It is hard to ignore that the planet’s temperature has gone up. However, the difficult part is convincing people that the rise in temperature is a problem. Despite scientific evidence, there are still those people who refuse to believe it. Instead they come up with other arguments that fight against climate change as an issue. Arguments that include climate change is natural, or in some cases a hoax all together.
Friends of Science provide education to the public and attempt to put pressure on the government for something to be done. They provide evidence that challenges the Kyoto protocol and cite alternative sources such as the Sun. Their main attempt is to educate the public and show scientific evidence that climate change is happening. They are not disputing it is happening but refuting that CO2 admissions are the main cause.
Alternatively, Grist’s How to talk to a Climate Skeptic addresses the most common arguments given by skeptics. Climate skeptics are becoming more prevalent in the debate, whether they are television personalities or politicians. They speak of the climates unpredictability or the lack of scientific evidence. Skeptics bring forth these arguments to the public to minimize the problem, or deny that any problem exists.
The competing views confuse the public. Climate change is such a technical and scientific subject that not creating one solid stance on it effects the way the public sees it. In the climate change debate, sometimes it becomes who can talk louder. Those who can talk louder can gain more supporters and in some cases research funding. The competition around climate change is an attempt to gain support not necessarily purely education.
The claims made by both sites must be taken with a grain of salt. Both sites have an ulterior motive to gain support for their argument. While it may seem they have the best interests, they are there to become the more popular argument. Both sides need to be heard and acknowledged but cannot be taken as the only option.
Grist outlines skeptics’ arguments and provides a competing argument. It presents a question and explains it in simple terms. However, Grist does not provide alternative causes, like Friends of Science. The two sites together create a well-rounded view incorporating science, politics and economics.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Glaciers
By far the most memorable experience I have had with the non-human world was seeing the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska. Initially, we were told that we could not sail into the inlet that the glacier terminated in as it was too foggy and the ice could not be clearly seen. As the boat I was on began to sail out to sea, however, the fog suddenly lifted and the captain made the decision to once again attempt to sail to the glacier. I'll never forget how amazing it was to see huge slabs of ice floating in the bluest water I have seen outside of Florida. The mountains rising sharply from the shore and topped with snow-covered peaks were unlike anything I had ever seen before, especially in August.
When we finally got to the glacier, the boat parked for a half hour. I remember sitting there in awe of this river of ice over a mile wide and scores of feet high. In that time, I was able to watch the glacier calve on several instances, sending out huge chunks of ice into the bay. It was amazing to see the glacier there despite the rather mild temperature and slowly flow to the sea as it has done for centuries. In fact, I filled up the memory on my old camera solely from pictures of the glacier and have nothing else from the rest of my trip to Alaska. Two decades ago, this glacier created an ice dam and blocked an adjacent fjord from the rest of the bay. When the dam broke, it unleashed a 25-meter high mass of water and had a greater flow than Niagara Falls. And while I of course did not witness this, see where this event happened again reminded me of the great power of nature and inability of humans to ever conquer it in its entirety.
Saving nature is an important pursuit for humans. At the most basic level, the natural processes our species depends on, from weather to agriculture, requires very specific arrangements of plants, animals, and geological features to function in the way we expect. When humans degrade these natural arrangements, drastic changes can occur that may threaten huge swaths of human civilization. Thus, man must learn to reap the benefits of the natural world but manage our impact to allow it to continue to nourish us in the way it has for millennia.
On a more abstract level, preserving natural environments deserves consideration for its own sake. It is important for humans to be humble with respect to nature, something that features such as glaciers and the Amazon help us achieve. In addition, the aesthetics of even pedestrian environments overall contributes to a better quality of life for humans and has long provided an important inspiration and opportunities for man.
