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“Have many children, so that your descendants will
live over the earth and bring it to their control…”
Genesis 1: 28
Modern technology is a product of man’s intelligence. Through man’s imagination, curiosity, creativity, hard work and thorough research, technology was born. At first, its purpose was to increase the efficiency in man’s work, progress in the community and to build a systematic way in dealing life. However, due to greediness in power and wealth, the purpose of having technology turned into a mere selfish interest. Man became very dependent on it that leads to an ‘addiction’ to it. Technology growth became inevitable and exponential – and even destructive.
When I was riding in a bus, I heard two students talking how the Philippines’ technology progresses compared to Japan and America. The last statement I heard before I went off the bus really strikes me – “Sa langit kaya, high-tech na”. Right after that statement, many things came across my mind.
Global Warming may not seem very evident in our society. We hardly notice its effects. We even believe that we are still safe regardless of what is happening. Are we still keeping ourselves open-blinded? Maybe, yes. We do not give effort and time to inform ourselves to what is really happening. We often focus on our daily works and busy thinking how will we be tomorrow. Global warming is not cause by a single unit in society. It is born due to the failure of man in their responsibility. Even the responsibilities to be kept inform.
Are you keeping yourself informed?
Be guilty. Simple acts like not plugging out appliances may still contribute in the usage of electricity. The more electricity the community use, the more we increase global warming. Usage of industrial factories and equipments greatly increase the rate of global warming. Do the product of the industrial firms more important than our environment? I think not. Wealth and power is starting to be the common reason for establishing such industrial firms. Even the government of industrialized countries promotes the advancement of their industry and commerce not seeing the effect of their actions. Few take the initiative and action to help our environment – very few.
Are you willing to do some actions? When?
After the end of the day, try to reflect the things you did. I wonder if God has a super computer in heaven – a computer that can print screen every wrong doings of mankind. And when the judgement day comes, He will show to us all of the print screen files. It will be a shame for us if small acts like moderating electricity will be one of our violations. Let us remember that this is a responsibility – responsibility to protect earth and the livings. Be conscious and sensitive. God is always watching.
Baka sa heaven high-tech na!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Initiation Towards Change
The deterioration of the environment and global warming are the unending issues we face as part of mankind. Considering massive dissemination through mass media and academic institutions, we are equipped with enough knowledge to understand these familiar irregularities. But, merely understanding is not a concern. It is only through good results that we can truly appreciate what we know. Yes, we may be on the smart side, but does our side coincides with initiation?
Every morning, I pass by sidewalks with piles of wrappers and trashes from the previous day. It’s not as if those people who threw the trashes are not aware that we are not supposed to just throw trash anywhere. We were informed since kindergarten the definition of cleanliness as a virtue. This left me wondering what might be lacking. Surely, ignorance is to be crossed out. So, what might be missing? We know for a fact that styroware is harmful for the environment yet only some refrain from using it. I may sound preaching but I’m guilty as well. With this, concluding might be easier. I personally do not refrain from using it because of the convenience it offers and thinking that my part won’t hurt. This might be in the same line of thinking with those who threw trashes on sidewalks. “My part’s small enough to not hurt.” This might be what the people form the other parts of Luzon are thinking, might be the same as well as the mindset of the people from the other side of the earth. “My part’s small enough not to hurt.”
With this, realization and a dilemma arises. Everybody’s concerned with the big thing yet unmindful of the small roles they play in the bigger picture. There’s no denying that we care but the problem is we overlook what should matter to us. The documentary Signos informed us of the details of the big picture, what the problem is, what causes it and small things we can do. For me figures and statistics presented are impressive but the one with the most impact is the information on the small things I can do. I am not expected to just merely understand, I have an action to make.
So what can be done? Many just feel fear on knowing the possibilities. But what will matter is what we can do and we should start it as soon as we can. The damage to our environment had been fatal. Its effect on us is destructive. Tomorrow might be too late and big steps maybe too hard to make. As a start, we can always initiate the change on ourselves. We can start saving energy, avoiding usage of harmful materials, throwing trash in proper places, do things we were told to do since childhood. These things may be simple but the effect can be big enough to change the outcome shown in Signos. We should stop thinking that our part is small and start being sensitive to every thing we do. Then after initiation on ourselves, initiating changes on others is the next step. These may include altering law on usage of some materials on our respective countries, initiating reduction of carbon dioxide emission and tightening rules on protection of the environment. These things may seem big and this is where the role of leaders takes place. Their influence reaches far and we can use it to sway people into change.
