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- Hello, Hola, Bonjour, Buona sera, Interjektion hallo, to everyone,
This picture represents Anthony Preston, the future of the culinary/hospitality world. An intelligent, focus and determined sophomore student at the greatest university in the world, University of the District of Columbia. My topic for Earth day is a frequently asked question, “Should a country’s government or the United Nations regulate pollution levels? And if so, give incentives to those who follow their policies? Or discipline those who refuse?” I chose this topic because I watch politicians, entertainers, athletes and many others promote a “cleaner earth.” Also, I watch government slowly emphasizing a ‘greener’ corporate society. This topic is very important to me because, I believe that governments from all across the world should determine how much pollution one person on company should release in the atmosphere. I hope you find this page informing yet, rewarding and please, feel free to give your opinon on this matter. Thank You!!!
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WORKS CITED
American Lung Association. 2009. Testimony of A. Blakeman Early presented on behalf of the American Lung Association before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Available: http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Heari... [accessed April 1, 2009].
“Chapter 4: Water scarcity, risk and vulnerability.” Human Development Report 2006: Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water c… Continue
“Chapter 4: Water scarcity, risk and vulnerability.” Human Development Report 2006: Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water c… Continue
Posted on July 15, 2009 at 1:30am —
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Professor Irving
English 112
8 July 2009
World Leaders Controlling the Pollution Levels
The people of the world today have an outlook on life that is very uncaring, nonchalant and quite frankly, grotesque. As Dr. Norman Cousins explained in his article, “Decline of Neatness”, “Anyone with a passion for hanging labels on people or things should have little difficulty in recognizing that an apt tag our time is the ’Unkempt generation’”. For example, last evening three young men entered the metro bus dressing very feminine, assuming to be women. Their loud language displayed that they were proud to be ‘fake women’ and address the entire bus that they look good and that everyone would engage in sexual encounters with them. As of appearance, the article discussed, “…attempt to avoid any appearance of being well groomed or even neat has a quality of desperation and suggest a calculated and phony deprivation.” In other words, people are ‘accepting’ the new trends of proper appearance and believes that it is okay to be free in displaying yourself as long as it’s not intercepting into the realm of one’s personal environment.
As appearance continues to spiral downward, so does the speech of humanity. Dr. Cousins demonstrates that proper speech is as rare as having a successful, prospering married couple in this tight economy. A week ago, when the train stopped at a designated stop, entered four D.C. Public Charter School students who were coming from school. They were discussing an attractive girl they wanted to talk to at the school. As the discussing progressed, the young males began to use adult vulgar language and explicative words on how they would operate sexual acts on her and how neither one of them would have a chance of getting her. Their actions displayed where their minds shouldn’t be whether where their minds need to be.
A wise man said, in regards to a well groomed man, “People can determine the man you are by the way you look, speak and behave. And just to let you know, there is someone always watching you ‘. Norman Cousins explains that behavior, “Foster attitudes of casualness towards violence and brutality not just entertainment but in everyday life”. People’s attitudes display a lot of boast, unconsciousness and obnoxiousness. At the job, two coworkers were discussing their perception of how they ‘care’ for women. Their conversation seems to be quite disturbing, and disrespectful. They agree that it’s fine for a man to have as many women as possible to prove their masculinity. They described some of their stories of their encounters with no remorse but with pride. On the other hand, women shouldn’t have as many men for that she is considered as a ‘roller’, ‘ho’ and ‘slut’. The double-standard for women to be promiscuous is degrading but for a man to do the same thing is a triumph, was a concept the two coworkers also approved. Mortifying women to uphold a man’s ego is a behavior most men today praise and credits.
The actions that these people demonstrate show the indecent conduct that this generation exploits and honors. The decline of neatness that is revealed in everyday people goes the same in leadership.
If people act this way towards one another, then this also illustrates the exact behavior, we have towards the environment.
When it comes to the environment, the decline of neatness is shown in our everyday lives. For instance, the water we use for everyday living. As humans, we spend lots of time in the shower, wasting gallons of water every time we shower. We brush our teeth every morning and evening and as we brush, many let the water continue to run down the drain. Not only the water we use we waste but has anyone really checked the water supply that is treated from our water treatment facilities? As of late, reports and research are being proven that the basic water that come from our faucets are contaminated with lead, fluoride and many other contaminates that can be harmful to the body. Not only humans are at risk, so does the animals in the water. The pollutants we produce as humans, whatever they may be, (littering, relinquishing human bodily waste, etc.) the chemicals from our water treatment plants puts a very bad strain on the oceanic wildlife in turn effects the consumption for human nourishment. We need to have better caution of the way we use water and find better ways to treat it without the possibilities of harming the earth and its inhalants.
