Global Warming

 Climate change is the change in climate patterns as a result of increased temperatures. These changes can be caused by increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result of the use of more burning of fossil-fuels, deforestation, etc. Greenhouse gases soak up the suns heat thereby ensuring the temperature of the earth remains at a stable level to support all living organisms; but as more gas is released it traps more heat causing temperatures to rise, which affect precipitation, length of seasons, sea level, etc. Scientists believe that our dependence on fossil fuels like coal for energy production, oil which is used to make gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity, to power industry, dates back to the industrial era.  They believe this fuel produces harmful gases like carbon-dioxide which is released into the air, and as it’s burned plays a part in today’s energy crisis and since we use oil either in gasoline for our cars or for heat and electricity we’re consuming large amounts of fossil fuels which is then released into the air in large amounts leading to the change in temperatures.

When it comes to the issue of climate change, scientists, government officials and even the people are divided as to its cause and possible solutions.  Proponents of global warming believes that the greenhouse gas that’s being released into the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels has contributed to the rise in our temperatures which has led to warmer winters, hotter summers, rising sea levels, melting of our arctic, as well as increased hurricanes, etc. the article President Obama’s Climate Action Plan’ tells us that: “Last year alone, there were eleven different weather and climate disaster events with estimated losses exceeding one billion dollars each across the United States”. Not only is climate change an environmental problem it also has economic consequences as well. Those who oppose argue that “carbon-dioxide is not a pollutant, it results in more plant growth and less water required for plants to grow stronger and it results in a greener earth and that life cannot exist without CO2” (The truth about Global warming: science and distortion –Stephen Schneider). Opponents believe that the warming we are experiencing is a natural phenomenon.

Conservatives as well as some scientists challenge the exact cause of climate change. They argue that it’s not all man and instead blame it on changes in our atmosphere, in the sun, our ocean and the clouds, but what about the impact of overpopulation. Doesn't this also contribute to the energy crisis? As our population continues to grow, it may soon reach proportions where our resources will not be able to sustain life as its known today.  Overpopulation can lead to climate change due to the increase in greenhouse gases, this can create flooding, heat waves, droughts, and storms affecting food production in some regions that would be unable to grow food staples, fishes will migrate or their stock diminished. Environmental, economic and social factors are all impacted by overpopulation and in many parts of the world there are not enough available resources to feed their growing populations. Population growth can lead to resource depletion, environmental deterioration, fishery depletion, heath issues, soil and water contamination, poverty, etc, thereby creating an increased burden on our limited natural resources.  

 Overpopulation creates the need for more space thereby putting pressure on the need to use our limited resources; more and more forests will be cut down to create homes, jobs, etc thereby displacing many animals from their habitat causing these species to become endangered,  and more animals and fishery will be killed for food. Population growth would create a demand on our water supply. Fresh water which is already scarce in some parts of the world will become an issue creating more and more shortages before it disappears forever. Overpopulation can also lead to climate change due to the increase in greenhouse gases, this can create flooding, heat waves, droughts, and storms affecting food production in some regions that would be unable to grow food staples, fishes will migrate or their stock diminished. Environmental growth can lead to water and soil pollution. As the demand for more food grows, farmers may start cultivating and growing foods in lands that are poor in nutrients leading to soil degradation and as more trash is thrown away, this leads to more waste in our landfills creating soil pollution.

 Many conservatives claim that shifting over to renewable energy would actually “cost more money for the US and consumers”.  They argue that the cost associated with going green is too expensive, that it would slow down production, and even though business would be able to save on energy and production costs in the future, they’re not willing to make that investment. These conservatives care more about big business and the bottom line than the energy crisis we’re currently facing. Schneider tells us that: “People frame this problem by looking for exceptions to the conventional wisdom and claim, until the exceptions are resolved, it isn't proof and it’s premature to act”. Conservatives know that we have an energy problem, yet believe global warming is not a crisis, and that by switching to green energy would not only slow down our production but our economy as well. They believe more jobs can be created by increasing oil and gas production by opening more oil drills, gas refineries, pipelines, etc. They’re not concerned about the long term effect this can have on the environment. .

