Date: April 30, 2007
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, April 30, 2007 - As we wondered recently if spring would ever arrive, Dr. Beverly Younger gave an audience of over 100 students, staff, faculty, and community members at Governors State University, both the good news and the bad news about global warming.
With information and Power Point presentation taken from the Academy Award winning film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” Younger outlined both the causes of global warming and the dangers the world faces if it goes unchecked. Younger, a lecturer in the Department of Social Work at Governors State University, is a volunteer trainer with The Climate Project, a nonprofit organization begun by former Vice President Al Gore. The College of Health Professions and the GSU Biology Club sponsored the presentation.
“The most vulnerable part of the Earth is the atmosphere, which provides the environment to sustain life,” explained Younger. “We have now learned that the process of releasing an excessive amount of greenhouse gases creates a problem for our atmosphere.”
According to Younger, the 25 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions has caused melting of glaciers and mountain ices, drought and water shortages, and warmer ocean temperatures. Each of these factors contributes to life altering changes in the climate, resources available, and life styles.
“Scientists predict that increased temperatures, heat waves, tropical storms, hurricanes, and heavy precipitation events will occur around the globe,” said Younger. “Large populations of people are displaced as their ability to sustain life is affected. Plants and animals move into new areas and potentially destroy the ecosystems of their new habitats. New diseases are emerging.”
The bleak assessment was followed by a call for action. The U.S. Climate Action Partnership, according to Younger, concluded that a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would greatly improve the situation.
Younger provided her audience with a list of suggestions and sources for more information. On the list were simple actions such as changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs, driving energy efficient vehicles, using public transportation, adjusting the thermostat, planting a tree, turning off the lights, and learning more.
“There is still time to do so much that will change the course of global warming,” concluded Younger.
The audience responded to Younger’s presentation with questions and concerns. Many went away feeling hopeful and empowered.
“I think she did a thorough job of explaining the problem. As a layman, I was able to understand what is happening and what needs to be done,” said Delores Blahaus of Homer Glen.
“The presentation gave some very good examples of global warming. It was concise and offered some realistic solutions,” observed Carol Vance of Homewood.
