Join Us on May 6, 2025: Itzl Alert Network Discusses Urgent Environmental and Climate Change Issues

This week, I felt inspired by four books. I won’t dive too deep but will share a brief overview of each one. Let’s jump in!

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– Tuesday: bigjacbigjacbigjac
– Wednesday: Pam from Calif
– Thursday: art ah zen
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Let’s start with the first book:

**Living Downstream** by Sandra Steingraber, published in 1997.

At 20, Steingraber faced a shocking diagnosis: bladder cancer. In the foreword to its 2010 edition, she highlights a critical fact: bladder cancer is strongly linked to environmental factors. This isn’t just a recent discovery; data about risks from toxic chemicals has been available for over a century.

A 2007 investigation by the American Cancer Society identified 216 chemicals that can cause breast cancer in animals. Shockingly, many of these are still present in products we use every day. This discrepancy between knowledge and action raises important questions about public health.

Growing up, I lost my father and sister to cancer. My father had smoked for years, which made me associate his illness with smoking. My sister had kidney cancer, leaving me uncertain about its origin. Reflecting on their experiences, I realize how vital it is to understand cancer’s causes.

Next up is:

**The Long Emergency** by James Howard Kunstler, published in 2005.

Kunstler predicts major challenges ahead due to what he calls the global oil production peak—the point where we’ve extracted half of the world’s oil. Fast forward two decades, and while we’re witnessing a surge in oil extraction through fracking and offshore drilling, questions about long-term sustainability remain. Many still fear potential crises if we don’t adapt quickly.

Then there’s:

**Hot: Living through the Next Fifty Years on Earth** by Mark Hertsgaard, published in 2011.

This book tackles climate change head-on. You might already know some impacts: hotter summers, rising sea levels. Hertsgaard even considered moving to the Netherlands, a nation well-equipped to handle climate challenges. It’s fascinating to think about how our geography could alter our future plans.

The fourth book is:

**Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All** by Michael Shellenberger, published in 2020.

Shellenberger, a long-time environmental advocate, presents a controversial viewpoint. He notes that carbon emissions have peaked in many developed countries and that deaths from extreme weather have significantly decreased over the past few decades, thanks to better preparedness.

Interestingly, before the advent of oil, whale blubber was used in lamps. Flash forward, and the plastic industry, dependent on oil, now creates what was once made from animal products. It’s a stark reminder of our shifting relationship with nature and industry.

As I reflect on these books, I contemplate the possible futures—perhaps a world powered by sodium-ion batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines working in harmony. Isn’t it exciting to think of the sustainable innovations that lie ahead?

Thanks for joining me on this literary journey! Let’s keep the conversation going.

Hugs!

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