...Climate of Doubt “Climate of Doubt” deals with increasing tensions between scientists, skeptics, republicans and democrats, over the issue of global warming. The concern started gaining national attention around mid 2006, after Al Gore’s speeches on global warming deeply impacted the media, government and skeptics. Throughout the whole documentary, scientists – and most democrats - are working to prove that global warming (which should have been called climate change ever since) is man made, while skeptics and most republicans argue otherwise. The elections were approaching in 2008 and climate change was a huge topic in both Republican and Democrat runs. Tensions started to rise and especially after Obama’s election in 2009, when proposed legislation to incorporate the Cap and Trade agreement. Obama was highly criticized by most Republicans (and skeptics) for having communist views, increasing taxes and spending money on what did not matter. Until today the issue is still hanging around with no definitive view on this bill, still people have opposing views and are waiting the government’s decision. The American governing system is full of mysteries and rules that make a huge difference in understanding the system. Not only did this documentary expand my knowledge on American politics, it also made some thoughts become concrete. In regards to most republicans, it is hard to look with respect to people that are insensible, blind and “cold-hearted” supporter . While watching...
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...Biodiversity is one issue to which I attach the greatest importance and that we have to tackle with urgency. Not only we have a moral obligation but it will be significant for our contribution to the next Copenhagen conference on Climate Change at the end of this year. To protect biodiversity is one of today's great challenges. Over the last four and a half years, the European Commission has been at the forefront of the fight against climate change. This is an area where Europe can be justifiably proud of its role as a world leader. And it is an area where we cannot afford to fail. The success of our climate change policy will also be measured by the success of our efforts in stopping the loss of biodiversity. These issues – like so many of the challenges that we face – are irrevocably interrelated, just as the link with energy and energy security has helped to develop our understanding of the importance of climate change. The loss of biodiversity is a global threat that is just as important as global warming. It threatens our natural environment and thus, the quality of our life. But biodiversity underpins also our economies. It is not therefore only because of the love of nature or a vision for our environment that we should keep biodiversity on the political agenda. Efforts made by this Commission have concentrated on our ambitious target: to put a stop to the loss of biodiversity in Europe by 2010. For that, we must implement existing legislation such as the Birds and Habitats...
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...The Changing Faces of Corporate Security Not too long ago, when one talks about corporate security it simply means protecting the office, building or infrastructure the company is located. Corporate or industrial security would have also involved conducting background investigation on future and current employees as well as embarking of investigations from minor office policy violations to major legal infractions that would warrant the involvement of law enforcement agencies. Of course in those days, the concern mostly would be access control – who or which goes in or out, badging or identification of personnel and visitors, and checking of goods, supplies and inventories going in and out of the company premises. For sure, the older corporate security officers or security directors would missed “then good old days” when things where simpler in the realm of corporate or industrial security. The last couple of decades saw not just a paradigm shift in corporate security but a total organizational, cultural, procedural, competency and scope change. This is just a short list of the changes or the evolution corporate security or the industrial security officer has been and will be going through. The threats, risks and vulnerabilities then were clear cut and in “black and white.” Today, we have what are called blended threats that encompass a wider spectrum in corporate security. Aside from this, information technology is playing a big role. “Emerging technology is rocking...
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...Without predators, the prey population grows to an abnormal amount. Clearly, the biodiversity of the environment changes. The loss of top predators, like wolves, explains the disappearance of aspens and willows in the oldest national park in the United States: Yellowstone (Lovgren 2). Because of the loss of wolves, elk, a wolf’s main prey, were able to roam freely and undisturbed. This led to the disappearance of trees and vegetation along streams—and the loss of beaver habitat (Lovgren 2). Large predators, such as lions, tigers, leopards, and bears, are often susceptible to “big game” hunting. These animals usually get hunted for their fur and sometimes meat. Killing predator’s prey also declines the chance of them surviving. Ecosystems contain all kinds of wildlife. Ecosystem loss is the complete destruction of a habitat along with...