Looking on what can be done, the solution to a possible disaster seems to be possible only through joint efforts of those in power and us, ordinary citizens. This can be disheartening if we are to look at the priorities of the leaders we have. But, through only remembering of the definition of initiation can we see hope. We can start it, and what we would do may always be the beginning of a history of world saving change.
(Myria Hertz D. Cernechez)
Every morning, I pass by sidewalks with piles of wrappers and trashes from the previous day. It’s not as if those people who threw the trashes are not aware that we are not supposed to just throw trash anywhere. We were informed since kindergarten the definition of cleanliness as a virtue. This left me wondering what might be lacking. Surely, ignorance is to be crossed out. So, what might be missing? We know for a fact that styroware is harmful for the environment yet only some refrain from using it. I may sound preaching but I’m guilty as well. With this, concluding might be easier. I personally do not refrain from using it because of the convenience it offers and thinking that my part won’t hurt. This might be in the same line of thinking with those who threw trashes on sidewalks. “My part’s small enough to not hurt.” This might be what the people form the other parts of Luzon are thinking, might be the same as well as the mindset of the people from the other side of the earth. “My part’s small enough not to hurt.”
With this, realization and a dilemma arises. Everybody’s concerned with the big thing yet unmindful of the small roles they play in the bigger picture. There’s no denying that we care but the problem is we overlook what should matter to us. The documentary Signos informed us of the details of the big picture, what the problem is, what causes it and small things we can do. For me figures and statistics presented are impressive but the one with the most impact is the information on the small things I can do. I am not expected to just merely understand, I have an action to make.
So what can be done? Many just feel fear on knowing the possibilities. But what will matter is what we can do and we should start it as soon as we can. The damage to our environment had been fatal. Its effect on us is destructive. Tomorrow might be too late and big steps maybe too hard to make. As a start, we can always initiate the change on ourselves. We can start saving energy, avoiding usage of harmful materials, throwing trash in proper places, do things we were told to do since childhood. These things may be simple but the effect can be big enough to change the outcome shown in Signos. We should stop thinking that our part is small and start being sensitive to every thing we do. Then after initiation on ourselves, initiating changes on others is the next step. These may include altering law on usage of some materials on our respective countries, initiating reduction of carbon dioxide emission and tightening rules on protection of the environment. These things may seem big and this is where the role of leaders takes place. Their influence reaches far and we can use it to sway people into change.
Looking on what can be done, the solution to a possible disaster seems to be possible only through joint efforts of those in power and us, ordinary citizens. This can be disheartening if we are to look at the priorities of the leaders we have. But, through only remembering of the definition of initiation can we see hope. We can start it, and what we would do may always be the beginning of a history of world saving change.
(Myria Hertz D. Cernechez)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Choice We Must Make
Humans have made all tremendous advances on all fields of endeavour. They have gone to the moon. They have explored the outer space. They have searched the depths of the oceans. They have made the spectacular advances in the area of agriculture, engineering and medicine. Because of these advances, the earth is now a better place to live in. But is it really a better one?
For the past few decades we have proven that our technology is not perfect. A by-product is pollution in many forms. Hazardous gases from industrial factories greatly exhausted our sole atmosphere. The increasing CO2 in the atmosphere contributed largely to global warming. Yes, global warming is a factual phenomenon and not merely a product of sensationalism. However, a greater problem arises when we try to deny the fact that our nature is really sick. Symptoms are present and are persisting. Global warming is here.
It is Christmas season already but the cold wind that plants goose bumps on our skin is not here in the country yet. Our calendar says that it is December, but the weather says otherwise. Even in the early morning, we can already feel a too hot and too humid weather. Sunscreens rather than jackets are in demand now. It is also fascinating to observe that this chronic change in our climate has been forcing us to change our lifestyle.