Water is not the only problem we face when it comes to the environment; another problem is the air we breathe. Our bodies breathe in oxygen and relapses carbon dioxide, that’s how our respiratory systems work. On the other hand, plants breathe in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. From this illustration, it’s known how the air flow works in the earth. But as humanity expands, so does the elimination of trees. People are taking acres of unused land and turning them big luxury homes, gated communities and small town for the wealthy. There are many trees being cut a year in turn, causing a big problem. As trees are being cut down, so does the oxygen that is essential for humans and animals for existence. The oxygen is not the only issue when it comes to plants. There is the issue, of the greenhouse emissions that is spreading into the atmosphere. The more greenhouse gases that enters the air, the more it eats away the ozone layer with increases affect of global warming, which if not carefully obverse, will have very damaging effects to the earth. We need to do a better job protecting our plants and slow dons on gas emissions that we place in the atmosphere.
The entire planet is suffering from these issues. From the United States to China, from England to Australia, and nation’s in-between, are discovering and trying to solve these and many other environmental issues. In China, before and during the 2008 summer Olympics, there was the big problem of people unable to breathe. There was so much pollution, that the oxygen levels were very low. Another case, in India, chemicals found at very high levels in the river. To make matters worse, the chemicals that were found were chemicals that are used for antibiotics. In the Middle East, world powers stealing, fighting and demanding for the world’s most precious resource, oil. The oil that is produced is mainly for power plants, and automobiles, which is one of main causes for the greenhouse effect. As citizens, we need to more writing, marching, protesting, advertising, etc. to make known to the world leaders the problems the world is facing outside the economy. World leaders are now listening, but slowly doing actions to improve the planet. With the assistance of continuous research, making changes and implementation and offering incentives, world leaders have the ability to mandate and take control of the pollution that is spreading into the atmosphere. Delete Comment
12 June 2009
English 112
Professor Irvin
Picture Synopsis
The collage of pictures illustrated on this page, is consisted of the ways we are destroying the Earth and the environment. The main picture that describes these synopses is an animated picture of the planet coughing out smoke, mentioning that the Earth is getting sick. The ways by which the Earth is getting sick starts with the air. It starts with cars clogging the air it rush hour traffic, power plants using coal instead of clean air and burning the Earth’s richest resource, oil. A treterous display of the world’s internal sickness is the water supply. Dams are polluted and even worse, low water levels, oil that spills into the water, intoxicating seals and the fish that is used for our nourishment. But there is a bright side and that is, people coming together to save the polluted, and sick-filled Earth. Children, adults bringing their thoughts together through conferences, community events and other avenues of informing and enlighten people of the crisis that de-face us. Delete Comment No comments yet!
This video consists of different water supplies displaying the contamination of the earth’s water supply. Its focus to acknowledge the pollution levels that is disrupting the water. The video mentions facts and percentages of pollutant levels and informs how little effects water treatment facilities purify the water. But, the inspiration of this video comes from the music. The song that inspired this video was “Beautiful Day”, by Rock’N’Roll Hall of Fame and environmentalists rock band, U2. The video’s mission is to plea citizens to push and pressure national, state and local governments to fund and facilitate water treatment plants on upgrading technology and equipment to modernize these plants in purifying water.
Video 2: China’s Air Issues
This video is an investigative report by BBC World News on the unstable air levels of China. A reporter visited China to explain the inequality of air levels that China is defacing today. The villagers of a small town outside Beijing cannot produce vegetation, the school children cannot play outside due to the smog that clouds the playgrounds. But the main issue comes from an elderly man, due to the air that was infected with lung cancer. He cannot feed himself, travel and id bedridden for the rest of his days. This video symbolizes the lack of effort world powers are attacking on these environmental issues. The people of that small town are suffering and are being overlooked. With no sense of urgency, the villagers will suffer from dramatic and aypoclitic results.
Video 3: Nation Leaders, Time for a change
This is an animated film on protecting parks, and national habitat of wildlife and endangered species. The video has a narrator and a butterfly named, Lupinus But-if-flyia (Blue-spotted But-if—fly), illustrating a problem-solving campaigning to change the actions and mindset of humans who damage the earth. For instance, the narrator describing that are many power plants using coal as fuel but the butterfly made clear that if we research clean energy, we can have clean air in the parks and habitats? Also, due to global warming, the ice glaciers are melting at a rapid pace and that government is contributing to the expansion of these fossil fuel plants. But we can turn it around by coming together as citizens and convince our national government to control powered plant emissions, it can help save the atmosphere. Most importantly, if humans can use less energy in our everyday lives, it can immediately change the planet. Delete Comment
World Leaders Mandating Pollution
In today’s dwindling global environmental state, acknowledging the issues and producing research is a crucial step in mandating pollution, Similar to the United Sates, countries all around the world noticing a dramatic increase in decline of environmental progress, causing major concern and answers. In China, the people of Beijing are suffering from a double jeopardy of environmental disasters. There is a problem of the lack of air quality and depleting levels of their water supply. Water is the key essential to human existence, but in Beijing, that key essential is becoming a key catastrophe. In a recent study by the Probe International Beijing Group, displays the water crisis that has taken place in China’s capital. This study was recorded over the last sixty years (1948-2008) and was reported in late 2008. Beijing has more than 200 rivers and streams, according to the report (Beijing Water Report, 25) and over the past sixty years displays a serious decline in freshwater. In the past thirty years, residents have been using the groundwater supply and find it, ‘inexhaustible’. (BWR, 25) But the groundwater levels are dropping and becoming more polluted. One cause for this dilemma is the lack of precipitation. Since the 1980’s had below average rainfall and had nine consecutive dry years from 1999-2008, according to the report. A tremendous factor that plays a role in this disaster is the policies of the Chinese government. The ‘New China’ Began in 1949 and state logging companies began to expand in turn, destroying the forests at the headwaters of the rivers for construction. (BWR, 26) through the ages, the people expanded, so did industrial development which began to cause this disaster to begin. But between the 1980’s and 1990’s, Beijing’s water supply increased at an annual rate of 2.8 to 2.9 billion cubic meters (BWR, 26) showing signs of growth. But in the last two decades, the city is losing its capacity to recharge the groundwater. To make matters worse, due to the expansion of human life and their needs, less water is penetrating into the ground. (BWR, 27) But in order to reverse this hurting cycle, China must make changes and find solutions before their city becomes dry and desolate.
