Would the fact that we are having summer-like temperatures in Virginia in October, along with an extreme drought and the melting ice caps be enough? Or maybe the well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize awarded this year to IPCC and Al Gore?

I wonder if the happily polluting Chinese and Indian economies, or the millions of SUV-driving Americans would agree that the present bout of global warming is at least partly caused by humans?

Some say that about 1,000 years ago the Vikings encountered a “Green Land” in Greenland and that the climate fluctuations are nothing new and are simply what Mother Nature does, even without our input.

That’s at least partly true, with an important caveat: The present warming trend is proceeding much faster than all of the previous ones and unless we help Mother Nature by very quickly reducing the emissions that we are so enthusiastically creating and pumping into the atmosphere, there’s a distinct and frightening possibility that unlike the previous Earth cooling and warming episodes, the present trend might become simply irreversible.

Look around you. At the millions of Hummers, Yukon XL’s, Ford Excursions, Chevy Suburbans, or the totally ludicrous new crop of huge pick-up trucks from Ford, GM and Chrysler. These enormous, badly designed, gas-guzzling monstrosities not only “process” and emit much more pollutants than a reasonably-sized vehicle, but when their sheer size is taken into consideration, their manufacture uses up considerably more raw materials, energy and produces more carbon emissions that it should.

And yes! Driving those ridiculous vehicles IS ecologically incorrect in every possible way. In addition, it is highly doubtful that anyone, who buys that kind of a vehicle, without a supporting reason, such as: work, owning a farm, horses, etc. is an enlightened, and/or educated person. In short: I wouldn’t feel guilty about prominently showing the middle finger to some drivers of humongous SUV’s, who use them simply to haul groceries, kids, commuting, or going to the movies. What a price for “keeping up with the Joneses”!

I have test-driven some of these vehicles. Frankly, I hate the design, the handling and the overall feel and unless someone has an overpowering and uncontrollable urge to move a refrigerator, I cannot imagine any person in his right mind, who would want to have, or drive a crappy vehicle of that sort.

Also, why does almost everybody in the U.S. insist on driving cars with automatic transmissions? I would not even CONSIDER a vehicle, unless it had a nice manual tranny.

I suppose that automatics do make sense in the case of people, who are handicapped, or infirm, but for normal driving?! Come on! Is everyone out there retarded, or terminally lazy? I know that getting stuck in traffic and commuting are not much fun, but have you all forgotten the joy of driving and efficiently shifting through the gears? The manual transmissions are better in practically every conceivable way in comparison to automatics.

In addition - despite the claims of the manufacturers - we could save millions of gallons of fuel EVERY DAY, if people were smart enough and not too lazy to drive "normal" cars.

We all can help. By influencing politicians, by realizing that the new and profitable ethanol fuels are not the solution, but are quickly becoming a part of the problem, by installing and using energy efficient bulbs, driving less, cycling more and walking. How could I possibly pass up an opportunity of touting Nordic walking?

Not using drinking water in plastic bottles would be helpful in many ways. Billions of plastic containers are laying around everywhere. Transporting tap, or even spring water from faraway places uses huge amounts of energy and generates more pollution. Get a water filter and reusable bottles, such as the really nice, aluminum ones made by SIGG.

Reducing the catastrophic epidemic of obesity is also a prime consideration. Most of the fat people become that way not only because of lack of exercise, but also because they keep eating crap, the sort of “food” that our processed food industry has been feeding us for at least two generations. High-fructose corn syrup seems to be present in most U.S. non-alcoholic beverages. Avoid it like the plague!

Most of our foods here have been adulterated in some way by now. The industry has either added some chemicals, or taken away some natural and often healthy ingredients. At the very least, our food supply has been contaminated to some degree by pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones.

Haven't you noticed that most obese people drink "diet" drinks? Doesn't that tell you something? Why do you think that there are so many diabetics as of late? While sugar might not be the healthiest substance around, it is still much better than corn syrup, Aspartame, or Nutrasweet. Take note!

I realize that finding unadulterated food has become very difficult, but it is not impossible. Try harder and buy from local producers and farmers. Your body and Mother Nature will thank you -:)