Democrats believe that although we can’t reverse the effects of global warming, we can take steps to protect the environment for future generations. They believe investing in green energy like solar, wind, tidal, and hydro can slow the effects of global warming and are even offering programs aimed at giving citizens tax breaks when they buy energy products. In 2009, President Obama pledged that by 2020 “America would reduce its greenhouse emission in the range of seventeen percent below 2005 levels” (President Obama’s Climate Action Plan”). They believe by cutting down on the use of fossil fuels can lead to new innovations which can help modernize power plants, create jobs and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. This clean energy will reduce the amount of energy consumed by families resulting in lower gas and energy bills, and also more fuel efficient cars.

In order to decrease the current climate crisis we need to stop or reduce our fossil fuel consumption. Today, only “8% of US energy consumption is from renewable energy” while we consume “37% from oil and 21% coal” proving more change is needed. we can start by using alternative energy like, solar, water and wind energy, driving fuel efficient cars, carpooling, reducing our dependency on fossil fuel, use energy saving appliances, recycling, organic farming, planting trees, using reusable bags, etc.; we also need to stop deforestation since the cutting and burning down of our trees is causing more CO2 to enter the atmosphere. If change is to occur governments has to invest more in these life and earth changing efforts because it’s not just our plants and animals who will suffer but us humans as well.

The US can strengthen the economy and preserve the environment by investing in alternative energy like tidal turbines which can be built into the ocean and can be used to harness ocean currents, wind power which can be used to produce electricity, pump water, etc., since wind energy is produced by wind it’s clean energy and does not pollute the air like fossil fuels, the downside is it can endanger birds which can be killed if they fly into the rotors, we can use geothermal energy to harvest the earth’s energy to generate electricity, and solar energy captured using solar panels captures the sun’s rays and converts and distributes it as power, we can use it to heat water, the home, lightening, for cooking, electricity, etc. Solar energy does not harm our environment and since the sun’s energy is free and constant, we don’t have to worry about it running out which makes it very dependable. We also need to increase our fuel efficiency standards, this can “reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 270 million metric tons and save 530 million barrels of oil” (Obama’s Climate Action Plan, pg 8). This can help save drivers hundreds of dollars in fuel costs.

We need to invest in and support renewable energy projects like Cape Wind, a proposal to house an offshore wind farm off the coast of the Cape in Nantucket Sound and would house close to a hundred and thirty wind turbines. These turbines will harness the winds energy and provide clean, renewable energy which would significantly cut down on tons of carbon-dioxide emissions and other green house gasses”. Supporters the project believes that it would create jobs which would help boost the economy and would help ignite the offshore wind industry. It would also create cleaner air by reducing greenhouse gas emissions thereby reducing global warming effects on the environment and the project will be able to provide about seventy-five percent of the Cape and surrounding island power every year. Opponents argue that the turbines would threaten air and sea travels, commercial fishing, endanger birds and other marine animals in the Sound. They’re also afraid that it would impose a hike in their electrical rate, and that it would affect he resale value of their property and could pollute their beaches. As humans we’re the ones responsible for the destabilization of our ecosystem, so we should be the ones to fix it. I believe most people take the approach of if I can’t see it then it doesn't affect me approach, but simple steps as installing energy efficient appliances or turning off lights in our homes can make a difference. Solar energy is clean, dependable energy which can be used in a number of ways from heating the home to providing electricity for cooking and the tax breaks that are being offered is great incentive for homeowner who want to improve that home’s energy efficiency.

