First ever hurricane in Brazil March 2004
Japanese typhoons October 2004
Mumbai Floods July 2005
Hurricane Katrina August 2005
Coincidence? Or do you see a pattern emerging? There is a common denominator in these widespread disasters that has wreaked unprecedented havoc the world over and this is GLOBAL WARMING.
What is global warming? To understand that we need to know how the greenhouse effect works. The earth is surrounded by a blanket of air called the atmosphere. Energy from the sun passes easily through the atmosphere. As this energy warms the earth, a lot of it is radiated back as Infra Red Radiation. But much of this trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and ozone. These gases are vital for our survival on this planet. Without these heat trapping gases, the earth would be freezing cold.
But we have upset this delicate balance by excessive emissions from burning of fossil fuels as CO² traps the heat from the sun and prevents it from escaping. It is only logical to conclude that greater amounts of CO² will trap more heat and lead to rise in temperatures the world over. This is known as global warming.
In spite of various facts emerging to support this occurrence, a lot of people are still not ready to believe it. It is most unfortunate that they happen to be the leaders of the great nations in the world.
USA contributes of just over 5% of the total world population but contributes to 25% of the total world pollution and 30% of total carbon emissions in the world.
Australia is the highest per capita polluter. They are the only 2 countries that refuse to accept the phenomenon of global warming.
Global warming is a reality. It’s a frightening thought. And it’s not just us humans that will suffer because of our indifference. Scientific studies show that in less than 50 years, over one-third if the animal species will disappear as they won’t be able to adapt to the planetary rise in temperature. One-third.
There has been a significant decline in the number of polar bears in the Arctic because of the melting of the polar ice caps. The shrinking sea ice in the Arctic will also reduce the ice algae so crucial to the Arctic food chain, from fish to seals. Because of the increasing temperatures, large stretches of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia are getting destroyed.
Zooplankton, tiny organisms that live on the surface of the water are dying out which has an adverse effect on the marine ecosystem as it is the life source. No zooplankton means no fish which in turn mean no sea birds that feed on the fish.
Global warming changes the rainfall and snowfall patterns which lead to increased droughts and floods. It is the cause for the melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets which will accelerate the rise in sea levels which will flood low lying lands, coastal areas and islands.
Just last month, two islands in the Sunderbans (mangrove islands in the Bay of Bengal) – Suparibhanga and Lohachara went underwater and could not be sighted by satellite imagery. Their disappearance has rendered over 10,000 people homeless. Another 10 islands in that region are feared in danger of submerging.
Global warming creates more evaporation in the oceans, but it also sucks moisture from the soil. Soil evaporation increases dramatically from higher temperatures to create severe droughts.
2005 was by far the hottest year in history beating even 1998 which previously held the record. Heat waves broke out all over the world with 35,000 people dying in Europe alone in 2003 when the temperatures rose to over 40°C (104°F) , an all time high. This winter, the Alpine ski resorts went bust out of business because the snow failed to show up. Tourists were actually encouraged to hike!
Unless we face up tot the issues of global warming and climate change, there is nothing that can be done about it. Efforts are being made with the Kyoto Protocol which is an agreement made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Countries that sanction it are obligated to reduce the emissions of 6 greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons, per fluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride). Over 160 nations have signed and ratified this treaty except two – you guessed it – USA and Australia.
We cannot leave it to the governments now as it affects each and everyone of us and is our moral obligation and personal responsibility. It is not a lost cause. Each indivisual can do his/her bit in reducing carbon emissions by using public transport, saving electricity, planting trees, walking and using bicycles as much as possible and above all making people around you aware of this catastrophe.
Robert Ingersoll said – “In nature there are no rewards or punishments, only consequences.”
This rings quite true. If we don’t get our acts right soon, global warming is a predicament we will not be able to escape as there will be nowhere to run. Man has already taken care of that.
Author notes
This actually started out as a speech that I never got a chance to orate. So I decided to post it here. Global warming is a serious issue that affects each and everyone of us, and if it doesn't, it will quite soon.
I recommend everyone to watch 'An Inconvenient Truth'. It's a shockingly real eye opener and absolutely boggles the mind. I couldn't get hold of the dvd so I downloaded it off the internet through http://www.mybittorrent.com Please do check it out. As it says in the trailer:
'If you love your planet..
If you love your children..
You have to see this film.'
Links:
An Inconvenient Truth Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUiP6dqPynE
Recent release of the IPCC Climate Change Report
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-global-warming_2.html
http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf
Taking Action
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change
Comments
1 - 17 of 17
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Please message me as soon as you read this.
I have a place that you can post this amazing information so that many more can read it.
This is information that I wish the world and our GOVERNMENTS would just SHUT UP and read.
Thanks for helping me understand this danger more clearly.