One thing that is always in my arsenal is umbrella. The sky has indeed gone crazy. Now it rains, now it doesn’t. Global warming seriously influenced the thunderstorms. They are more violent and destructive than before. The time that they would only give holidays for students are over. Now, they want to collect lives as if revenging from our misuse of nature and resources.
All of the indifference I was feeling toward this issue of global warming slowly turned into a significant concern as I watched the documentary “Signos”. Growing up in a busy metropolis, I wasn’t fully aware of all the events that have happened in the other parts of the country. Surely, I have heard of some in the news, but I didn’t really think that the matter is already that serious. If it weren’t for the efforts of the people behind this documentary, I would have been forever stuck in my comfort zone, oblivious of the environmental crisis that has put the lives of millions at risk.
Bringing up this issue “closer to home” through a nation-wide investigation of the manifestations of climate change is indeed a great move on the part of the whole “Signos” team. Travelling to different parts of the country, the team has certainly shown the impact of climate change to the lives of many Filipinos. I also think that it was able to give an in-depth report as it gathered local and international experts to discuss about the matter. Through them, a comprehensive view on climate change has been presented. Its causes and more importantly its effects have been fully examined. What is more is that it has provided us with simple measures, those that can easily be accomplished, so that we can prevent its disastrous consequences.
Furthermore, I was really surprised when I learned from the quiz that if all people in the world would just be like me, we will only need half of the earth to live in. I felt elated and proud of my lifestyle. I think this is mainly because I was not brought up in a very luxurious kind of living. Even in the early age, I already know how to save and conserve my resources. I am not like “Asiong Aksaya”. I really value the importance of water and electricity.
Aside from writing or blogging a 750 word essay that expresses our concern regarding the condition of the world we are living in, we can still do a lot of things. In this essay, I would like to enumerate four of a thousand ways:
First and foremost, we should change our individual culture and self-centered lifestyle. Adopt an environment friendly way of living. It includes such practices as recycling wastes like paper, bottles and plastics. It can also mean making our own compost in the backyard instead of burning them. If you are a dormer, learn how to save electricity. Learn from the experience of the Badjao as featured in the documentary. They were forced to leave their traditional houses and took refuge on the shores. Why not do the reverse? Let us change our culture first and help the nature to recuperate from the damages we have inflicted on her.
Second, we can be politically involved. We can support politicians who have strong environmental positions. We can also be involved in writing or inviting others to support legislature on environmental conservation.
Third, we can join environmental organizations and actively participate in environmental projects. Participation in environmental clubs and organizations can influence one’s lifestyle a lot and enhance our involvement. This is just like taking a quiz in the myfootprint.org. One can join activities of the organization to preserve and conserve natural resources. Concerted efforts have greater impact on the environment.
Finally, let us promote environmentalism in our respective careers. There are lawyers, teachers, and journalists who specialize in the environment. We, us engineers, can design new technologies that are effective and, at the same time, promote sustainable development.
Successful economic development, according to former US President George Bush, goes hand in hand with environmental protection. We cannot have one without the other. Our global future depends upon sustainable development. It depends upon our willingness and ability to duplicate our intelligence, ingenuity and adaptability to our common future. This is a choice that we must make!
Christian G. Seso
2006-21631
For the past few decades we have proven that our technology is not perfect. A by-product is pollution in many forms. Hazardous gases from industrial factories greatly exhausted our sole atmosphere. The increasing CO2 in the atmosphere contributed largely to global warming. Yes, global warming is a factual phenomenon and not merely a product of sensationalism. However, a greater problem arises when we try to deny the fact that our nature is really sick. Symptoms are present and are persisting. Global warming is here.
It is Christmas season already but the cold wind that plants goose bumps on our skin is not here in the country yet. Our calendar says that it is December, but the weather says otherwise. Even in the early morning, we can already feel a too hot and too humid weather. Sunscreens rather than jackets are in demand now. It is also fascinating to observe that this chronic change in our climate has been forcing us to change our lifestyle.