 Facts:

• Last year alone, there were eleven different weather and climate disaster events with estimated losses exceeding one billion dollars each across the United States”.President Obama’s Climate Action Plan  <http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/25/us/obama-climate-action-plan.html?ref=globalwarming&_r=1&>.
• “Carbon-dioxide is not a pollutant, it results in more plant growth and less water required for plants to grow stronger and it results in a greener earth and that life cannot exist without CO2” (The truth about Global warming: science and distortion –Stephen Schneider)
• "People frame this problem by looking for exceptions to the conventional wisdom and claim, until the exceptions are resolved, it isn't proof and it’s premature to act” (Schneider)
• “America would reduce its greenhouse emission in the range of seventeen percent below 2005 levels” (President Obama’s Climate Action Plan”).
• "8% of US energy consumption is from renewable energy” while we consume “37% from oil and 21% coal”
• "reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 270 million metric tons and save 530 million barrels of oil” (Obama’s Climate Action Plan)

Works Cited:

“Cape Wind”.  27 Oct 2012. boem.gov. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

<http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Studies/Cape-Wind.aspx>.       

“Cape Wind Project – The main pros and cons”.  globalwarming360.net.  27 Oct 2012.

<www.globalwarming360.net/cape-wind-project-the-main-pros-and-cons.html>.

“President Obama’s Climate Action Plan”. NewYorkTimes.com. 25 June 2013. 26 Oct 2013.

<http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/25/us/obama-climate-action-plan.html?ref=globalwarming&_r=1&>.

April 15, 2013 Reflections

On April 15, 2013 around 2:49 pm two bombs exploded on Boylston Street during the Boston Marathon killing three people and injuring many. I found out about the attacks on my way home from class when an alert came on my phone and then as breaking news on the radio. When I first heard of the bombing, I was shocked then angered, not so much shocked that there was another terrorist attack but where it took place; it made me realize that this can happen anywhere and that I've become complacent from the lack of terrorist activity after 9/11. In the past when I thought of a terrorist attack I thought about big cities, embassies, government buildings, etc., so the fact that it happened in a marathon was surprising. Like many Bostonians and the rest of the US I was stuck to my television during the manhunt until both suspects was captured.

The generosity of civilians present at the event was awe inspiring. Yes we had police and firemen, EMT's helping but the majority of the people helping to carry victims, stop bleeding were bystanders there to watch the marathon, marathon volunteers, the runners and their loved ones who were there to cheer them on. These people raced into the chaos to help save those present, risking their lives for stranger. It made me proud to be a part of a community of such self-less people. Being a Bostonian and watching the way everyone united after the bombing has showed me that terrorism breeds unity. When calamities strike, people unit and that whenever the bombs explode or some other event occurs (naturally or otherwise) we’ll watch each other’s backs.

As a nation I believe that it’s important to remember that no amount of planning or strategizing can truly prevent an attack, that terrorism attacks don’t always come from sources outside our nation but that it can also occur within. These terrorists use violence as a way to carry out their preconceived political and religious beliefs. Too often because of their religious beliefs these organizations or person assume they know what God wants, or what his intentions are, they justify their actions by blaming their faith, but the truth is no one knows what god’s intentions are, we don’t know what he has in store for us. Just because something may seem like the right thing to one person or even a country, does not always make it the right in the long run. We need to stop justifying our actions with our beliefs and realize that God did not tell us to go to war with each other, nor did he tell us it’s okay to hurt and kill innocent people in his name; we made those decisions on our own, and it’s only end up hurting the innocent.

It showed how training, planning and attentiveness can help us mitigate disasters. After 9/11 this attack showed me how much more prepared we are when it comes to dealing with terrorists attacks. Listening to stories from medical and emergency personnel on how quickly they were able to ready emergency rooms in preparation of surgeries, in making sure they had enough staff on hand and the willingness of the staff to do their part to make these patients comfortable and how quickly and efficiently emergency responders were able to communicate and work together is astounding. The countless training in disaster preparedness after the 9/11 attacks has made us a nation that’s more prepared to deal with the fall out of such attacks.

We also need to be realistic in our expectations of our leaders. It’s unrealistic of us to expect them to make promises that another terrorist attack will never happen again in the future. The Boston Marathon attack has showed that our abilities to predetermine those capable of planning and carrying out terrorist attacks is very limited. Higher levels of security is also needed at those events that may not rise to the level of a major security event, but since large groups gather and draw national attention at these events the Boston attacks proves that these attractions are now becoming more attractive for terrorist group; more security is needed at these kinds of events.

