Global Warming: 'It's happening now'

“Global warming is happening now. It is happening all over the world. It is happening here."

That was the message that Mary Clare Rietz brought in a presentation on “Global Warning and Our Best Response” at St. Paul Catholic Church on Sunday evening.

“We are at a turning point in our history where we are creating conditions that are incompatible with life,” she told an audience of about 50.

She used the week’s news and stark statistics in a slide show presentation to drive home her conclusion.

Ten of the 11 warmest years have occurred since 1990, she said, and 2006 was the hottest on record. This winter was the warmest on record.

One graphic noted there are now 400 parts per million of carbon dioxide and if the trend goes unchecked there will be 600 parts per million after 45 more years. The United States is responsible for 30 per cent of carbon emissions even though Americans make up just 4 [per cent of the world’s population. The U.S. emits more carbon dioxide than China, India and Japan combined.

Another graphic showed changes in the ice structure at Glacier National Park with photos in 1932 and again in 1988. The destructive potential of hurricanes has increased along with ocean temperatures over the past 35 years

Extreme heat waves in 2003 caused more than 35,000 deaths in Europe and 1,500 in India. Unfortunately, Rietz said, it is the poor countries that suffer the most.

Rietz pointed to current news that shows Atlanta, GA, has only an 80-day supply of water due to drought conditions.

Rietz admits that she is not a scientist, but she became alarmed as a mother when she became aware of the problem. Her mother’s concern is repeated in each presentation she gives.

"There's nothing that could motivate me more than the idea that my daughter's world will be significantly affected if we don't do something," said Rietz.

More than 2,500 scientists worldwide back up the statistics, she said. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPAC) has arrived at a consensus that the earth is warming due to atmospheric pollution. Of the few scientists outside IPAC who disagree, many are documented as being paid by Exxon Mobile and other oil companies to create confusion.

There were a number of questions from the audience after the first two parts of the presentation. After a break and refreshments, the program concluded width information on what people can do to slow the global warming trend. There were a number of handouts available on what you need to know on global warming and what you can do about it. by taking personal action

The Climate Project has an interactive “carbon calculator” on line which calculates your “carbon footprint” based on data you plug in such as the type of car you drive, home energy use, auto travel and so forth. The calculator shows how much carbon dioxide you can prevent from being released in the atmosphere by what you eat, what you drive, how your build your home and more. It’s at
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/carboncalculator.asp

There was another presentation by Rietz this morning for students in St. Paul School’s grades four through six.

Fr. Ralph Thomas welcomed those attending the program Sunday night and the speaker was then introduced by her mother, June Rietz.

Rietz makes her home in Cincinnati, where she currently spends her days working as campaign organizer for Ohioans for Health, Environment and Justice, a statewide initiative to empower low income, working, and communities of color as it relates to their environmental exposure.

Mary Clare attended Xavier University, and graduated in 1987 with a degree in Social Work. Mary Clare grew up in Firestone Park and is the daughter of long-time St Paul’s members Les and June Rietz.

Rietz is one of 1,600 trained by The Climate Project to deliver the global warming presentation. The Climate Project presenters intend to reach more than a million audience members in 2007.

Sunday night was her 13th presentation on Global Warming, competing with the final game of the American League baseball championship which began a short time later.