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 By Jack Lepiarz Apr. 18, 2006 Al Gore recently gave a speech at Drew University--which is in my hometown, so naturally, I went. The speech was mostly about global warming and offered some very convincing evidence. He pointed out carbon dioxide levels in the earth's atmosphere for the past 50 years (which showed an enormous rise), showed the 10 hottest years in recorded history (all in the past 15 years, with 2005 being the hottest), etc. Actually, I'd like to point something out here. Many people often point out that the earth's temperature fluctuates back and forth, and it's very true that it does. There was even a period of about 100 years in the middle ages when it was warmer than usual. However, that warming period looks like a speck of dust compared to the current warming trend. Bush's administration has come out and admitted that global warming is true and that America is actually a cause for it, but whine that it can't be helped because America needs to pollute the environment in order to keep its economy going. Actually, we benefit from helping the environment, because: A. We create more jobs to help the environment and research for the environment. B. We spend less on oil and other fuels if we use less fuel. C. We don't destroy half the planet in the process. The ice in Greenland is melting at an alarmingly fast rate, and if it all melts, then sea levels will rise 20 feet, leaving all of New Orleans underwater, much of Boston underwater (including where I'm going to college!), and about half of Manhattan underwater, including the site of the new World Trade Center. Never again? Not if we don't fix the environment. Furthermore, if we don't fix this constant increase in temperature (which is happening, whether you like it or not), then we will soon find ourselves losing out on over half of our farmland due to desertification. Think about that: losing half of our food production. Like Gore said, "This is not a political issue. This is an ethical issue." Mr. Gore proceeded to show pictures of various glaciers around the world about a century ago. Then, he showed them today. Most of the modern pictures were simply pictures of barren land. Various countries around the world have pushed ahead in terms of fuel regulation. Virtually all of Europe, Canada, Japan, and even China. Want to guess who comes in last? The good ol' USA. Human beings have a bad habit of ignoring things when they aren't staring them right in the face. Global Warming may not be staring people right in the face like terrorism (although it is getting there), but I guarantee you that the threat posed by global warming is one that far outweighs that of some Muslim extremists living in caves. Remember, this is not a political issue. It is an ethical and moral issue. Let's do the ethical and moral thing. ------------ About the author: Jack Lepiarz is a senior at Madison High School. Born in Waco, Texas, he lived with the Big Apple Circus for much of his early childhood, eventually moving to Madison, New Jersey, where he now resides. Although he is often described as stubborn and egotistical, he tries to keep an open-mind towards new ideas and treat people the way he would like to be treated. Email: Jackwuzhere42@aol.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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