By Oscar E V Fernando
Global warming, due to carbon dioxide CO2 emissions by human activities, has melted ice caps and mountain glaciers causing an increase of sea levels; many scientists believe that if this is not arrested, it will bring about hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and also tsunamis in quick succession than in the past. Today flooding has become a major concern for many countries.
The subject of global warming goes beyond science to the fields of politics, industry and morals; being a concern for earth and its fate, it is a cause for alarm as well as hope for searching humanity, says Al Gore the former US Vice President, who has spent time and effort on this issue.
More emissions due to unregulated business ventures would cause a change in relationship between the earth and the sun causing such emissions to be absorbed into the oceans resulting in the prevention of formations of corals that will interfere with the making of shells by sea creatures.
Scientists point out that what is called greenhouse effect caused by natural emissions of CO2, water vapor and other trace gases absorb the heat emanating from the sun, thus trapping its radiation to the lower atmosphere; whilst maintaining normal atmospheric temperature, this is a naturally ordained plan of Universal Order.
It is scientifically found that massive combustion of coal oil and gases by unbridled human activities destabilizes this balance and also results in changing the configuration of ocean and wind currents that have been stable for several centuries past, thus signaling that the balance in the universe gets disrupted!
Scientists expect present levels of CO2 to exceed pre-industrial revolution levels from 75-350% by the end of the 21st century and this has over the last twenty five years increased the global surface temperature, although it has not been globally uniform.
In a similar manner that a giant asteroid wiped out dinosaurs 65 million years ago, global warming, caused by emission of fossil fuel gases and cutting and burning of forests, is now resulting in the loss of living species; this time caused by uncontrolled human activities spurred by the glamour of high and selfish living!
There is no doubt of an impending human crisis: it would appear that some world leaders do not want to listen to this truth and warning by scientists; reportedly some of them have even gone to the extent of manipulating scientific findings-perhaps for political gain; the consequences could be very harmful says experts on the subject!
If a majority of scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could end up in destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves; humanity is sitting on a ticking bomb due to the greed of some; red alert is on, to search for a better way of life says former vice president Al Gore.
Reportedly, engines that do not pollute could be built; sun and the wind can be harnessed for production; coal resources could be used without heating the planet: amidst various obstacles, investors have already commenced activities that have resulted in cutting emissions of what is called, heat-trapping gases, thus making way for a clean energy future.
It would seem that whilst some industrial magnates supported by right wing political and media groups down play the risks of climate change, environmentalists, left wing political groups and their supportive media have launched campaigns emphasizing the risks: in an impending catastrophe, this is an ironic situation in deed!
Adding to the melee of global warming is the debate as to the extent India and China are contributing to it by unbridled industrial expansion: reportedly China is poised to exceed US within the next few years in the race for destructive and wanton global warming—so much for a military coerced economy of the past!
Scientists have advised all concerned on the following, to arrest an impending crisis;
• Usage: Use less fossil fuel wherever possible-replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs that use 60% less energy than a regular bulb-control thermostat in heating and cooling equipment-frequently clean or replace filters on the furnace and air conditioner-wrap water heaters with an insulation blanket-use less hot water-use clothesline instead of the drier as far as possible-
• Habits: Take to walking, biking, carpooling and using public transport as carbon dioxide is produced from cars, trucks and airplanes-regularly tune up car engines to reduce emission of carbon dioxide-check car tire pressure regularly to improve gas mileage-turn off completely electronic devices such as DVD player, stereo and computer when not in use-unplug hairdryers, cell phones charges, and televisions from the wall as these go on using energy when plugged-run the dishwasher only when fully loaded and use the energy saving setting-
• Purchasing: Look for the energy star label-buy energy efficient appliances-buy recycled paper products to save forest cutting-buy locally grown and produced food to save the miles from the farm to the plate-buy fresh foods instead of frozen foods as frozen foods use ten times more energy to produce.-encourage local farmers markets-buy organic foods as organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide-avoid heavily packed products as carbon dioxide is saved by cutting down on garbage-get a home energy audit done to save energy bills.
• General: Switch to renewable energy such as, solar wind and biomass-conserve the forests that store carbon as carbon is released to the atmosphere when trees are cut- insulate or weatherize the house walls-recycle the waste in the household-since agriculture emits much greenhouse gas, watch what you eat, and eat less meat as cows fed on grass emanate a gas called methane that is harmful to the atmosphere -plant trees as a single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over a life time-plant trees.
Perhaps global warming is Nature’s way of signaling humanity that with the individual’s capacity for using free will, he/she should take note that Supreme Creative Intelligence intended earth’s produce for the common good of all creatures-a signal to act with a sense of altruism!
If global warming spurs humanity to begin a search for a better way of life, is it a signal to choose a suitable way of economic production to sustain humanity?
Vice President Al Gore comments that global warming certainly goes beyond science to a search for a better way of life, a search for the common good of humanity: this truly is a search and more, a challenge, basically for economic production from earth’s resources for sustenance of humanity sans the element of greed—let’s hope it will be a global warning and that the new administration of the US will take note of it!
- Asian Tribune -
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