When we finally got to the glacier, the boat parked for a half hour. I remember sitting there in awe of this river of ice over a mile wide and scores of feet high. In that time, I was able to watch the glacier calve on several instances, sending out huge chunks of ice into the bay. It was amazing to see the glacier there despite the rather mild temperature and slowly flow to the sea as it has done for centuries. In fact, I filled up the memory on my old camera solely from pictures of the glacier and have nothing else from the rest of my trip to Alaska. Two decades ago, this glacier created an ice dam and blocked an adjacent fjord from the rest of the bay. When the dam broke, it unleashed a 25-meter high mass of water and had a greater flow than Niagara Falls. And while I of course did not witness this, see where this event happened again reminded me of the great power of nature and inability of humans to ever conquer it in its entirety.
Saving nature is an important pursuit for humans. At the most basic level, the natural processes our species depends on, from weather to agriculture, requires very specific arrangements of plants, animals, and geological features to function in the way we expect. When humans degrade these natural arrangements, drastic changes can occur that may threaten huge swaths of human civilization. Thus, man must learn to reap the benefits of the natural world but manage our impact to allow it to continue to nourish us in the way it has for millennia.
On a more abstract level, preserving natural environments deserves consideration for its own sake. It is important for humans to be humble with respect to nature, something that features such as glaciers and the Amazon help us achieve. In addition, the aesthetics of even pedestrian environments overall contributes to a better quality of life for humans and has long provided an important inspiration and opportunities for man.
Caving and Saving
The most magical engagement I can think of that I have had with the natural world was during my time at summer camp when I was 10 or 11. During my week there, I spent one day going caving with the other girls in my cabin. We had a guide go through the cave with us, telling us facts about the stalactites, animals, and creeks that were in the cave. We stopped at one point to put mud all over our faces.
The magic came later. We all stopped in a slightly bigger room where we could all sit, and the guide had us all turn out our flashlights. I had never been in complete darkness before, and the sensation was incredible. I remember putting my hand up to my face and not being able to see it, and realizing that I was inside the Earth somewhere, and it had hidden the sun from me. At that moment, I realized how incredible the world outside the cave was, with its sunlight, colors, and wind, but I also realized how mysterious nature was that it could survive without these things.
After a few minutes of sitting there in complete darkness, the guide lit a match. The difference was stunning. I suddenly wanted to investigate each crevice in the cave wall, all the light flooding on to my cabin-mates’ faces, and my own hands that I had not been sure still existed. I was shocked at how a little match could bring such a huge change to the underground world, and the spell of the complete darkness that had kept us all in silence was lifted, and we continued laughing and chatting like muddy ten-year-olds. I left the cave thinking about how much I didn’t know about the world, and also how lucky I was to live in the light.
Saving nature is critically important to our dignity as human beings. We came from nature, and it is undeniable that we feel a connection to it. Though we have developed beyond the capabilities of the rest of the animals on the planet, this does not mean that we are exempt from living in nature. We love our planet, a fact that is supported by success of documentaries such as Planet Earth, or even the movie Wall-e, where the space-weary pilot is filled with a desire to learn more about the planet he wants to rediscover. We love nature for its beauty, its mystery, and its dualism between quietness and energy. If we let nature go, we are letting go one of the fundamental truths about ourselves and depriving the rest of human history of something that we know deep down that we love.
Another reason I believe we should save nature comes from my faith. As a Christian, I believe that God calls us to be stewards of the Earth, and this involves caring for the life around us. I know that not everyone shares my faith, but it still calls me to protect the environment and save the wonderful things God has placed here.
However, saving nature requires more than protection programs. It will require education, slowed development, and an increased appreciation for the world around us. We cannot save nature without halting our own development, and this is going to be hard to accept for many people, if not impossible. Just because something is impossible, though, does not mean that we should not try to do it.
The magic came later. We all stopped in a slightly bigger room where we could all sit, and the guide had us all turn out our flashlights. I had never been in complete darkness before, and the sensation was incredible. I remember putting my hand up to my face and not being able to see it, and realizing that I was inside the Earth somewhere, and it had hidden the sun from me. At that moment, I realized how incredible the world outside the cave was, with its sunlight, colors, and wind, but I also realized how mysterious nature was that it could survive without these things.
