Blog Response: Environmental Issues
About Global Warming
There has been much concern about the worrying issue of global warming recently.
Global warming is the increase of earth's surface temperature due to increasing amounts of atmospheric greenhouse gases like methane or carbon dioxide. It is of great concern as it will lead to dire consequences like rising sea levels due to melting ice caps, among others. Global warming is an unfortunate byproduct of man's irresponsible actions. Therefore, I write this article to raise awareness of this pressing problem.
Different Perspectives, Different Approaches
Different factions of people in our society currently view global warming differently.
The first is the United States and President George Bush. He keeps on denying the effects of global warming which has already been proven “beyond doubt”.
On the other hand, there is the treehuggers' camp. They over exaggerate the implications and effects of global warming to “shock people, governments into taking more serious action”.
Taking Pity on Uncle Sam
There has already been clear scientific evidence to support global warming, yet Bush still denies it, as he has a vested interest in protecting his energy industry, which are the key drivers of US economy. While I am no economist, I fully understand Bush's plight. Bush knows that if he ratifies the Kyoto Protocol, it would severely hamper the growth of its gargantuan automobile and energy industry, with the likes of Ford, Exxon Mobil and Chevron. Add to it a ballooning US trade deficit of US$750 million and a competitive Chinese economy and now you understand the reasons for Bush's denial.
The Real Problem Is...
The threat of global warming is real yet nobody seems to be doing anything about it. The question is whether we should still worry about global warming, which will not really affect us until much later, or concentrate on finding a cure for more pressing problems like malaria or HIV/AIDS, which kill people to the tune of 10 million annually. There are also other problems in the developing world yet to be solved, even simple things like sanitation and water poses huge bureaucracy hurdles. If these simple things we cannot overcome, I guess governments should not be too ambitious to 'solve' global warming.
My view on the future is that we should strive to solve our present problems instead of worrying and pondering about future problems. Sometimes, solving our present problems may naturally lead to that future problem being solved. For example, developing countries like China are burning lots of coal for their energy needs. Rather than trying to clear the air up about global warming (pun unintended), we should nip the problem in its bud – persuade China to use more efficient and less pollutive fuels.
I will end off with a quote. “More time does not solve problems. Lack of time does.” Therefore, we should aim to give ourselves a specific deal line to eradicate all or most present problems, then finally lay the ultimatum to reduce global warming.
(479 words)
There has been much concern about the worrying issue of global warming recently.
Global warming is the increase of earth's surface temperature due to increasing amounts of atmospheric greenhouse gases like methane or carbon dioxide. It is of great concern as it will lead to dire consequences like rising sea levels due to melting ice caps, among others. Global warming is an unfortunate byproduct of man's irresponsible actions. Therefore, I write this article to raise awareness of this pressing problem.
Different Perspectives, Different Approaches
Different factions of people in our society currently view global warming differently.
The first is the United States and President George Bush. He keeps on denying the effects of global warming which has already been proven “beyond doubt”.
On the other hand, there is the treehuggers' camp. They over exaggerate the implications and effects of global warming to “shock people, governments into taking more serious action”.
Taking Pity on Uncle Sam
There has already been clear scientific evidence to support global warming, yet Bush still denies it, as he has a vested interest in protecting his energy industry, which are the key drivers of US economy. While I am no economist, I fully understand Bush's plight. Bush knows that if he ratifies the Kyoto Protocol, it would severely hamper the growth of its gargantuan automobile and energy industry, with the likes of Ford, Exxon Mobil and Chevron. Add to it a ballooning US trade deficit of US$750 million and a competitive Chinese economy and now you understand the reasons for Bush's denial.
The Real Problem Is...
The threat of global warming is real yet nobody seems to be doing anything about it. The question is whether we should still worry about global warming, which will not really affect us until much later, or concentrate on finding a cure for more pressing problems like malaria or HIV/AIDS, which kill people to the tune of 10 million annually. There are also other problems in the developing world yet to be solved, even simple things like sanitation and water poses huge bureaucracy hurdles. If these simple things we cannot overcome, I guess governments should not be too ambitious to 'solve' global warming.
My view on the future is that we should strive to solve our present problems instead of worrying and pondering about future problems. Sometimes, solving our present problems may naturally lead to that future problem being solved. For example, developing countries like China are burning lots of coal for their energy needs. Rather than trying to clear the air up about global warming (pun unintended), we should nip the problem in its bud – persuade China to use more efficient and less pollutive fuels.
I will end off with a quote. “More time does not solve problems. Lack of time does.” Therefore, we should aim to give ourselves a specific deal line to eradicate all or most present problems, then finally lay the ultimatum to reduce global warming.
(479 words)
Labels: english
posted by Brian Ho at
12:13 AM
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