Today environmental destruction can be seen on both a local and global level. As cities and towns grow, air pollution and carbon emissions rise exponentially causing detrimental consequences on the environment and drastic effects on global warming. Global warming is not a subject we can take lightly. It is time for us to take action and fix the problem now. If we do not act, future generations will be forced to endure unbearable environmental factors, and our human race may be at stake. People may think they are too insignificant to fix a large-scale environmental problem; but they are wrong.
In An Inconvenient Truth, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling manner. For example, he notes that the ten hottest years ever recorded have occurred in the last 14 years. As temperatures increase all over the world, storms have gotten increasingly stronger such as Hurricane Katrina. Think of the impact of just a few hundred thousand refugees, and imagine what it would be like if there were 100 million refugees. Because the artic is melting faster than ever, it is expected that the sea level could rise worldwide 20 feet. If this occurred, the World Trade Center Memorial site would be under water, and there would be devastating impacts around the globe for example in Shanghai, and Calcutta. In addition, it is predicted that within the decade there will be no more snow in Mount Kilimanjaro as a result of the temperature increase.
The fact of the matter is that we have to stop, or at least greatly reduce pollution and emissions now before it is too late. Thus, in my opinion, the most important issue of our time is stopping global warming. Al Gore brings up issues that are happening right before our eyes, and he continually provides scientific evidence that our environment is being destroyed at rapid rates. Detrimental effects on the environment are happening every minute, and it is our “time to cease this issue, and rise again to secure our future” (Al Gore). What we take for granted at this time may not be there for our children in the future if we do not fix the way we live our lives and the amount of carbon emissions we release into the atmosphere. Thus this is not just a political issue, but also a moral issue that needs to be resolved and dealt with.
Al Gore said in his powerpoint presentation that, “Everything that has ever happened in all of human history has happened on that pixel [tiny dot of the Earth]. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major advances…. it’s our home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilization.” In his presentation he makes a very important point. It is time for us to wake up, speak out, and initiate change. No more time to stall, or waste, because what we take for granted today will not be there for our children if we do not do something immediately.
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2 comments:
The fact that we are using up fossil fuels at a rapid rate and polluting the Earth is an extremely serious matter, as you have clearly stated. To combat this issue environmental equality must be dealt with first. There are too many minority groups living in polluted environments. It seems as though the population has no trouble making pollution as long as they don't have to deal with the after effects. Therefore, those living in situations that aren't as good as those living in mainly caucasion populated suburbs must be seen as an example of how the world may look like if this rapid increase of pollution continues. Thus, an equal clean up of cities and cutting back on using entities such as gas is clearly the most beneficial remedy.
It is true that the human race is heading towards a dark and destructive future based on its inability to realize that this world is dying. I completely agree that it is up to us to make a change regarding how we live our lives. Those fortunate enough to have been born in first world nations must realize that their complacency is destroying the environment, and consequently, eradicating the safety of mankind on this earth. There is nowhere else we can go. It is up to those fortunate few to assume responsibility and use their abundant resources to effect change. The millions of poor people devastated, or rather plagued, by a lack of education regarding this matter depend on our leadership, our compassion, and our choices.
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