China is finding creative tactics and a well planned strategy to handle this issue. It’s implemented that endless supply expansion is the correct answer to handle the problem. (BWR, 32) expanding to other cities to extract water will economically and environmentally damage China. China needs to a resolution to reduce demand using the law and economic incentives (BWR, 33). “A better approach would be to curb demand through effiency improvements in water supply and consumption using the rule of law and economic incentives” said in the report. In other words, the Chinese government should improve water treatment facilities and control the water used in households in China. Including using laws for the average citizen, China’s law makers should reinforce laws and regulations for companies to apply (BWR, 33). Enforcing laws such as, shutting down pollution facilities, prohibit development projects in water source protection zones, prohibit the dumping of untreated industrial wastewater and household sewage into Beijing’s waterways, suspend the construction of golf courses and impose fines on water polluters (BWR, 33) can and will help better structure the their current issue in directing towards progress. Also, employ a regulator to control the water supply. He or she will have the ability to set prices, and the use of water that should be used. Overall, incentives and implementations like these can reverse this dilemma and help china turn around the environmental decline and restructure order.
Outside the water problems the Earth is facing as a whole, the air we breathe is also at risk. In the United States, the EPA, along with President Obama is pushing for clean air and reduces greenhouse emissions. But there are some who doesn’t want to comply with regulations. A petition is being submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by group named Growth Energy, to increase ethanol emissions from 10 to 15 percent. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) wants the EPA to deny this petition (EWG 1) on the account of false information and to waive the Clean Air Act issued by the EPA (EWG 1). If allowed the transition, E15 could “damage vehicle control, decrease fuel economy, pose fire risk during transportation and retail, degrade water quality, worsen emissions of some air pollutants, and escalate health risk for children and other vulnerable people” according to the letter (EWG 1). In the Clean Air Act, the EPA has control over the usage of fuel and addictives to protect the health of the public from the exposure of emissions (EWG 2). In recognition to the Clean Air Act, the Growth Energy organization presents falsified information in promotion to waive this act for their cause. It is believed by Growth Energy that “E15 is similar in performance to E10” also, “E15 will not cause or contribute to the failure of emission control devices or systems” (EWG, 2). In all actuality, E15 will lose more fuel economy and will result in higher acetaldehyde emissions from engines and higher levels of carbon monoxide from non-road engines (EWG,2) and also, E15 has an increased catalyst temperature of 43 percent, in turn will have an early burnout and shut down emission control devices (EWG, 3). Another bold claim made by the group, “long-term exhaust emissions testing (50,000-mile durability testing) is not necessary for approval of the requested wavier.”(EWG, 3) But the EPA have stated in this act, “testing needs to include emissions over the full useful life of vehicle and equipment.” It is unsafe to make this claim due to the fact that there is trouble with the E10 in present cars and can be denied for warranty, which affects the cost. This problem doesn’t have a solution but describes the slow effort government it taking in putting a stamp on research that is harmful and false.
Even though there may be no exact solution to this issue, the implementation is to do more research. As of today, humanity is finding more ways to save energy. With the creation of energy-saving appliances and hybrid cars, we are saving money as well. The American government should make tougher laws against pollution. They should make heavier fines, or even, jail time for not following their policies. But on the bright side, we are making progress due to advance technology. The government is making strides by aligning with companies in offering tax credits for saving energy. World leaders and scientist should come together and share information that is already known, share ideas and solutions that can eliminate this environmental decline. If we can continue to make strides like these, we can change the environment.
In conclusion, with the assistance from science, implementations and incentives, world leaders have the power to control pollution. It is already realized that humans are the cause of the problem, so human should find ways for the solution. The world needs to continue making an effort in decreasing pollution. If everyone cans understanding the dangers that the Earth is facing, we can stop the stop the decline of neatness that is continuing to spread.