 We move on by showing the world that even though these brothers wanted to instill fear in us, we banded together, they wanted to create fear and instead fueled our fire. We need to be able to show that we won’t let anyone keep us from competing or celebrating; that we refuse to become victims and are willing to fight back, if they knock us down we’ll rise up stronger than before. We continue to live our lives without fear while continuing to be vigilant. We can’t allow these terrorist groups to win; we have to show them how resilient we are as a nation, by working together and supporting each other in our time of need. Our world leaders need to unite against terrorism, they teach us that when it comes to defending terrorism, they are willing to explore every avenue to ensure the enemy knows that their actions will not be tolerated. They teach us to be outraged by terrorist actions but to applaud our own when it’s time to retaliate. As society we need to find ways discourage terrorism. We need to avoid violence when dealing with the enemy, to find out the root of the cause and find ways to solve them. We also have to accept that there will always be those who want to harm us, in the name of freedom.

The Boston Attacks has taught me the meaning of true resilience and persistence and it has given me a sense of pride and honor to be a part of a community that values human life above all else. It’s showed how we as a nation can come together and unite as one in the face of tragedy, yes we may be divided politically, and religiously but once we’re threatened there is no stopping our dedication to one another. I learnt that we don’t live isolated lives only committed to their own freedom and lives as I thought, but that when a community cares about its citizens our individual fate becomes linked. The relentless dedication, grit, endurance and bravery of our emergency responders were inspiring, from our police officers and firefighters, to military personnel and civilian bystanders who ripped down barricades to get to those who were injured in the blast. Our medical service staff of EMT’s, nurses, doctors, etc who worked tireless to help save the lives of the injured, as well as those in our community who showed their support to those who lost loved ones or was injured in the blast.

This attack also showed how we as a nation can unit and work together. It showed how by banding together as a nation we can make a difference. We saw how tragedy can unit even self proclaimed rivals, this was apparent when those hated Yankees and their fans sang the “sweet Caroline” song demonstrating our unity, and the patriotic atmosphere at the Bruins hockey game. We may be a diverse group but when it comes to supporting each other in times of distress, we’re very much united.

9/11

On September 11^th, 2001 the terrorist group Al Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden launched an attack against the United States and its citizens.  They terrorists hijacked four American airplanes mid-flight  they flew two of the planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, another into the Pentagon which is the headquarters of our military in Arlington VA destroying a section of the building, the fourth and final plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. The impact of the crash on the World Trade Center resulted in it catching fire and eventually collapsing. Officials believe that the passengers on board fought the terrorists which prevented them from achieving their final mission and that their target was either the White House or the United States Capitol. Almost 3000 people lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks. President George Bush implemented the Global War on Terrorism in the aftermath of the attacks. Security at public buildings, military installations around the globe and at airports was tightened, and the “Department of Homeland security and the National Counter Terrorism Center” (The World after 9/11) was created. The US government started increasing its military operations and started pressing those groups it believed to be associated with terrorist activities or accused of sheltering them. The US invaded Afghanistan with the aim of removing any members of the Taliban regime whom they believed were harboring Al Qaeda in an attempt of capturing bin Laden and his co-conspirators. Today many members of AL Qaeda has been captured or killed and on May 11, 2011 members of the US Navy seal killed bin Laden while he was in hiding in Pakistan.