After a few minutes of sitting there in complete darkness, the guide lit a match. The difference was stunning. I suddenly wanted to investigate each crevice in the cave wall, all the light flooding on to my cabin-mates’ faces, and my own hands that I had not been sure still existed. I was shocked at how a little match could bring such a huge change to the underground world, and the spell of the complete darkness that had kept us all in silence was lifted, and we continued laughing and chatting like muddy ten-year-olds. I left the cave thinking about how much I didn’t know about the world, and also how lucky I was to live in the light.
Saving nature is critically important to our dignity as human beings. We came from nature, and it is undeniable that we feel a connection to it. Though we have developed beyond the capabilities of the rest of the animals on the planet, this does not mean that we are exempt from living in nature. We love our planet, a fact that is supported by success of documentaries such as Planet Earth, or even the movie Wall-e, where the space-weary pilot is filled with a desire to learn more about the planet he wants to rediscover. We love nature for its beauty, its mystery, and its dualism between quietness and energy. If we let nature go, we are letting go one of the fundamental truths about ourselves and depriving the rest of human history of something that we know deep down that we love.
Another reason I believe we should save nature comes from my faith. As a Christian, I believe that God calls us to be stewards of the Earth, and this involves caring for the life around us. I know that not everyone shares my faith, but it still calls me to protect the environment and save the wonderful things God has placed here.
However, saving nature requires more than protection programs. It will require education, slowed development, and an increased appreciation for the world around us. We cannot save nature without halting our own development, and this is going to be hard to accept for many people, if not impossible. Just because something is impossible, though, does not mean that we should not try to do it.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Hills and Holes
It's really difficult for me to decide on the most enchanting or thrilling experience I've had with the non-human world because my family have always been really into camping and hiking and other outdoorsy things. We used to go on one big trip every other year so that my brothers and I would eventually make it to all 50 US states and every national park in the country. After debating for a while, I have narrowed it down to two experiences which are completely opposite but equally thrilling.
The first experience was hiking the Grand Canyon in Utah when I was in middle school. I'd hiked lots of mountains but the Bright Angel Trail was my first experience where the downhill came before the uphill. The wildlife was so different from anything in the northeast because it has adapted to over 100 degree weather during the day and below 40 degree weather at night. Mostly there were lizards and small rodents and other creatures of that sort though we did see the occasional mule carring loads of supplies to campers at the Colorado River. The more impressive part of the Canyon to me was the geology. I was never that into rocks and dirt until that hike but seeing the wide range of colorful stone and the effect that the erosion had on it was absolutely stunning. The Canyon isn't just a big hole; there are plateaus and crevaces and alien-looking rock formations that span beyond how far the naked eye can see. The landscape was like nothing I could have ever imagined and the pictures I'd seen before the trip certainly did not do it justice. The color palette alone was wonderous. The desert was not just beige and neutral colored. Within the rocks, there were yellows, oranges, deep reds, magnificent pinks, royal purples, silver quartz, all shades of brown, pale greens, and even streaks of dark blue. Overall, the experience of hiking into the Canyon was overwhelming and despite the intense heat, nature provided a cool place to swim (the Colorado River) at the bottom of the hike. Hiking back up was just as magnificent in scenery but I remember being too tired to take much notice towards the end. I would definitely recomment a Grand Canyon trip to anyone who loves geology and anyone who's looking for a mountain hike in reverse.
The second experience was biking down the volcano Haleakala in Hawaii when I was 14. We woke up at 2 am to get to the top of the dormant volcano so that we could see the sunrise. It was rumored to be one of the best sunrises in the world and from what I saw the rumors are true. It was above the clouds and we had to have mini oxygen tanks when we got high enough up along with tons of extra clothes because the temperature dropped to about 10 degrees at the top. The real beauty came on the ride back down though because we could just coast on our bikes and enjoy the scenery. The mountain was bursting with life from the elusive silver sword cactus to large mountain deer and goats. It wasn't what someone would expect to see in Hawaii because it was about as different from laying on a beach with a maitai as you can imagine. But there are beaches everywhere. Hawaii shouldn't be relegated to a beach vacation because the camping and hiking experiences cannot be found elsewhere in the world. On the way down the volcano, we watched the life change from small cold weather plants, cacti, and animals to large, green, leafy Taro and thinly fur-coated creatures. When we reached the little town at the base of the volcano it was almost surreal to see cars and people and buildings so close to the secluded natural world of upper Haleakala. The sunrise and biking experience was nothing short of glorious.
