Monday, February 12, 2007

Day 5: "The Earth's Climate Is In For A Drastic And Deadly Shift And Humans Are The Very Reason For It" -Outline

I. Role
Alarmist
1. State the problem
The earth's climate is in for a drastic and deadly shift and humans are the very reason for it.
2. Give evidence
A. Volcanoes are a natural contributor to CO2 in earth's atmosphere, but over emission of CO2, as much as 150 times that of a volcano, comes from human activities, an irregular factor to the process of nature as according USGS Volcano Hazard Program.
B. "According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the eruption of the Tambora Volcano in Indonesia in 1815 lowered global temperatures by as much as 5ºF and historical accounts in New England describe 1815 as “the year without a summer.” ( http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/pastcc.html#causes ), This happened about 200 years ago, a very long time. But according to a study done by the NRC in 2006, it is confidently positive that the last 2 decades on earth were warmer than any other time period within the last 400 years, and those were times when the car wasn't invented but volcanoes were around. Now, that is only a 20 year time period. Rather alarming, one would think.
C. According to a TIME article, "How toThink About Global Warming," there is twice as much CO2 in the earth's atmosphere as there was during the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and that was when over emission of green house gases from human activity jump started.
D. According to Michael D. Lemonick, a senior writer for the acclaimed TIME magazine, he says, " If the Sahara becomes wet and fertile and the American Midwest becomes a desert, there's no net change--but all of the infrastructure is suddenly in the wrong place. If sea level rises a couple of meters in 50 years, a lot of cities are suddenly in the wrong place. It's the unprecedented pace of change that's the problem.
E. According to a NOVA and Frontline report, "What's Up With the Weather" an increase of 20 feet in sea level would engulf and destroy coastal civilization, rendering millions across the globe homeless. Over emission of greenhouse gases from human activities would significantly augment the temperature, resulting in more heat related deaths, solar radiation, mosquito borne diseases, naturals disasters such as hurricanes and giant floods, and a significant change in rain pattern throughout the world that would bring crop failure throughout different regions.
F. According to TIME, "Raising The Climate Stakes," the assessment released by the U.N's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that for the first time there is "unequivocal" evidence supporting that humans are the cause for at least 90% of the earth's global warming.
3. Examine contributing factors
I. Volcanoes are a natural part of nature and nature has its own ways of dealing with it, but throw in human activities, a new man made factor into an organic world and you have an imbalance.
II. We live in a modernized world where 2/3 of every American owns a car. 200 years ago, cars that we have today never existed, it was something they called a horse.
III. Americans are becoming more sedentary everyday as the car and electrical scooter replaces the everyday walks in the park. When climates suddenly change and conditions are not how they used to be, most people would not know what to do.
IV. Global warming is when the sun's rays are trapped within the earth's atmosphere and green house gases such as CO2 are trapped within circulation, ausing an internal heating of the earth.
V. World super powers such as China and the US are not taking the leadership role of starting an international project to step foward and minimize the problem threatening the future of everyone.
VI.
4. Propose a solution
Public awareness is the sole key of the situation. The more the people know about the truths of a prolonged disaster as global warming, the more easier it is for the world to mend the future for the next generations to come and nurture. I suggest requiring it as part of a highschool science curicculum. This is a very extreme problem facing not only one person, but the world. It is our job, the people to publicize this situation. We must make drastic changes to preserve and save the climate or deal with the drastic climate changes. One option is, though very big, would be a giant contributor for a solution: cancel commercial car racing. We can not expect to move forward with positive perceptions if we keep something so extreme as commercial car racing continuing. We must make extreme reforms to balance extreme problems. People should try their best to own fuel efficient cars that are nature friendly. Afterall, this planet did give rise to us- humans. It is our rightful duty to save it, to not bite the hand that fed us. It was the planet that let us love and learn, it is our rightful job to save it in return.

1 comment:

Jocelyn said...

CHRIS!!

Nice blog! Great ideas! Just a few suggestions: check your grammar, and organize your thoughts. Make sure your evidence is backing up your problem statement.

Jocelyn Grant :o)