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...Park System and is also designated as a U.S. National Lakeshore. This park is located in Northwest Indiana, USA, on the southern shores of Lake Michigan. The park is comprised of over 15,000 acres of dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, prairies, rivers, and forests. This park is a great example of a vast and unique environment resulting from the retreat of the last great continental glacier some 14,000 years ago. (1) This park is also located within an urban setting and is closely located to the highly populated industrialized cities of Gary, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois. Early, overharvesting of forests and farming impacted the area’s ecology and resources. Residential and industrial developments over time coupled with climate change have altered natural processes for the environment. Today the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has a challenge associated with balancing impacts of human actions within fragile natural environments. Restoration plans by resource managers for the area have been focused on mitigating the damage done in the past. The key in restoring the area is planning for the future, limiting new developments, and considering future climate will help aid in the restoration. (1) Background Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was established by Congress as a national lakeshore in 1966. (2) Prior to industrial and residential development along Lake Michigan, the shoreline was comprised of a highly diverse landscape. This area is considered one of...
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...concepts identified. The main body will embark on the discussion at hand. The main body will begin by outlining the role of the law generally and will move on to look at the role of science generally. Thereon selected global treaties will be discussed in relation to their respective roles both at law and science. Lastly but not the least an elaborate conclusion will be given. Definition of Key Terms Environment: Environment refers to the totality of the surroundings within which humans live and exploit resources for their welfare and development. Main Body In order to effectively challenge problems that pose a threat to the earth, there is need for an effective approach which is backed by robust scientific evidence. This would ultimately usher into place a new and more powerful environmental law. In order to appreciate the relationship between the law and science, there is need for understanding of their respective roles towards the achievement of a more sustainable future. The Role of the Law The law has a fundamental role to play in the movement of protecting the environment towards a more sustainable future. In most jurisdictions in the absence of constitutional provisions and legislative enactments to promote the concept of sustainable development, the burden rests on the courts through judicial activism to rise to the challenge of ensuring that development is pursued in such a way that it meets the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing the needs of future...
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...issues surrounding climate change cannot be solved simply through scientific decision making; instead, he claims that morality plays a significant part in our quest to right the damage done to the environment. Jamieson describes traditional economic thought processes as being insufficient, as they merely deal with evaluating costs and benefits of a given situation. This way of thinking elicits criticisms similar to those of meta-ethical moral relativism. Meta-ethical moral relativism is flawed seeing that any claim can be made relative to virtually anything else in the world, so how does one make that decision? In the context of Jamieson’s paper, economic deliberation is flawed because there are infinite combinations of perspectives from which to assess costs and benefits. Are costs at the expense of people, corporations, animals, or trees? Then, in turn, to whom are the benefits allocated?...
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...Climate change is one of the most critical global challenges of our times. Recent events have emphatically demonstrated our growing vulnerability to climate change. Climate change impacts will range from affecting agriculture - further endangering food security - to sea-level rise and the accelerated erosion of coastal zones, increasing intensity of natural disasters, species extinction, and the spread of vector-borne diseases. [1] This issue is of immense importance for every global citizen. That is why it requires an initiative against it globally. Fortunately, a few of the global initiatives to prevent climate change are started by various sectors. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action through World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5th June. The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is " Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy". Recognizing that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies, and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation, and eco-friendly consumption. [2] In 2007, The World Environment Day slogan selected was " Melting Ice - a...
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...University of Phoenix Material Biosphere Worksheet Section A: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. Define biosphere. Describe the part of the biosphere where humans can survive. Biosphere can be described as our whole earth and all living entities that dwell in it. 2. Based on this week’s required readings, what are the main causes of threats to the biosphere? The main causes of threats to the biosphere revolve around all the no sustainable practices that directly affect our world; more specifically, the immediate and long-term effects of the incorrect disposal of waste. 3. Define sustainability. What do scientists predict will happen in Earth’s future if we do not increase our sustainability practices? Sustainability refers to our ability to endure and maintain. From an ecological standpoint, sustainability considers the long-term environmental and social consequences of our decisions relative to our future resource base. Scientists predict the world’s future resource base will be dramatically depleted if we cannot effectively learn how to sustain. It is equally important to note that far too many decisions that prove correct in the short term have disastrous consequences in the long term. Section B: Fill in the chart with complete sentences. For each item listed below, identify one related threat to the biosphere. Then, describe business practices that may cause this problem. Finally, describe alternative business practices that may...
