We watched the winter cold roll into the summer. We laugh at jokes that begin as "I hate global warming because of *blah blah blah*...!" We cry when the advertisements of the dying polar bears comes on the T.V.
But do we do anything?
A major global problem occurring today is the environmental destruction of humans on earth, or our ecological and carbon footprint. The recent changes in weather patterns, the occurrence of drought in California, and overall warming of the earth relates to our imprint on the environment.
Some things that affect an Ecological Footprint is one’s food, shelter, mobility, goods, and services.
Being a what-my-friends-call "crunchy" girl, I decided to take it.
I calculated my personal ecological footprint and learned that if everyone lived like I do, we would need 4.6 Earths to provide enough resources, as well as, it would take 20.4 global acres of the Earth’s productive area. I was astonished by this; previously to these statistics, I thought I was a globally friendly human. I always carry a reusable water bottle, take 10 or less minute showers, and eat less meat than an average American.
How am I helping the destruction of the world?
Is everyone hurting the planet as much as I am?
A solution to global destruction has to be more than a handful individuals- the only solution to this major global problem are changes in environmental laws and overall striving as a society to fix the continuous problem. Laws need to be passed immediately in order to fix the overriding environment problems.
President Carter was one of the only presidents who addressed the issue- and he was laughed at! What will it take for the population to listen?
I have followed the environmental movement ever since my IB Environmental class, my senior year in high school. Someone I admire, Finn Harries, a filmmaker around my age, is correct when stating to The Guardian:
“I’ve grown to understand that the society and culture I was born into is damaging the planet we live on at a greater scale than ever before. We put profit above people, economy above environment, progress above purpose. As a result, climate change has become the most important issue of our generation”
Harries made a YouTube film about climate change (or “Our Changing Climate") and it focuses on the warming of the planet and how he can make a positive difference. His research for his film was located in Greenland, where Glaciologists taught Harries about the rapid rate of ice melting and thinning, which is leading to higher sea levels. Glaciologists use high technology equipment to study how quickly the ice is melting, and by tracking the speed, they have concluded that if all the ice in Greenland would melt it would raise the sea levels by twenty-one percent, submerging major costal cities such as Sydney, New York, and Bangladesh. The researchers, before and after the film's making, are tracking the speed of the melting process by time lapses; every thirty minutes since 2006, the cameras take a photo of various glaciers that scientists have strategically placed.
As a society, including myself, need to realize that
polar bears are actually dying.
winter could be summer.
green could not be the color of "grass" anymore.
Like Harries, I have taken the pledge to be even more environmental conscious, and being that I am of age, vote for the benefit of the environment. Society needs to direct their attention to the global problem of the Earth’s warming, before it is too late.
