by Tess Wolfe
Reporter
Stow -- While addressing an audience of seventh-grade students, environmental advocate Alvidis Jasin stated he is not a scientist.
"I'm just a regular guy," he said. "I'm here today because I care a lot about what's going on with this planet that we live on."
Jasin, however, was selected by Al Gore to become a "Global Warming Messenger" in January 2007 for The Climate Project Gore founded in 2006.
Standing before approximately 230 students in the auditorium of Kimpton Middle School the morning of April 22, Jasin provided students with information about the potential causes and effects of global warning.
He talked about the role of Earth's atmosphere in warming trends on the planet. Using a visual presentation of diagrams and photos supplied by Gore, he asked, "So, what's happening on our planet?"
"Pollution," audience members shouted back.
In describing the collective effect of atmospheric buildup from fossil fuel emissions, Jasin peppered his speech with frequent questions to students. For each correct answer, whether Jasin had asked a question jokingly or seriously, the respondent received a small "Earth globe" ball.
In suggesting small steps individuals can take to reduce carbon emissions, Jasin gave examples such as turning off the water for short periods during a shower, using energy-efficient rather than incandescent light bulbs and committing to the recycling of used products.
"We're one of more than 6 billion people, a speck on this planet, and you think, 'I can't make a difference,'" he said. "But every decision you make and we make, every day, has an impact. Everything you can't turn on or plug in makes a difference on this planet."
Jasin described the pivotal event that motivated him to become a "Global Warming Messenger."
He had gone to see Gore's environmentalist movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," more than a year ago.
"I saw the film all by myself," he told students. "I was literally the only one in the theater when it came on."
Disturbed by what he perceived as public indifference toward the issue of global warming, Jasin contacted Gore's newly-formed The Climate Project. Through a series of phone calls and written exchanges, Jasin was selected for participation.
One of approximately 1,000 individuals Gore chose to become a "Global Warming Messenger," Jasin spent three days from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in January 2007 in a group being trained by Gore and a team of climate scientists. The training provided him both the information and skills to volunteer his time giving presentations about global warming to groups throughout Northeast Ohio.
Jasin said he gave his first presentation in January 2007, but stopped counting how many times he volunteered to speak after the first 50 occasions he presented. As a "Global Warming Messenger" for The Climate Project, Jasin said he had committed to giving at least 10 presentations.
Student Jackson Grant said he thought Jasin's presentation was "very informative."
"It really makes you think about the things you can do -- little things -- that can really make a big difference," Grant said.
After learning that one effect of global warming could be food shortages and rioting, student Daniel Donato said, "I realize that if some of the ice melts, we would have less land and people would be fighting."
During the close of his speech, Jasin appealed to the young generation.
"It's up to you when you walk out of here to make some changes," he said. "The bottom line is this: The planet is in trouble"
For more information, go to www.theclimateproject.org or e-mail Jasin at stopwarming@yahoo.com.
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