BLOGPROMPT NUMBER 3

To what extent do you think that it is your duty as a citizen to be 'informed'? Are you informed? How do you get to be informed about serious issues? To what extent do you think that you should leave the complicated decisions to others?

It is my duty to be informed, because we need to be aware of what is happening to the environment locally in our country and globally. If we choose to ignore the obvious signs of change, then it may be too late for humans to reverse any changes that have occurred. At the very least we should investigate why changes have occurred in the last three decades.

On the other hand Scientists who believe that climate change is not due to human intervention, claim that the earth has been through many cycles of climatic changes in the past. The evidence for this is recorded in the geology(rocks). Some argue that climate change is partly due to both. However, it is important that we examine all aspects of why our climate is changing and investigate the reasons for it.It is important that all individuals are fully informed and we all have a duty to ensure that we heed the advice and information given so that we can make an informed decision.

I recognise that there is a wealth of information regarding climate change and its suggested causes. There is daily news updates about climate change in the media(T.V., Radio, Internet, Newspapers). An example of how well we are informed is given in the Copenhagen Consensus.

We all have to consider the advice given to us about the effects of climate change. We need to be fully informed on the impact that suggested climate change having on the environment. This advice should be given by leading Scientists, Environmental Pressure Groups e.g. friends of the earth and informed politicians from National Governments and International Organisations such as United Nations. It is difficult for an individual to make a decision that would affect climate change so we need accurate guidance from experts as to how individuals can make a difference.

Organisations can impose restrictions on the use of private transport to get to work or to go to college by not issuing parking permits for individuals who live within a radius of three miles. Many of the decisions that we make in our lives are taken out of our hands because of imposed restrictions. The most complicated decisions will be taken away from individuals and will be made by others. Any decision that an individual may make will end up costing them through carbon emission taxes. It seems that Governments are putting responsibility on to individuals by making them more aware of the energy that we use.

Blog prompt number 2

The film "An inconvenient Truth" is a simple and factual film which was illustrated using PowerPoint presentation by Al- Gore; an American politician who was once the Vice President of USA.It was after his defeat in 2000 election, that he showed his passion and inspiration to help save the planet from irrevocable change.

I found Al-Gore to be very persuasive and a good communicator. He gave a lot of worldwide examples to show how more CO2 level has resulted in temperature rise. He further went on to say"things should not have been taken for granted; this warning was raised by leading Scientists but it was ignored.

With wit, smart and hope, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH ultimately brings home Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue- rather, it is the biggest moral challenges facing our global civilization.
Ref: http://www.climatecrisis.net/aboutthefilm

On the other hand, the film portrays an alarmist point of view because there are many Scientists who believe that global warming is not due to human activity alone;by the increase burning of fossil fuel and intensive farming. These sceptical scientist believe that natural processes occurring on the earth, are responsible for increased global warming.

There's no empirical evidence that humans are causing global warming"
Direct observations find that CO2 is rising sharply due to human activity. Satellite measurements find less energy is escaping to space at CO2 absorption wavelengths. Ocean and surface temperature measurements find the planet is steadily accumulating heat. There is direct empirical evidence that human CO2 emissions are causing global warming

http://www.skepticalscience.com/empirical-evidence-for-global-warming.htm

I feel my busy family life is hindering my input in taking part in detailed recycling which has just been introduced in my area. I think recycling is a good idea and I hope others are doing better than me because someone somewhere has got to do it.