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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Deer, dope discussions expected at meeting ... Aging Happens: It's hard to find someone who may not know they're lost ... Spieth, amateur Dunne eyeing history at St. Andrews ... Deer, dope discussions expected at meeting ... Aging Happens: It's hard to find someone who may not know they're lost ... Spieth, amateur Dunne eyeing history at St. Andrews ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: A good day to act Comment By Jack Harbaugh DailyTidings.com By Jack Harbaugh Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Jack Harbaugh Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Every year more than 1 billion people take part in Earth Day. The celebration honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. Across the globe, individuals, communities, organizations and governments acknowledge the amazing planet we call home and take action to protect it. While the official Earth Day was Wednesday, people in the Rogue Valley will be celebrating again Saturday — with a big event at ScienceWorks ( roguevalleyearthday.net ). So it’s a good time to pause and ask ourselves if we are doing all we can to help address the problems of climate change and global warming. While more and more people are joining the battle every day, there are still too few people who are actively involved in the biggest environmental crisis the world is facing. Some do nothing because they do not recognize that climate change is caused by human activity. Others feel that their actions would be too small to make a difference and, therefore, choose to do nothing. It’s true, climate change can seem remote and hazy — a vague and complex problem far off in the distance that our grandchildren may have to solve. But that’s only because they’re still fortunate enough to be insulated from its mounting consequences. As we’ve seen here in Southern Oregon, global warming is already having significant and costly effects on our communities, our health and our climate — rising temperatures, more frequent wildfires, increased water shortages and drought. Climate change has very real effects on people, animals and the ecosystems and natural resources on which we all depend. In honor of the 45th annual Earth Day this week, let’s all make a commitment to take action in support of combating climate change. Saving our community, our state and our nation (and our planet) from the consequences of global warming is too important not to be part of the solution. What can you do? Here are a few ways to get involved: Get informed. Follow the latest news about climate change. Attend a presentation by knowledgeable experts on the environment and climate change. Become an activist. Volunteer with one of several Southern Oregon organizations concerned about climate change (several will be exhibiting at the Rogue Valley Earth Day). Voice your opinion. Inform our government representatives that you will vote only for leaders who have a proactive agenda on climate change (e.g. supporting carbon fee/tax legislation). Reduce energy consumption. All of us can do more at home to reduce our carbon footprint. Oh, and save money, too! Every person who does his or her part to fix the problem makes a difference: the entrepreneurs who see opportunity in creating the new green economy, the activists who organize community action and awareness campaigns, the engineers who design the clean technology of the future, the public servants who fight for climate change laws and for mitigation efforts, the ordinary people who commit to living sustainably. What we can’t afford is to do nothing. Global warming is not someone else’s problem. It’s time for all of us to get off the sidelines and take action. Jack Harbaugh of Ashland is a volunteer with the Southern Oregon chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby ( citizensclimatelobby.org ). By Jack Harbaugh DailyTidings.com By Jack Harbaugh Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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