Global Warming: Kinda Scary? Yeah, Kinda Scary...
I read a piece by the associated press on Yahoo.com about global warming. The article was simultaneously terrifying and hopeful, stating that
Since Clinton's inauguration, summer Arctic sea ice has lost the equivalent of Alaska, California and Texas. The 10 hottest years on record have occurred since Clinton's second inauguration. Global warming is accelerating. Time is close to running out, and Obama knows it.
Obama left with little time to curb global warming - Yahoo! News
I trust, perhaps foolishly that President-Elect Obama will act swiftly on this issue even amidst a global financial crisis. This may come off as extremely idealistic but I think that Obama's economic plan itself will act to create jobs and an economy built on the sustainable use of energy. And also in institutions concerned with the creation of that sustainable source of energy. I sincerely hope that the President-Elect and his cabinet, congress, and the House of Representatives, will act swiftly in enacting the President-Elect's proposed economic and ultimately environmental plan.
We are truly at a crossroad in human history, the massive damage that could be exacted upon our civilization by Global Warming would fundamentally alter the world as we know it. Social institutions, economy, government, international relations, would be completely changed, we are truly on the brink of a new era. To make matters worse, we are at a crucial tipping point:
U.S. emissions have increased by 20 percent since 1992. China has more than doubled its carbon dioxide pollution in that time. World carbon dioxide emissions have grown faster than scientists' worst-case scenarios. Methane, the next most potent greenhouse gas, suddenly is on the rise again and scientists fear that vast amounts of the trapped gas will escape from thawing Arctic permafrost.
Obama left with little time to curb global warming - Yahoo! News
That statistic is just extremely frightening to me, no matter what we do it seems, we are bound for great change ecologically in our world. I am somewhat disenfranchised that I am the age I am in this time of great need in the world. Not that I could necessarily help, it just seems like the changes that are going on now in environmental policy and economic policy will most greatly affect my future, not the future of the politicians that are making these choices. I can not help being anxious about my future, will there be war? I would say it is extremely likely massive occurrences of war will take place as a result of extensive environmental damage. Will I have the opportunity to live out my dreams? I would say that it is unlikely, but I don't like to be too pessimistic. I can only hope that I will, and that starts with living my life a day at a time and not worrying about the terrible future that will probably be endemic in my life. I wish I could move people to advocacy but I feel as though advocacy really can't accomplish that much in this issue. Call me a fatalist I suppose.
Comments
response to paper
i thought that you paper was very well written and I really like the examples and quotes you used.
"I am somewhat disenfranchised that I am the age I am in this time of great need in the world." this quote really stood out to me because i dont think people realize that this problem going on right now is not only going to effect our children but will also effect us and we are the ones to stop this from happening.
"Will I have the opportunity to live out my dreams? I would say that it is unlikely" this was really shocking to me because i never thought of that. i never really thought that we wouldnt be able to finish our lives. that some people think that the world will end so soon. that you think that you wouldnt be able to live you dreams. that to me is just shocking because it really does show that the issue of global warming is really huge and needs to be resloved.
"Warming would fundamentally alter the world as we know it." this was really big. global warming is going to happen in a certain amount of time but we never really think about the world. we think that the world will be under water or it will become super hot but we dont really think about life changing changes in the world. that maybe we wont have food or that maybe we wont have any fuel or supplies. its weird to think that and the only thing we can do is to try and change the way we live and to help stop global warming