I've had a couple of friends comment about the recent record breaking 104 degrees heat in Texas, which is not that unusual; but in February? Well, it occurred to me, while locally, we're not seeing that extreme heat the overall temperature for South Arkansas is warmer than usual, and flowering plants such as Daffodils and Azaleas are beginning to bloom, and that is weeks early.

The Texas Weather Temperature has set all-time highs for February. It makes me wonder. What will Texas, Arkansas, and the Gulf experience this Summer and Fall? Are we going to see new records in August and September? Of course, the water in the Gulf is already at a record high, and there is little doubt that the high midsummer temperature in the Gulf will exceed that. This increase in temperature is directly related to Climate Change. I know we can just sit back, do nothing, and pay a record electrical bill. But I believe this is a wakeup call, and it is one more reason to try and reverse Climate Change, which promises to create havoc. Well, let's just hope a hurricane doesn't pop up in the Gulf. A hurricane gets its energy from the heat in the water, and the record water temperatures in the Gulf could possibly create a record Category 5 hurricane with 200 MPH wind. (I know Hurricane Wind Categories stop at four, but numerous studies are predicting Category 5 is possible). According to scientific studies The damage a 200 MPH Hurricane would cause would be catastrophic.

But what if I could tell you that you could do one simple task that could make a difference in reversing Climate Change? Well, your participation is no more than a drop in the bucket, but that is what it is going to take to fill the bucket. Maybe we're seeing signs of hope flickering from Walmart of all places. Of course, my observation is based on a very unscientific pole, and using El Dorado's Walmart as a Bellwether for the entire United States is stretching things. However, when that is all, you have to work with it is better than nothing. So, let's take a look at my pole. Almost two years ago I began to wonder just how many folks were skipping the plastic bags and going with their own reusable bags. I had just done my weekly Walmart shopping. I had about $100 in a variety of merchandise in one large reusable bag. I was in a fast-moving line of shoppers who were pushing a store wire basket full of multiple plastic bags. I asked a door checker, "I'm a newspaper columnist. How many shoppers would you say are using their own bags like I am?"

Well, I could tell it caught her off guard, and she look down at the line of shoppers who were pushing shopping carts full of plastic bags , and said, "Oh, maybe one in forty or fifty." Since that first Door Checker Poll two years ago I have asked several more times, and each time the number of shoppers who use their own bag has increased. Recently a Door Checker said, "Oh, maybe one in twenty." Well, using the very unscientific "Richard's Door Checker Pole it seems to me that slowly but surely the average American is become aware that Climate Change is real, and that it is going to have very serious consequences. And from my experience, and observations, once you buy into trying to reverse Climate Change, it's a one-way street. It only takes a self-bagger once or twice to using their own bag to become a self-bagger, and that continues to show in that person's shopping activity until he or she begins to view other lifestyle items and activities as being pro or con Climate Change. In other words when you start self-bagging you have taken the bait, and after a trip or two with your own bag you are hooked, and your actions will make a difference.

Now let's discuss how just being a reusable bag makes you part of the solution instead of being a part of the problem. First consider your close circle of friends. These are individuals who are aware of your activities, and when you start self-bagging they will know, but it is not just your inner circle, because when you check out the shoppers in front of you and behind you will all see you with one or two reusable bags. He or she will surely notice. and as will the Store Door Checker. But what you are creating is more than not using plastic bags, it is creating an example, and the influence will your canvas or reusable bags by replacing ten to fifteen plastic and the example of pushing a shopping cart with a couple of reusable bags has made a difference.

Using technology by commenting about things like 104 degrees in March in Texas Etc will help, and slowly you will find yourself viewing your shopping purchases with the environment in mind. It won't be long until you start reviewing a Politicians Environmental voting, and it all started using a reusable bag.

Of course, I believe we are slowly moving in the right direction, but we are barely crawling. I hope this Summer we don't have a Pearl Harber wakeup call as a huge Hurricane sucks all that built-up heat from the record temperature in the Gulf Waters and +200 MPH winds and 30 foot storm tides and not only create economic havoc on Florida...or Louisiana, but hundreds die. Yes, this is possible, so please just set an example, and don't wait until disaster strikes. Bring your own bag or at a Walmart Checkout, buy a reuseable bag.

What a great way to celebrate Earth Day this year on April 22nd by using a reusable bag.

© El Dorado News Times