One thing that is always in my arsenal is umbrella. The sky has indeed gone crazy. Now it rains, now it doesn’t. Global warming seriously influenced the thunderstorms. They are more violent and destructive than before. The time that they would only give holidays for students are over. Now, they want to collect lives as if revenging from our misuse of nature and resources.
All of the indifference I was feeling toward this issue of global warming slowly turned into a significant concern as I watched the documentary “Signos”. Growing up in a busy metropolis, I wasn’t fully aware of all the events that have happened in the other parts of the country. Surely, I have heard of some in the news, but I didn’t really think that the matter is already that serious. If it weren’t for the efforts of the people behind this documentary, I would have been forever stuck in my comfort zone, oblivious of the environmental crisis that has put the lives of millions at risk.
Bringing up this issue “closer to home” through a nation-wide investigation of the manifestations of climate change is indeed a great move on the part of the whole “Signos” team. Travelling to different parts of the country, the team has certainly shown the impact of climate change to the lives of many Filipinos. I also think that it was able to give an in-depth report as it gathered local and international experts to discuss about the matter. Through them, a comprehensive view on climate change has been presented. Its causes and more importantly its effects have been fully examined. What is more is that it has provided us with simple measures, those that can easily be accomplished, so that we can prevent its disastrous consequences.
Furthermore, I was really surprised when I learned from the quiz that if all people in the world would just be like me, we will only need half of the earth to live in. I felt elated and proud of my lifestyle. I think this is mainly because I was not brought up in a very luxurious kind of living. Even in the early age, I already know how to save and conserve my resources. I am not like “Asiong Aksaya”. I really value the importance of water and electricity.
Aside from writing or blogging a 750 word essay that expresses our concern regarding the condition of the world we are living in, we can still do a lot of things. In this essay, I would like to enumerate four of a thousand ways:
First and foremost, we should change our individual culture and self-centered lifestyle. Adopt an environment friendly way of living. It includes such practices as recycling wastes like paper, bottles and plastics. It can also mean making our own compost in the backyard instead of burning them. If you are a dormer, learn how to save electricity. Learn from the experience of the Badjao as featured in the documentary. They were forced to leave their traditional houses and took refuge on the shores. Why not do the reverse? Let us change our culture first and help the nature to recuperate from the damages we have inflicted on her.
Second, we can be politically involved. We can support politicians who have strong environmental positions. We can also be involved in writing or inviting others to support legislature on environmental conservation.
Third, we can join environmental organizations and actively participate in environmental projects. Participation in environmental clubs and organizations can influence one’s lifestyle a lot and enhance our involvement. This is just like taking a quiz in the myfootprint.org. One can join activities of the organization to preserve and conserve natural resources. Concerted efforts have greater impact on the environment.
Finally, let us promote environmentalism in our respective careers. There are lawyers, teachers, and journalists who specialize in the environment. We, us engineers, can design new technologies that are effective and, at the same time, promote sustainable development.
Successful economic development, according to former US President George Bush, goes hand in hand with environmental protection. We cannot have one without the other. Our global future depends upon sustainable development. It depends upon our willingness and ability to duplicate our intelligence, ingenuity and adaptability to our common future. This is a choice that we must make!
Christian G. Seso
2006-21631
Global Warming: A Global Warning
Global Warming and Climate Change: A Global Warning
“God helps those who help themselves.”
This popular adage might sound cliché for many of us. During these trying times, many of us call on God to help us in situations we face, while there are some who call on God yet blame Him for what is happening in their lives. I commenced my paper with this saying because it really strikes me that many people who suffers from disasters and calamities are putting the blame on God, or if not, relying or waiting only in God to save them from their condition.
But before we go deep in a spiritual analysis, or even debate, preaching and all that, let me recall the issue that we are confronting during these times. Global Warming and Climate Change may not be new for many of us, especially for those who have really been struck by the disasters brought about by this current condition. As it was presented in Signos, there are many adverse effects of the Climate Change; many of which has already caused devastation to a lot of properties, resources and lives of people.
