There Is Still Time To Save Revolution Essay Example for Free

There Is Still Time To Save Revolution Essay It has been the scientists’ consensus: the world is undoubtedly warming (Pew Center). Thorough researches have proven that this warming is primarily the result of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), in its February 02, 2007 report has found a strong link of these emissions on human activities which include industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, and changes in land use.   The report further said that the world shall experience an increase in temperature for about 2. 5 ºF to 10.4 ºF by 2100 if the current emission trends continue. The good news however is, the scientists believe that there is still time to slow global warming and to lessen many of its most severe consequences if we act quickly. Since it is primarily the human beings who are held responsible for global warming, the future of the world’s temperature is in our hands.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Greenhouse gases like Carbon Dioxide, methane, halocarbons and tropospheric O3 come from burning of fossil fuels, landfills and CFCs (D. Carpenter). From here, we can clearly see what we can do. Carbon dioxide makes up 60% of the total amount greenhouse gases and it primarily comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. If this is the case, an individual can contribute to the world’s effort of reducing carbon dioxide emission by reducing the usage of cars. Transportation has been the major source of this emission so by reducing car usage, we can reduce carbon dioxide emission. Walking to reach short distance destinations is one good step. The use of bikes, as that of Vietnam is also a good thing. Anyway, it is a good form of exercise. As ordinary citizens, we all the power to elect able lawmakers who would be concerned enough with the environment and the human health. As with nitrous oxide emission, we can do something with the reduction of use of trash incineration as its major source. Simple means of waste segregation and composting are of good contribution. Proper waste disposal can reduce the use of garbage incinerations. Recycling and reuse are also good steps. Let us reduce the use of disposable plastic containers because burning of plastics contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. If we can reuse these plastic containers, then we can consequently reduce the amount of plastics to be burned. We can use paper bags instead of plastic containers in our daily routine. If we can reduce the use of fertilizers as enhancers to our mini orchidarium and gardens, then it will be of great help.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We can also contribute with the reduction of Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) and other Halocarbons. At home, we can reduce the use of artificial products that uses refrigerant and propellants as that of aerosol cans. There are already products available in the markets which are water-based. Of course, air conditioners and refrigerators have been our buddies at home and in the office. They are almost in everyone’s house. If we can get rid of using them, we can probably choose the products or brands that make use of lesser amount of CFCs. We almost all have our television sets, the access to internet and the daily papers. We can learn from these media on how to choose products that are environment-friendly. Primarily, we should be one who are to be environment-friendly because it is us who have the ability to think and feel and to distinguish friendly ones from that of the harmful stuffs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is also a direct correlation between global warming and deforestation (T. Socha). Research also shows that decline in forest cover adds up to 20% of greenhouse gases buildup. It means the lack of shaded areas has allowed higher surface temperatures. Because trees are natural consumers of carbon dioxide and in turn a natural source of oxygen, their presence in the environment is vital.   With lesser trees, there will be lesser consumers of carbon dioxide and consequently will lead to more emissions. Though it is a fact that it takes years before a tree is full grown, it does not necessarily mean that our hope of reducing the effects of global warming is gone forever. We still have the chance of planting more trees. Of course, it will be impossible to reconvert deforested areas that have already been converted to industrial areas. But we still have acres and acres of land that we can utilize as vegetation areas. There is no better time to start planting than now. Now is the right time to help in tree-planting projects that are sponsored by the government and even non-government organizations. Let us find time to participate in these activities. If time is what we lack, we have the opportunity to share our financial resources to support such projects. Moreover, we have current policies as with the routine harvest of trees. What we can best do is to adhere with government policies concerning the environment. If we find violations, we all have the media to coordinate with authorities. If we are financially capable enough to play golf or to operate golf courses, then it is our responsibility to re-consider its unhealthy effects in the environment. The operation of golf courses requires deforestation, then the use of vast amount of fertilizers in the maintenance of the grass areas. Voluminous water used to water the grass areas run through areas with the pollutants that is contained in the fertilizers. In general, a golf course is environmentally unhealthy. For all these facts, we can see that even ordinary citizens have the power to reduce the impact of global warming by the reduction of the usage of products that are the main sources of greenhouse emissions. We don’t need to be lawmakers and scientists or even be in the government seats in order to help. Even in our daily routine, we all have the chance to make this world a better place to live in. WORKS CITED Carpenter, David. â€Å"Health Effects of Global Warming† Institute of Health and the Environment University. Albany Socha, Thomas. â€Å"The Potential Effects of Global Warming† Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.cato.org/pubs/books/climate/069-88.pdf â€Å"Global Warming Basics† Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics    Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1990). Working Group II. â€Å"Potential Impacts of Climate Change†. 6-3,6-4,6-9. BIBLIOGRAPHY Carpenter, David. â€Å"Health Effects of Global Warming† Institute of Health and the Environment University. Albany Cross, Eleanor and Kenneth Hyams. â€Å"The Potential Effect of Global Warming on the Geographic and Seasonal Distribution of Phlebotomus Papatasi in Southwest Asia.† â€Å"The Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol. 104. July 1996. pp. 724-727 Gorman, Christine. â€Å"How It Affects Your Health† Time Magazine. March 26, 2006. Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.time/magazine/article/0,9171,1177002,00.html Lashof, D. (1989). â€Å"The Dynamic Greenhouse: Feedback Processes that may Influence Future Contractions of Atmospheric Trace Gases an Climatic Change.† pp. 213 Moore, Curtis (1997) â€Å"Warming up to Hot New Evidence† International Wildlife. Vol. 27. pp24-27 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1990) Working Group II. â€Å"Potential Impacts of Climate Change† pp. 6-9 Patz, Jonathan. â€Å"Alarming Health Effects of Global Warming† Medical News Today. November 19, 2005. Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=33768 Rauber, Paul (1997). â€Å"Heat Wave: If WE Continue to Ignore the Danger Signs, the World of the Future will be Hotter, Poorer, Deadlier Place; Here’s What It Might Look Like.† Vol. 82. pg. 34-38 Socha, Thomas. â€Å"The Potential Effects of Global Warming† Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.cato.org/pubs/books/climate/069-88.pdf Thompson, Dick (1997). â€Å"Climate: Melt Away Future the Ice Caps are shrinking†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Time International. Vol. 11. p. 38 West, Larry. â€Å"Global Warming is Unstoppable and Humans are to Blame, says UN Report† Retrieved on April 17, 2007 from http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/ipcc_report.htm    Cooler Heads Coalition. â€Å"Potential Health Effects of Global Warming; Urban Heat in Atlanta; CBS Climate Hype† April 20, 2000. Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.globalwarming.org/article.php?=225    National Resources Defense Council. â€Å"Consequences of Global Warming† Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/fcons.asp U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. â€Å"Global Warming-Impacts† Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://yoshemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ImpactsHealth.html      Ã¢â‚¬Å"Strongest Evidence Yet of Human Link to Global Warming, Expert Says† The Science Daily. February 5, 2007. Retrieved on April 17, 2007 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/2070204111643.htm