Global Warming, an "Inconvient Truth" indeed.
by Kristen Pinsent, SUNY Cortland, February 23, 2007
Most college students and some high school students, have more likely then not, been introduced to the concept of global warming. I know in my sophomore year of high school biology is when I was first introduced to the problem. Though most people have heard of global warming, I believe most do not fully understand the problem that lies ahead if we, as people all over the world, do not do something to help stop global warming.
For those of people who have only some knowledge of what global warming actually is and does, an accurate “definition” is: “The Earth as an ecosystem is changing, attributable in great part to the effects of globalization and man. More carbon dioxide is now in the atmosphere than has been in the past 650,000 years. This carbon stays in the atmosphere, acts like a warm blanket, and holds in the heat — hence the name ‘global warming.” That statement comes from the website on global warming- www.stopglobalwarming.org. We as people have been introducing way too many toxins into our environment mainly by burning fossil fuels. Generations to come will be the ones paying for our idleness in this manner along with many of us who are living today. More natural disaster such as storms, hurricanes and floods will happen in great part because of global warming and these natural disasters can have a tremendous number of deaths. It has been recorded that over the past 14 years, 10 of those years, have been the hottest, 2005 being the warmest year ever.
The change in the ecosystem has devastating effects, for example: Hurricane Katrina. If people do not start taking action, the melting Arctic, parts of Antarctica breaking off, and glaciers will continue to melt, which will start causing more water which will put lands closest to the oceans underwater and allow more storms that can cause or have worse outcomes then Hurricane Katrina. This idea of global warming is not just a threat to America, this is a threat to every continent, every country, every city, every person- something has to happen or the inevitable that the scientists have proven, will happen.
Scientists have introduced this threat to people and the government- yet nothing dramatic has happened to prevent global warming. Then in 2006, former U.S Vice President Al Gore introduced his movie, An Inconvenient Truth. There has been some speculation of Mr. Gore’s motivation for making such a movie but it can be seen that Mr. Gore has put much work into finding a way to stop global warming and spreading awareness. A website, www.stopglobalwarming.org, founded by Laurie Davidbeen, was set up in 2005 to help people gain knowledge on global warming and information on how to cut pollution of carbon dioxide in the environment. Some solutions are as easy as using compact fluorescent bulbs instead of regular light bulbs which save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide or when adjusting your thermostat, only gain two degrees in the winter and layer your clothing- it will help save a combine total of 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.
Now Mr. Al Gore has set another date to try and raise awareness on global warming- July 7th, 2007 or 7-7-07, the number seven is particularly important because the number symbolizes the seven continents which symbolizes that global warming is something occurring everywhere. Mr. Gore has came up with an idea to raise awareness of global warming by having more than 100 well known musicians take stage for “Life Earth” for a full 24 hour concert. It is a concert that will take place in: London; Shanghai, China; Sydney, Australia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and cities to be determined in Japan, Antarctica and the United States. This will be the first live concert in Antarctica ever.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Eyed Peas, Pharrell Williams, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Snoop Dogg, Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge, Fall Out Boys, are just some of the major acts that will be performing at the concerts. Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, Keane, Bloc Party are some of the bands that will perform in London. There is a wide range of music that will be at this concert, which means that a wide variety of people who listen to different types of music can all enjoy. Some performers (such as the band Muse) are trying to re-schedule other performances so that they can be a part of this concert.
Mr. Al Gore is expecting one million people to attend the concerts and is hoped to be viewed by two billion people through television, radio and internet. The proceeds of this concert will be used towards the creation of a foundation to combat climate change. Mr. Al Gore has said: "In order to solve the Climate Crisis, we have to reach billions of people. We are launching S.O.S (Save Our Selves) and Live Earth to begin a process of communication that will mobilize people all over the world to take action. The Climate Crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement. We hope to jump-start that movement right here, right now, and take it to a new level on July 7, 2007”. The tickets have not yet gone on sale.
Along with Mr. Gore, other celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio are spokespeople for preventing global warming. DiCaprio has his own Eco-website about the effects that global warming has on earth and even wrote an essay on Cities and Climate change. His website, , has films of facts about what is happening, right now, with global warming and the contamination of water in the earth.
More recent news about preventing global warming; British tycoon Sir Richard Branson and Al Gore announced a $25 million reward to person or persons who can come up with a way of removing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Branson has stated: "Man created the problem; therefore Man should solve the problem". We, together as people have to help and solve this problem.
For people who do not know much about this topic, go on and look up information on any of these websites. To educate yourself on this topic does not make you into an environmentalist, you are a human who is apart of this world and are learning to alter our little habits that contribute to global warming. This is something we are all guilty of doing but we all have the ability to stop this climate change now and not later. For your future and for everyone else’s- we need to stop global warming.
Here are some other websites to further your understanding on global warming and on the upcoming 7-7-07 concert:
liveearth.msn.com
www.france24.com
www.mtv.com
For ticket information visit this site:
www.bestshowticketslasvegas.com
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