The Philippines is situated in the Pacific, a tropical and archipelagic country. We have vast resources, and we even regard our climate as very good for our being mainly an agricultural country. Our farmers know when to plant, when to harvest, because they can easily gauge the appropriate activities for our climate. We are also regarded as the center of marine shore fish biodiversity among all other countries. But all these are not the same way as it was before. Due to climate change, the seasons became very much altered that we experience heavy rains even if it is not yet in season, and we likewise experience intense temperature outside even when it is a rainy season. As I have observed, even the PAGASA sometimes fails now in predicting the weather due to big alterations in the patterns observed in weather. How many times we came to school and went home in the middle of the day due to class suspensions. It was also presented in the video that there were immense coral bleaching due to climate change; and when the coral die, it also has negative effects to the fishes for which they serve as habitats. We have also seen the super typhoons Reming and Millenio. We cannot deny the massive destruction they left us with. Up until now, many families still have not finished recovering from that sudden and unexpected loss which the disasters brought about. We also cannot ignore the threats posed on the health of many our fellowmen, such as the cases in Quezon and other province where Malaria and other epidemic occurred and took away the lives of many. The Artex village in Malabon is in a flood all year round; and the residents have just gotten used to this situation. However, there is a big threat and its large possibility that it will happen not only to Malabon, but to many places as well, not only locally but globally. Due to the global warming, many ice caps and glaciers have melt, and this in turn causes a rise in the sea level. As it was mentioned in the film, just 1 meter of sea-level rise will be enough to submerge most of the lands of our country in water. We would not want that to happen – that our country will be erased from the face of the earth, together with all of us who inhabits this country.
But why do such things happen? Do these happenings really mark the end of the world? Based from what we viewed, the temperature of the earth started rising upon the Industrial Revolution. Many coal-powered power plants have arose which heightened the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. CO2, together with all other greenhouse gases, elevates the heat in the surface of the earth because they trap the heat coming from the sun. It was radiated back to the atmosphere but since the greenhouse gases are becoming more and more concentrated, the heat remains. I remembered one song by Joey Ayala which goes, “Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay.” As we can see, the more industrialized we become, the more we expend energy generated by these coal-powered power plants. The more we use the television, laptop, air conditioners, refrigerators, and many other appliances, the more coal are being burned up and so the higher release of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Not only that, we also depend on our cars or vehicles, such as the light rail transit, to take us where we should go; and all these also adds up to the carbon footprint or carbon emission. Let me clarify, I am not against development – we are all not against it. But the mere fact that our development is not being responsible or wary of our environment, I think we need to reflect and act upon it. For even if we become highly industrialized or developed but our environment suffers, we will also harvest the negative effects of it sooner or later. Development is not only defined by becoming modernized at a specific point in time, it should be sustainable. We can achieve development without having to sacrifice our environment and the welfare of our future generations. I must admit that we in our home, we fail to notice this responsibility most of the time. There were times my mom and dad were watching the television, the aircon turned on, the refrigerator of course, while my two brothers play computer games and I do my assignment in my mother’s laptop. The lights are turned on and some cellphones are charging. And I also wonder how many other households are doing just the same or even more.
I cannot help but pity our fellowmen in Bicol, Quezon, Malabon and all other places who suffered so much from the effects of climate change and global warming. As I have commenced this paper with, they turned to God and even blame Him for the situation. But later I have come to this realization that many of us are not being responsible for the advancement or development that we have. Especially the highly industrialized countries such as US and Japan. They are the major contributors of the global warming due to their carbon emissions yet they have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol which aims to reduce the carbon footprints of most countries. Whether on a larger or smaller scale, we are ALL held accountable for the changes in climate that we now suffer from. And during these hard times, the effects mostly strike the poor and marginalized because they are the most vulnerable on this. We pity them, feel bad about their situation, but we are forgetting that we are somehow responsible for the misfortunes that have befall on them. And too often, when we make solutions, we target the effects such as destruction of lives and properties, but we fail to target the causes such as our irresponsible use of our resources. God helps those who help themselves. We may pray and call on God to help us get through this, but we also need to take concrete actions. We should not act only to change our lifestyles when we know that the end is about to come. No one really knows when the end would be, so why should we wait until tomorrow, or the next day, or the next week, month, year, before we take a stand and fight for what we know is for the benefit of all including our very own selves and families? This kind of problem is a global problem, yes, but we also need to act locally. It doesn’t mean that we are “just merely” developing problem, so it is not our concern, it is a concern of the US and other rich countries only. The adverse effects have already toiled on our country; let us not wait until something worse happens. I believe that it is still not yet too late for us to take active participation in this battle. Through collective action, we can somehow negate the worsening effects of global warming and climate change. We are the ones who will be suffering or benefiting from our actions, so let us not take for granted whatever we can do to protect our environment, our world. True as it may seem, climate change is frightening; but it will only become more frightening if we will not do something against it.