So with that said, I think it's pretty obvious that I feel like "saving nature" is something we should be concerned with. In fact, I don't think it's even a matter of debate. As humans, we have no right to destroy the natural beauty that surrounds us because we are not the only living things on this planet. We should appreciate the God given glory around us work to preserve it. Not only will it be better for the planet and the environment in the long run but it is good for humans to experience nature for our own peace of mind. We are blessed to have such a lively and vibrant natural world that contains such a huge variety of plants and animals. In my experience, spending time in nature is relaxing, rejuvinating, and essential to living a complete life. If one has not experienced some of the marvels of nature, he is missing out on one of the most rewarding opportunities that life on Earth provides. Rather than saving nature, we should be thinking of it as saving ourselves because no life is full without the discovery of at least one new place. We don't need to discover some place no one has ever been before, but we should all go places that we have never been before and discover them for ourselves. Overall, nature is a blessing to humanity and we have a duty and a responsibility to make sure that future generations have that same blessing. So yes, saving nature should be a main concern of ours or we risk our health, happiness, and sanity.
The first experience was hiking the Grand Canyon in Utah when I was in middle school. I'd hiked lots of mountains but the Bright Angel Trail was my first experience where the downhill came before the uphill. The wildlife was so different from anything in the northeast because it has adapted to over 100 degree weather during the day and below 40 degree weather at night. Mostly there were lizards and small rodents and other creatures of that sort though we did see the occasional mule carring loads of supplies to campers at the Colorado River. The more impressive part of the Canyon to me was the geology. I was never that into rocks and dirt until that hike but seeing the wide range of colorful stone and the effect that the erosion had on it was absolutely stunning. The Canyon isn't just a big hole; there are plateaus and crevaces and alien-looking rock formations that span beyond how far the naked eye can see. The landscape was like nothing I could have ever imagined and the pictures I'd seen before the trip certainly did not do it justice. The color palette alone was wonderous. The desert was not just beige and neutral colored. Within the rocks, there were yellows, oranges, deep reds, magnificent pinks, royal purples, silver quartz, all shades of brown, pale greens, and even streaks of dark blue. Overall, the experience of hiking into the Canyon was overwhelming and despite the intense heat, nature provided a cool place to swim (the Colorado River) at the bottom of the hike. Hiking back up was just as magnificent in scenery but I remember being too tired to take much notice towards the end. I would definitely recomment a Grand Canyon trip to anyone who loves geology and anyone who's looking for a mountain hike in reverse.
The second experience was biking down the volcano Haleakala in Hawaii when I was 14. We woke up at 2 am to get to the top of the dormant volcano so that we could see the sunrise. It was rumored to be one of the best sunrises in the world and from what I saw the rumors are true. It was above the clouds and we had to have mini oxygen tanks when we got high enough up along with tons of extra clothes because the temperature dropped to about 10 degrees at the top. The real beauty came on the ride back down though because we could just coast on our bikes and enjoy the scenery. The mountain was bursting with life from the elusive silver sword cactus to large mountain deer and goats. It wasn't what someone would expect to see in Hawaii because it was about as different from laying on a beach with a maitai as you can imagine. But there are beaches everywhere. Hawaii shouldn't be relegated to a beach vacation because the camping and hiking experiences cannot be found elsewhere in the world. On the way down the volcano, we watched the life change from small cold weather plants, cacti, and animals to large, green, leafy Taro and thinly fur-coated creatures. When we reached the little town at the base of the volcano it was almost surreal to see cars and people and buildings so close to the secluded natural world of upper Haleakala. The sunrise and biking experience was nothing short of glorious.