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...Abstract The diversification of human induced disturbances upon natural ecosystems has contributed to wildlife habitat fragmentation which has been a serious threat to the survival of natural populations. Possible factors contributing to this decline include changes in food, loss of genetic variation, cover availability, evolution of predation, microclimatic effect, and lack of recolonization following extinctions. Habitat loss and fragmentation are processes that separate small populations, which have higher extinction rates that may lead to a reduction in biological diversity. Recent dramatic declines in forest management have brought some undesirable consequences for forest health and wildlife (Jack Ward, T. (n.d). Standing back and letting nature take its course has become increasingly prevalent. Unfortunately, while appealing as this sounds, this is not tenable in the long-term as it will not protect forests, retain biodiversity, and provide some wood products over time. We are increasingly depending on places beyond our borders to provide our wood places with far less resources and knowledge about how to manage forests responsibly. By importing wood products, we export not only environmental consequences but jobs and dollars ( Jack Ward, T. (n.d). Conservation biology needs to reach out to a much broader community of academics and practitioners in fields as diverse as anthropology, history, political geography, and environmental psychology (Bernstein...
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...game” (Borenstein). Many crops humans rely on depend on bees and other pollinators to reproduce. Honey bees in particular seem to be declining for a number of reasons, mainly man made. Bees could soon be nearing extinction; the human impact on their environment must be minimized to prevent an...
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...CHRISTIANS REPONSIBLITY OVER THE ENVIRONMENT ENGL 101 God’s involvement in creations is shown in all aspects of the creation in the Bible. With each aspect of creation, God expressed pleasure in what He created. God’s pleasure in his creation reveals the need for Christians to care for the environment. God shows man’s mandate given by God for creation in Genesis 2: 19-20. Since God gave the mandate to rule over the earth, man is also responsible for the environment. Global warming has affected the planet which is and has caused a climate change on earth. Natural disasters have increased due to the climate change. Christian’s responsibility for creation is to restore its landscape, agriculture, animal life, and human livelihood. Christians have a responsibility to preserve creation by recycling, proper disposal of hazardous waste, and create protection agencies for wild life. Christians have a responsibility to take care of creation, restore, preserve, and protect creation in all aspects which God has commanded man to do. God’s involvement in creation is understood for Christians in the Bible starting at Genesis 1. The Bible shows at the beginning God’s hand is expressed in all aspects of creation. The first day of creation God made space, time, earth, and light. On the second day, God created the atmosphere of the earth which then making it possible for life on earth. The third day, God made dry land and called it “earth.” God names the water “sea.” God also created...
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...include some of the nation’s most controversial restoration projects. The Bureau of Land Management: An independent agency and a small agency with a big mission to sustain the health, productivity and diversity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. It administers more public land-over 250 million surface acres than other federal agency in the U. S. located in 12 west states, including Alaska. The BLM also manages 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation (blm.gov). Since the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, BLM manage public land resources for a variety of uses, such as energy development, livestock gravies, recreation, and timber harvesting while protecting a wide array of natural, cultural and historical resources found in the BLM 27 million-acre National Landscape Conservation System including 221 wilderness areas totaling 8.7 million acres as...
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...Environmental Issues and the Industrial Revolution xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Argosy University Environmental Issues and the Industrial Revolution As the population continues to grow, the impact on the environment will continue to impact all of us on the Earth. The more industrial plants, mean more greenhouse gases that will be emitted into the atmosphere, some will return causing the planet’s surface to warm. Greenhouse gases in turn leads to Global Climate change. Three most environmental negatives to me are first the growing population. People wanting larger families, technology is more advance, which leads to better medicine and people living longer. The more people the less resources we will have to survive with. Two triggers that had an increase of population we went from hunter to gather lifestyle to an agricultural life style. The agricultural revolution began around 10,000 years ago with people growing their own crops and raise animals for consumption. It was easier for the people to meet their nutritional needs and in turn they began to live longer and produce more children. Second, Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation, caused by the industrial revolution. The building of power plants, cars and buses, are some of the reasons of greenhouse gases. Pounds and Crump (1994) hypothesized that hot, dry condition was the main reason for such high adult mortality and breeding issues in other species. Due to greenhouse gases, the warming...
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...atmospheric scientists, are experts on the atmosphere, weather, and climate. Meteorologists study the aforementioned categories and how they will affect not only the Earth, but human beings as well. Compiling and collecting data, developing forecasts, and understanding weather patterns are part of a meteorologist’s duties. Furthermore, meteorologists may invent new instruments to collect weather pattern or climate data, while consulting clients on the opportunities and risks associated with climate changes and atmospheric events. If you have an enthusiasm for analyzing data, mathematics, weather patterns, and science, this may be a career area you want to explore further. Why Become A Meteorologist...
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