From now on, I will try my best to be of help to our degrading environment. If we cannot do “big things”, we can probably help even in our own simple ways. Turn off the lights when it is not necessary to use them, unplug the electrical appliances after using them, avoid sleeping while the tv or radio is on, walk if the place you are going to is just near, always throw garbage in proper disposal areas, minimize the use of microwave oven, air conditioning unit and other gadgets. It might sound idealistic but we really can do this if we have discipline. We must also advocate for fighting climate change and global warming, spreading awareness to the people. Some of them may not believe that there is global warming because of lack of awareness. But if they could fully understand the situation we are facing now, they can also employ ways to fight it and its effects. There should be no debate whether we call on God to help us through this or not, but we should also take some steps to combat it.
Being one of the students who are taking environmental engineering subject, I know that this issue calls us to study very hard and learn the principles on how we can better manage our environment. But it doesn’t stop at that, because we don’t study just for the sake of finishing this course and getting high grades. We need to apply to our everyday lives what we have learned such that it can benefit the society we are called to serve.
Leobrera, Christian A.
200511410
Global Warming, a Big Deal
6 meters, that’s the estimated rise in the sea level by the year 2100. So here in the Philippines, when that happens many places here will become more like that of a Malabon City, wherein people will have to row their way to other places or simply have to adapt to the permanent flood that they’re in to.
This is just one of cost of the HOTTEST environmental issue of the century, surpassing the Ozone depletion issues, it is the Global Warming, as explained in the film “Signos: Banta ng Nagbabagong Klima”.
Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate. And that the Earth’s average temperature has risen by 0.4 and 0.8 °C over the past 100 years. But with Global Warming, it is predicted that the average temperature could still increase by 1.4 and 5.8 °C by the year 2100. The magnitude of the increase can be very deceiving, because even though it’s small and looks so trivial, the consequences of this increase are tremendous.
Apparently, here in the
I just realized that having a 5-6 meter rise in the sea level is a big deal, having frequent super typhoons is a big deal too, more life-threatening diseases, coral bleaching and many others, definitely, a big deal.
Therefore, it appears that Global Warming REALLY IS A BIG DEAL. However, even though some of the effects are already here, we can still prevent more havoc to be caused by Global Warming in the future. And we can start it with recycling. (That's Right!) This old and very much used or proposed solution by each individual in every paper about saving the environment (hehe) can be the most effective, that is, if we know how to be committed to such action.
At first, I personally don’t believe that such small things like recycling my old stuffs can help save the world, but after I’ve done some brain storming in my brain, I’ve just realized that Global Warming itself, started off with small things, like people burning garbage in the streets, using refrigerators with CFCs, wasting electricity and many other. All these small things that were naturalized to human’s daily lives resulted to what is now big and very much world-wide, the Global Warming.
Certainly, Global Warming is really here and the only thing that we can do is to prevent other worse effects of global warming from happening, such as the further increase in the sea level. The mere FACT that we humans are the ones who brought this to Earth, we humans should also be the ones to take it ALL away, or maybe not all, but most of it.
06-27232
Benjamin S. Suarez
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Slow and Steady Start
Valencia, Acer R.
2006 – 17839
Recent abnormalities in our country's climate are said to be the effect of the increasing of earth's temperature also known as global warming. A documentary produced by one of the biggest television network here in the Philippines, aiming to enlighten us on these alarming situations, was aired a couple of months ago. Different calamities were recently experienced by Filipinos all over our country, some were extreme seasonal changes, others experienced devastating floods caused by the unusual heavy rainfalls during the dry season, and some experienced their lands being literally owned by water. A few examples were broadcasted live on televisions, but more of these events weren't. These kinds of show really stir people up to try and understand our current situation. But how well do we really know our current situation?