So with that said, I think it's pretty obvious that I feel like "saving nature" is something we should be concerned with. In fact, I don't think it's even a matter of debate. As humans, we have no right to destroy the natural beauty that surrounds us because we are not the only living things on this planet. We should appreciate the God given glory around us work to preserve it. Not only will it be better for the planet and the environment in the long run but it is good for humans to experience nature for our own peace of mind. We are blessed to have such a lively and vibrant natural world that contains such a huge variety of plants and animals. In my experience, spending time in nature is relaxing, rejuvinating, and essential to living a complete life. If one has not experienced some of the marvels of nature, he is missing out on one of the most rewarding opportunities that life on Earth provides. Rather than saving nature, we should be thinking of it as saving ourselves because no life is full without the discovery of at least one new place. We don't need to discover some place no one has ever been before, but we should all go places that we have never been before and discover them for ourselves. Overall, nature is a blessing to humanity and we have a duty and a responsibility to make sure that future generations have that same blessing. So yes, saving nature should be a main concern of ours or we risk our health, happiness, and sanity.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Major Sustainabilty
There is always talk about the children of today being the future of tomorrow. They are the ones that will change the world we live in. There is an equal amount of talk about the degradation in the environment leaving nothing behind for the children. They children will leave in a whole new world and Earth will be not be able to sustain them. This talk, however is not going unheard, recently colleges throughout the nation have developed a new major to address growing concerns. The sustainability major will focus on architecture, engineering and urban planning. The goal of the major is to bring light to the area and provide useful and tangible experience to prevent and combat future environmental impact.
The new major is a new look at the problem. The problems facing the environment have been studied, but the solutions have gone to the wayside in some aspect. With the creation of the sustainability major, solutions are finally being considered. While viable solutions may not be immediate, the major is a stepping stone in the right direction. Educating youth solely for the purpose of helping the environment is addressing the problem and providing resources to help it.
Sustainability as a major also brings forward the notion that the point finally got across. The emphasis on the dying planet has finally been given the attention it needs. It is no longer a concept that people hear about and it has become greater than recycling a few plastic bottles. It is looked at as something more serious. It is now an issue that takes time to understand, and must be studied in order to create long-term solutions.
While the sustainability major is spreading throughout the nation, only time will reveal its potential impact. Sustainability as a major may be a passing trend. Hopefully, it is more than just a trend and the effects and impact of the major will be taken seriously. However, if the environmental situation becomes better or if other more pressing factors arise, it is uncertain about the lifespan of the major. Sustainability has the potential to help the environmental situation, but cannot be viewed as the saving grace to the planet.
Video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23782981#23782981
Build a better turbine
The article I've chosen to post is about a windmill design created by a professor I had for class a couple of semesters ago: http://www.popcitymedia.com/innovationnews/windmills0620.aspx7
The windmill described in the article is more efficient, easier to build, safer, cheaper, and all kinds of ways better than traditional horizontal axis wind turbines. Because it is built on a vertical axis, this means that wind coming from any direction can spin the turbine. The design of the turbine seeks to imitate nature to find the best channel for propelling the turbine.
This article is optimistic because it shows the potential for wind power in a nation that has often been opposed to the technology for aesthetic, safety, or even environmental reasons. If this wind technology becomes widespread, it could be a good example of a technological solution to climate change. The article also shows the growing interest in new technologies, given Sankar's grant to create and market his turbines.
The only reason I do not like this article is that it mentions Target, McDonald's and Whole Foods becoming self-sufficient. While I do support green technology, I do not think it should become a crutch to support our fast food, big box store mentality. Despite this one issue I have with this article, though, I think it is a very encouraging step towards energy independence and sustainability.
The windmill described in the article is more efficient, easier to build, safer, cheaper, and all kinds of ways better than traditional horizontal axis wind turbines. Because it is built on a vertical axis, this means that wind coming from any direction can spin the turbine. The design of the turbine seeks to imitate nature to find the best channel for propelling the turbine.