After the attacks many US citizens joined together to help the families of the victims, many paid tribute to the brave firefighters and policemen who risked their lives trying to save those in the rubble. There was a surge in patriotism marked by displays of the flag, tributes to the victims and some went so far as to sign up for and join the military. For many enlisting in the military was their way of giving back to their country, they wanted to fight for and defend our nations freedom. For them it was a chance to give something back to their country for the freedom it’s allowed them to have, and they considered it an honor to serve. To them the flag was a symbol of its people, not its government and they wanted to help defend against those who were willing to do anything to destroy our way of life. Post 9/11 our leaders has become more diligent. We now have a security infrastructure aimed foreseeing and thwarting future attacks. The Department of Homeland Security and the National Counter-terrorism Center was created to better share intelligence between the intelligence community, and other agencies around the world. The events of September 11 have led to more improved security in our airports, military installations, embassies’, etc., both home and abroad. America has had the ability to disrupt the core of the Al Qaeda network; it has captured and killed many of its top officials including their leader Bin Laden. People today are more aware of their surroundings, we now have trained officials on board our airplanes to prevent and detain those who acting suspiciously.

In the weeks after the attacks, many people of Middle Eastern descent became the victims of hate crimes and harassment from both the government and the public. These people were picked on by the people arrested and detained for questioned by our government. Many believe that the terrorist attack of September 11^th was used as a way to justify the Iraqi war. They believe conservatives poisoned the memory of 9/11 and instead of unifying the nation, members of our government raced to cash in on the tragedy. They believe that the war in Iraq was uncalled for and had nothing to do with 9/11. They view the new security measures as a way to molest citizens at airports, to torture prisoners and to bankrupt the nation. The article The World After 9 /11 tells us that, “Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib are 9/11’s legacy and will forever tarnish America”. These prisons are used by our government as a way to torture those we view as the enemy. Opposition of the Patriot Act views it as a violation of the rights to privacy, and is against any government that would infringe on the rights of its people.

As a result of 9/11 we now have a lot more safety measures in place. Law enforcement and other intelligence agencies now have few restrictions placed on them when it comes to investigation terrorist activities due to the Patriot act they can freely access peoples computers, financial records, phone conversations, etc. and they can detain anyone suspected of suspicions activities related to terrorism. With a coalition f allies around the world, we are now fighting the war on a larger scale not just on the ground, we’re using our economical, diplomatic, political and financial power. Dana Priest of the article The top secret America created after Sept. 11 tells us that: “there are 51 federal organizations and military commands, she says, that track the flow of money to and from terrorist networks”. With the aim of other government agencies these men and women track and freeze the accounts of these terror networks, in some cases crippling their network. We've eliminated Bin Laden and are monitoring those countries that have the capability of developing weapons of mass destruction. To better understand the dangers we face policies have been put in place aimed at identifying area in our security venerable to weaknesses, mistakes and/or oversights. Our emergency response systems are now better equipped to mitigate the consequence of future attacks. Immigration is working on ways to make it more difficult for terrorists to gain entry into the US, and also on ways to identify potential dangers at our airports, ports, etc. 

Many view the killing of Osama by our troops as a symbol of hope in the war on terror. In the article Killing Bin Laden: what it means for the war on terrorism, David Von Drehle tells us that, “People had begun to doubt whether American power was truly power; and to ask whether its day was past”.  People were beginning to question the progress and purpose off the war and learning that bin Laden was finally dead gave them sense of relief that the mastermind of terror could no longer hurt them, it didn’t matter that others would spring up in his place, to them he was the face of the attacks and finally he was punished for his actions.

Yes, I think that we are safer today than before the attacks but I’m also know that that does not mean that another attack cannot occur sometime in the future. Given how determined our enemies are securing our nation against terror is a top priority. As a nation we will never be truly safe but we can continue to be vigilant. Although the US has been successful in foiling the plans of our enemies

Facts:

•  "Forty two terrorist attacks have been thwarted since the events of 9/11 (Patriot Act Debate: Ron Paul vs. Gingrich
• “People had begun to doubt whether American power was truly power; and to ask whether its day was past” (Killing Bin Laden: what it means for the war on terrorism)
• “There are 51 federal organizations and military commands, she says, that track the flow of money to and from terrorist networks (The top secret America created after Sept. 11)
• “Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib are 9/11’s legacy and will forever tarnish America” (The world after 9/11)
• The Department of Homeland security and the National Counter Terrorism Center was created in response to 9/11 (The World after 9/11)