means my body has gotten soft and needs toughening.

5.To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
6.To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests;

We planted two trees we got from visiting Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, NE.

7.To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

We shop at a farmers market weekly for our produce and some of our meet. Also, we shop at and support a local owned independent book store Soul Desires whose owners are supportive of the environment.