This article is optimistic because it shows the potential for wind power in a nation that has often been opposed to the technology for aesthetic, safety, or even environmental reasons. If this wind technology becomes widespread, it could be a good example of a technological solution to climate change. The article also shows the growing interest in new technologies, given Sankar's grant to create and market his turbines.
The only reason I do not like this article is that it mentions Target, McDonald's and Whole Foods becoming self-sufficient. While I do support green technology, I do not think it should become a crutch to support our fast food, big box store mentality. Despite this one issue I have with this article, though, I think it is a very encouraging step towards energy independence and sustainability.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Bamboo Laptop?
So I came across this article in the Washington Post today about an eco-friendly laptop. I'm not sure if everyone can view it unless you are signed up to receive the online Washington Post but I'll give the link anyway:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101204990.html
Basically, the article describes this new laptop series, made by Asus, that apparently calls the series "U Series Bamboo Collection." The laptop is wood-paneled and made of 15% bamboo and it comes packaged in 100% recyclable and natural bamboo pulp cloth. I don't exactly know what this means for the safety of the laptop while in transit but there don't seem to be reports of broken computers...yet.
Anyway, most of the article describes the characteristics of the laptop and gives pretty in depth details about the memory capacity and safety features of the product. However, it does give quite a few references to how environmentally friendly the new laptop is, despite its $999 price tag. While the insides of the laptop are basically the same, the eco-conscious bamboo exterior is like "icing on the cake" according to the author of the article. From the description in the article, I have the impression that carrying this laptop around would look like you were carrying a wooden cutting board or something of similar size, shape, and material. It's hard for me to imagine a bamboo covered laptop but I guess companies will do just about anything to jump on the "green product" bandwagon.
So while this may not be entirely "uplifting" in an environmental sense, I found the article to be kind of funny and a little cheerful. Although a laptop is still using a whole bunch of energy, at least Asus is trying to make it more green...with a bamboo cover and all. I'm not sure how I would feel walking around with a wooden laptop but maybe they'll become trendy just like reusable shopping bags and spiral light bulbs. Overall, the author gave the laptop a great review so before we know it, everyone could be walking around typing on bits of bamboo. The whole thing was pretty humorous to me but since we've been talking about green technology, I thought this article was an ironic piece about actual bamboo laptops...that's about as green as you can get. Hope you all enjoy!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101204990.html
Basically, the article describes this new laptop series, made by Asus, that apparently calls the series "U Series Bamboo Collection." The laptop is wood-paneled and made of 15% bamboo and it comes packaged in 100% recyclable and natural bamboo pulp cloth. I don't exactly know what this means for the safety of the laptop while in transit but there don't seem to be reports of broken computers...yet.
Anyway, most of the article describes the characteristics of the laptop and gives pretty in depth details about the memory capacity and safety features of the product. However, it does give quite a few references to how environmentally friendly the new laptop is, despite its $999 price tag. While the insides of the laptop are basically the same, the eco-conscious bamboo exterior is like "icing on the cake" according to the author of the article. From the description in the article, I have the impression that carrying this laptop around would look like you were carrying a wooden cutting board or something of similar size, shape, and material. It's hard for me to imagine a bamboo covered laptop but I guess companies will do just about anything to jump on the "green product" bandwagon.
So while this may not be entirely "uplifting" in an environmental sense, I found the article to be kind of funny and a little cheerful. Although a laptop is still using a whole bunch of energy, at least Asus is trying to make it more green...with a bamboo cover and all. I'm not sure how I would feel walking around with a wooden laptop but maybe they'll become trendy just like reusable shopping bags and spiral light bulbs. Overall, the author gave the laptop a great review so before we know it, everyone could be walking around typing on bits of bamboo. The whole thing was pretty humorous to me but since we've been talking about green technology, I thought this article was an ironic piece about actual bamboo laptops...that's about as green as you can get. Hope you all enjoy!
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