Global warming *does* have a solution.

Newsweek's Robert Samuelson is going on about global warming, saying that politicians et al don't really care and aren't willing to make the sacrifices required to help fix the problem.

I'm not going to argue with that. I think there's a distressing level of apathy in governments around the world about the problem, and if the populace expects politicians to take the first steps, they're going to be disappointed.

But I hate the fatalist attitude he's exhibiting here. So the government's not going to do anything? That sucks, but that doesn't mean no progress can be made. Know how the majority of hugely-influential movements in the modern world started? A bunch of average Joes started doing what they thought was right. The then-government didn't start with much enthusiasm for America, for god's sake: a bunch of people saw a problem and took it upon themselves to fix it.

Here's what the average person can do to fight our inevitable drowning: Write letters to your congressional representatives. Walk up to the post office to mail it; don't drive. Even better, show some support and take public transportation to the post office if you can. Spend a few extra bucks when you need to replace a lightbulb and use a compact fluorescent one - you can get one at Wal-Mart or any hardware store. Call your congressional representatives, your governor, your state representatives. When it starts getting warm, turn off the air conditioner and open the windows instead. Carpool to work. Write another couple letters to your senator. Call your representatives. Unplug your TV and read a book instead. Keep your TV unplugged when you're not using it. Write a letter to your governor. Next time you have to run up to the store for some orange juice and bread, skip the plastic bag. Skip the paper bag, too - surely you've got a backpack or a tote bag or a messenger bag or even a stash of plastic bags sitting around at home. When you get home and put your bread away, write another letter to your representatives telling them what you're doing and maybe the should get off their asses as well. Delay turning your lights on for an extra twenty minutes and watch the sunset instead.

See? It's easy.

Don't get me wrong - it would be pretty great if the American government would at least take some slight environmentally-friendly steps. In Ireland if you want a bag for your groceries, you're going to pay extra for it - even something like that's a step in the right direction. But we don't need to sit around waiting for the government to initiate large-scale initiatives. If a big enough number of people start helping out in little ways, it's going to add up, and it's going to set an example for the government: this is want we want. Listen to the people.