Countries that sanction it are obligated to reduce the emissions of 6 greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons, per fluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride). Over 160 nations have signed and ratified this treaty except two – you guessed it – USA and Australia.
you can either message me on here, or at
badddgirlusa@yahoo.com
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Yup, we're pretty much scr*wed I guess. I remember sommers of begging for sun so we could get our parents to put the plastic pool up in the yard back when we were kids. It has been over 30 (sometimes 40) degrees (celsius, I'm talking about Belgium) starting from FEBRUARI! This is NOT normal, I know, but don't you think that we are just accelarating (ok, tremendously) a natural process? But now off course, climatchanges are happening so fast that not a single species can keep up with adaptation, which brings me back to my first statement... Something needs to be done yes, but it would have happened anyway, wouldn't it have?
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Well, this is NOT a poem... and, while I applaud your concern after several decades as (among other things)a science writer, I am by no means sure that the pundits have their facts right!
Having lived and worked through the "anomalous water" and "nuclear winter" scares (the latter, in particular, was the result of imperfect modelling, and a reluctance on the part of the "experts" to consult those people who really know how firestorms behave - namely the fire-fighters!), I am by no means convinced that the predictions are right this time.
And do be careful about tree-planting schemes! They did that in Israel - indeed, Jews world-wide were encouraged to "Plant a tree in Israel" to mark all major personal occasions - from commemorating a deceased parent to celebrating a son's graduation.
The result was that the trees drank up so much water that the water-table fell dangerously low, and the Kinnereth started to shrink...
But, as I said, I appreciate your concern.
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good work, i agree with u on the issue. it is a lil long and confuseing tho no offence. but good job none the less
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Opps -
There was global warming before or we would still be in an iceage I suppose. CO2 is a coolant so is it the cause of global warming? Not at all, it does promote vegetation growth that in turn lets off much needed Oxygen. The burnining of fossil fuel is the likely cause - for every gallon on of fuel burned up in an internal combustion engine a gallon of H2O is added to the atmosphere that has never been here before: (billions of gallons) - every engine burning fossil fuel is a blast furnace adding heat to the atmosphere that has not been here before
many millions of them) - it is good to be concerned about what we are doing to the planet - Bless God - Dobar Dan
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HUH?????????
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i have heard so much about how our planet is slowly burning up, i just know and from my heart that i am so glad I won't be here when everyone has to swim to the local market or to get the wettest copy of the soaked daily paper! i am just glad it is not going to be me and that it will be someone else who has to suffer for everyone elses mistakes, but my own! by the way? do U own a SUV? Now please for once in your life, be really honost with yourself and get in that ole suv and drive yourself off a big fat giant horrendous cliff for all of us to rejoice at!!!!
oh and by the way... i really mean it! -
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What the hell are you on about??
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well i see someone saw "An Inconvenient Truth" and im glad. and im also very glad that i came across this. i never thought i'd see anything like this on global warming. but i enjoyed it. ive always been big on global warming and i do my part to prevent it. but you must take into consideration.. that wheather humans stop what they're doing and try their hardest to prevent this or not.. its going to happen. for one.. its already a bit too late i think. and two.. one of the effects is another ice age. because of all the fresh water thats melting into the ocean. our salt water is decreasing and thats not good. it causes effects in the weather. which could eventually cause another ice age. now our world has already experienced five ice ages. and humans werent around for them. humans werent around for those fisrt five ice ages burning fossil fuels and depleating our ozone layer. and yet the ice age still occured. thats mother nature who did that not humans.. so wheather we try to stop it or not (im not saying you shouldnt do any of the things suggested cause you should we could still help out a bit and make at least a little difference) either way its going to happen. our climate has increased drastically. 2005 being the hottest year. thats horrible. and yes the charts show that right before an ice age the climate shoots straight up then goes straight back down falling into the ice age. but in the movie you refered to. Al Gore's movie. well his charts werent all exactly right. there were tiny tweaks in them. he made that move for envornmentalists and their approvement. if you search hard enough you'll see that humans actually dont have a big enough effect to cause it. and if al gore went further into it you'd see he pretty much condradicts himself on almost everything. i cant exactly word this correctly. but mainly what i believe would be... that yes its an issue. global warming is happening. but i dont fully believe that us humans are causing it. we cant control the weather or climate. if nautre wants an ice age it will create and ice age. if nature wants global warming. well its going to create global warming. we cant stop it or create it.
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You point out some very valid points my friend. Living here in Canada under Steven Harper who is trying to pass off the Kyoto Protocol as unattainable, I wonder if anyone will ever smarten up.
I also want to point out that beyond our influence there may be other factors going on here which we have no idea of as of yet, such as the shifting of our polar axis to another position, making weather patterns change in unprecedented ways. Add to that fact our own negative influence and we're in for one bumpy ride over the next little while.
But what can we do? STOP BURNING OIL! Your creating greed unfounded in history for big companies to feed off of, loosing a vile demon onto this earth. RECYCLE! WALK! BIKE! Have a little respect for something not only yourself but this spaceship sailing through the galaxy we call earth and have no control over where it is going.
