Andreas Balasis 4/25/15
Mark Zeigler Persuasive Essay 1 “According to news reporters, every year it’s getting warmer, these violent weather patterns, some say it’s just nature’s karma.” These lyrics from Tallahassee’s own, Dead Prez, go to show the immutable fact that “global warming” is applicable terminology for our current state of existence. I believe it is beyond our intellectual capacity to examine whether or not the weather is changing, because any rational person could do the research and understand that it is quite apparent. If Dead Prez isn’t credible enough, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal”. The only thing I can conceivable try to persuade people of, is that we are living within system a being ran by incomprehensibly short sighted and perceivably destructive people. This essay will examine the idiocracy of Republican leaders in Florida, the economic manipulation behind environmental destruction, and simple solutions to a simple problem. “I’m not scientist, man”. These are the words of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) He is also quoted saying, “I do not believe that human activity is causing the dramatic changes to our climate the way scientists are portraying it”. I think that’s pretty hysterical, given the fact that this man, who is not a scientist, was appointed a chair on the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. Any study of the climate since 2000, or carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere go to show how moronic this statement is. How about our governor, Rick Scott? This is a man who has ALSO does not acknowledge this blatant problem, but has the gall to ALSO say, “I’m not a scientist, but let’s talk about what we’ve done”. To me, this is all just one big messed up game. I can write a dissertation on what I think, but power mongers like these guys, at the end of the day, are the ones who are going to dictate what masses of people think. Although Florida seems to the proverbial hot bed of convection oven issues, it’s not just men like Rubio or Scott that stifle obvious hot button problems. Take another prominent Republican, Senator Ted Cruz. This man is heading up the Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness. He, along with the other buffoons he identifies with, has claimed there is not enough evidence to support climate change. I cannot comprehend, how it is not inflaming to individuals, that these “men” can honestly be considered “leaders”. The winds of change will blow, the flame of awakening will kindle and spread, and the people in power will be washed in the same fire they themselves have sparked and fueled. “Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last fish has been eaten, only after the last river has been poisoned, only then will we realize that we cannot eat money”. This Native American proverb, while not directly commenting on the Florida climate change “debate”, does serve to summarize the greed and apathy of our current leaders. It elucidates the criminality of what takes place behind the curtains. According to the Miami Herald, Governor Rick Scott backed a natural gas pipeline plan that would cost upwards of $3 billion dollars. Like all of the other conflict of interest corruption that goes on in our government, the Florida Public Service Commission unanimously approved construction of this gas-fired power plant fuel source. I mention conflict of interest because all five members of the Commission were appointed by Scott himself. There is much more to this story, but that is an essay in and of itself. Rather than trying to persuade you that our leaders can’t see past their own wallets, I implore you to look into your own governor’s portfolio, and try and reconcile those figures with his political agenda. The not so still waters of Florida’s ever-receding coastline make it exceedingly obvious that the money trail leads to the criminal. Until people wake up voluntarily, we’re all just waiting for the incinerator to do it for us. “We should not just consume hydrocarbon fuel, but use it to develop nuclear energy, hydro power, and renewable energy sources”. If something so wise could come out of the mouth of Vladimir Putin, I think it’s time we reevaluate our train of thinking. When carbon dioxide levels are the highest they’ve been in 650,000 years, it should be pretty clear that we need to adapt. Whether it be the technology of hemp, solar, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, or even the perpetual energy generation of the Earth, as proven by Nikola Tesla, there are an abundance of ways to combat this problem. The only real problem is the fact that the hooks of the oil industry are sunk so deep into the bank accounts of our illegitimate overlords, that the proletariat are forced to languish in the heat. We need to think of our children. We need to think of our children’s children. We need to think of our mother. Not our birth mother, but arguably more important, Mother Earth. The Florida “debate” serves as a microcosm of a much bigger, but easily fixable issue. So, Cat Stevens, I do not know where the children will play if we let these demons control us any longer. Hell, at this point, I just hope to see the day where my children can step outside without being subjected to cancerous radiation or lack of solid land to stand on. “Climate change can no longer be denied. It can’t be edited out. It can’t be omitted from the conversation. And action can no longer be delayed.” President Obama made things overtly clear when he spoke at the Everglades this past Earth Day. Political figures can plead ignorance no more. This inconvenient truth must be brought to the forefront of consciousness, for if it is not, it is only a matter of time before consciousness itself becomes a thing of the past. I like to think of myself as a critically thinking human being. It is very hard for me to sit down and try to persuade people on what is literally starring them straight in the face. But I can empathize, because I was that blind man once. My issue is to stop the blind from leading the blind. Actually, rather, my issue is to stop the wolves in sheep clothing from leading the blind. Through examining the blatant disregard for facts exhibited by our “leaders”, through looking at economic and financial corruptions which withhold progressive opportunities, and through understanding that there are plenty of alternatives to molding a new, sustainable paradigm, we as humans can rise above the dark clouds of smoke, and create a clear, bright tomorrow.

Works Cited
Alman, Ashley. "Marco 'Not A Scientist' Rubio To Oversee Major Government Science Programs In New Role." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"Global Climate Change: Evidence." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"Gov. Rick Scott Won’t Talk About Climate Change At Debate, But Will Talk About Religion." ThinkProgress RSS. N.p., 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"Gov. Scott Had Stake in Pipeline Firm Whose $3 Billion Venture He and His Appointees Backed." Miamiherald. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Michael. "Obama Uses a Visit to the Everglades to Press His Climate Agenda." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.