Global warming. The subject seems to be coming up a lot these days. Extreme weather events are becoming more common. Fertile land is morphing into desert. Each year seems hotter than the next. In fact, global mean temperatures increased significantly during the past century and scientists predict that they could climb 6^o F - 11.5^o F by 2100 with bigger increases in the North America.

What is the main culprit behind global warming? We are. Our overuse of carbon-based energy sources like coal, natural gas and oil contributes to the greenhouse gases that are warming our world. Each year humans collectively spew around 55 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO₂e) into the atmosphere. On average, Americans contribute about 20 tonnes per person to the tally. Twenty tonnes! The result is that the Earth’s paper thin layer of heat trapping gases is becoming too dense.

I want to share with Earth Protect users a list of people and their publications who have inspired me through the years. This is only a partial list - these are the books that I live with, and visit again and again.

Every time I pick up one of these old friends, I find a new angle to marvel about and a new hope about our role on this earth.Read on to find out what inspires me. I hope that maybe one of these individuals will inspire you through their own words.

Veteran actor, Sidney Poitier, now nearing 80 has recently released a book "Life Beyond Measure" which includes a chapter on "The World I Leave Behind."

The book is written as letters to his newly born Great Grand-daughter Ayele and he expresses his concern for the planet. "We are all obliged to do something for the universe where we live; its our home base. I believe that our greatest obligation is not to abuse it."

In Tom Brokaw's book, "Boom", he tells stories about leaders of the 60's that inspire through their business success and their contribution to a sustainable environment. Two people that impressed me are Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins.

Yvon is the founder and owner of Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company, and Doug is the Founder of North Face. Through Patagonia, Yvon brought breakthroughs in the use of organic cotton and recycled materials suitable for the worst kinds of weather. He also instituted environmental practices such as reducing packaging and recycling. He gives 1% of Patagonia's annual sales to local environmental groups and got other companies to join in. (maybe he can join the 5% club which is a target for businesses committed to philanthropy)