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Hi Mina ji,
It is good that someone has written a speech with strong examples cited to explain the havoc global warming is causing world over. Didn't know that USA and Australia are leading in damaging the planet's delicate balance. So sad. I wish they put their brains together and take little steps that will be in the right direction. People waste a lot of electricty and do not realise it is going to affect their future and present generations. Such a sad state. Even the educated make mistakes, then, what is left to say...Maybe communities should get together and take small steps to solve this problem in their respective zones. And the government should come up with rewards too, so that there is some encouragement. Planting trees is a lovely idea, my favourite because it is something I am fond of. Very sorry it has taken me so long to comment on this write.
Good wishes,
Char
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I want to give you more applause but it won't let me...
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Very good. This is such a serious and dangerous reality, but so many people are unwilling to face the facts and change their lifestyle to fit the times. My brother recently shifted school districts to a new built school that has solar panels and all kinds of nice new carbon-cutting-down thingies. At least some people have the courage to stand up for what needs to be said. Thank you for posting this.
Blessed be.
Lizzy
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An excellent piece of work
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Wow! Great Job. You are correct the Global Warming is a very serious issue and steps should be taken against it...One point I think you should have mentioned that the least use of air-conditioners-the better it is. Because air-conditioners have a big hand in causing global warming too. You are write in spite of all these mishaps people are still not ready to believe it and unluckily leaders are also a part of them. Thank you so much for this read...It is so true...and makes people aware(I just hope more people read this wonderful write of yours!)
Even I was very much bothered by these kinds of problems like cutting down of trees and stuff which causes so many things like as you said Global Warming e.t.c. Therefore I thought of making this group called ''Nature Lovers'' http://allpoetry.com/group/show/Nature%20Lovers and bringing awareness between people and discussing what to do and all...So please see this
Thank you,
Mekhala
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My darling sis,
First I would like to thank you for posting something new after all (it also reminded me of how stingy you are for not sharing your works with us )
Your article was full of information for all of us. We had a lesson in our English book as “Global warning, global concern” I am glad to read that before this because it was easier for me to understand since you did use some difficult words on this. Yeah, we humans are like that. After damaging something, we think about repairing and “Prevention is better than cure” is not defined for us. Did you mention how strange we are? For example people spend money and money to cure mad people and then they drink wine or such things to go into madness feeling. We change into a funny joke if we look at ourselves from a higher point. You were so right in the whole article and I’m hopeful you let me use this as a lecture someday. Will you?
Thank you mahe-man for sharing this informative piece with us and I wait patiently for your future works
~Massy~
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Excellent
It’s nice to see something new on your page…
I’m so happy that you wrote on this boiling subject and it’s pleasure to read, specifically written by a young person as you are… and its commendable that how well you’ve analysed and grasped this problem while our leaders are still scraching their heads 
I’m not an expert but I’ve been led to believe that sadly the damage’s been done, The Ozone layer’s been depleted, now all the precautions are to patchup and protect it form any further destruction…. I learnt from yesterday’s news that US govt have blamed human actions for the cause of the Global Warming… I’m elated…. at least the first time US Govt have acknowledged this problem…. I agree with them wholeheartedly….all the scientific inventions have proven destructive for the planet.
Obviously researchers around the globe are monitoring weather patterns that push the billowing smoke from China’s factories around the globe. But I feel, US and Europe have little standing considering the average Chinese person uses about one fifth of the energy used by an American. China is an emerging power following the footsteps of the US and other nations – making environmental protection a low priority…. the statistics reveal that in China global-warming gases such as carbon dioxide will probably exceed that for all industrialized countries over the next 25 years… which is choking/shocking
During my recent visit to US, I keenly monitored usage of energy over there.
I noticed lights stay ON during weekends in the offices (the ones I visited). Air-conditioning in hotels kept on blasting chilled air 24/7 even majority of the rooms were unoccupied. Huge fridges / air-conditioning systems are still charged with unfriedly freon gases (God help this planet, should they all leak over night). Unfortunately US govt didn’t even acknowledged the problem till yesterday. Perhaps they are too worried about the costs, which could mount in Trillions in order to make the country Ozone friendly. The policies are in place but they are not implemented.
I agree with you that each of us should care for our planet by using less energy.
In Europe we know that about sixty percent of the energy is used in homes. We should design homes efficiently by using appropriate materials so that in winter less heat dissipates through the structure and vice versa for summer. We should utilised solar energy to warm up water by designing solar panels filled with volatile substances that boils at low temperatures, thus even in the overcast conditions solar energy can be recouped. Spend less time taking shower. Switch off lights when rooms are not in use. Use wind power to produce energy. Produce electric/solar powered cars. All cars should be fitted with Catalytic Convertors in the exhaust systems to reduce the emission of the harmful gases. We should devise cars rapidly that can run on hydrogen (the present prediction is they will be available in 50yrs time) rather that spending billions on Defence funds. These may sound insignificant and petty, but every joule of energy saved is worthy. Without doubt, this a true challenge for humanity to enact a comprehensive plan for controlling climate change before it is too late.
Once again thank you for this article, It’s VERY well written and I enjoyed it thoroughly. You got all my applauds of the day and standing ovation
mina
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