I could still remember the times back in my home town when my friends and I could still play even during the part of the day when the sun shines directly above our heads. We would ride our bikes and go to the other town and back before it gets dark. The heat of the sun doesn’t really matter back then, even for hours under the clear blue sky, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t hurt. Try to do those things today. From my experience, a walk from our boarding house to a convenience store a few meters away from our gate at noon is a tiresome thing to do. Not because I’m not used to walking, for in UP the most efficient means of transportation from building to building is walking. But because the heat of the sun nowadays, especially during noon does really hurt. It is very irritating like a vampire sucking the life out of you. Of course I’m talking about our country being located near the equator, but the difference in the intensity of the heat back then and now can easily be distinguished. Another abnormality observed nowadays is those summer times when rain is pouring hard on the roof. You can’t even enjoy beach because there’s a storm coming. How it used to be isn’t like this, for when it’s rainy season we don’t experience the hottest temperature for a day, or for when it’s dry season, we don’t lock ourselves up because of a storm. It’s just not the same. A lot of things did contribute to this phenomenon but I would like to strongly point out that the world existed for thousands and thousands of years but it never polluted itself this much. What I’m trying to say is that we are the catalyst of these changes, though we might say that the world is big and that we’re just a bunch of ants compared to its size, our negligence to what we were and currently doing as we can now see really put its mark in history. Scientists said that the one of the major cause of this global warming is the so-called greenhouse gases. Examples of these gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and many other gases that trap the heat from the sun that supposedly leaving our earth. This excess heat bounces from the upper layers of the atmosphere back to the earth’s surface, thus making the surface temperature hotter. The gases carbon dioxide, the usual by product of processing plants, and CFC, a common additive to appliances such as air conditioning equipments and refrigerators, are our major contribution to the slow destruction of our precious earth. Though recently announced as an act contributing to global warming, the burning of dried leaves, twigs and other dried organic materials is still widely present in our country, especially in the provinces. We can’t blame them for lacking the information about these things but for us who know better, what are we doing to help lessen the creeping threat to our existence? It’s not enough to blame the government for giving more attention to politics than saving the planet, or blame the large companies for contributing to global warming much much more than we do. As part of the human race and other species that may be endangered if present situation develop for the worst, we as the highest form of animal should know best what to do at this moment of history. Great acts can’t be done once and saving our planet is a very huge task, but if it has to start at something, it should start as simple as turning the lights off if not used.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Reaction Paper
The film Signos gave CE 131’s current class of students a peak into climate change from a local perspective. Some issues shown were easy to relate to while others seemed so new. For instance, hotter Christmases and summers and the havoc raised by super-typhoons over the past few years are so fresh in our minds, but seeing that areas previously lain out with roads have adapted to using boats as their primary mode of transportation seemed so far out of my scope of local reality to the point that it seemed cartoonish. The situation shown looked surreal, yet people still seemed to get by pretty well. Personally, I have not been affected much by climate change over the course of my existence, and this is probably due to the fact that I grew up in Muntinlupa. We have not experienced intense losses do to climate change. The worst we could show for all the super-typhoons and natural disasters are flying roofs and fallen trees, which have been common through typhoon seasons since I was young. Nevertheless, I was always aware that though I was only (and still am) a potential victim, I knew that I was also feeding the environment what it needed to retaliate in whatever fashion it saw fit. Though I have not been the victim, I could be, and I am partially responsible for each and every loss of each and every victim of climate change throughout my life.
I think the problem lies in the disagreement between technological economic growth and environmental sustainability, and the best that advocacies could do and preach for is still just a compromise. I realized that technology has made people so needy and so selfish at the same time. For instance, it used to be more than enough to have a telephone line at home. Nowadays, even adolescents have their own cellular phones. Through these cellular phones alone, consumptions are raised by at least 300% for an ordinary suburban household. Do we need cellular phones to survive? No. Do we need cellular phones? Perhaps we have come to need them. Adding perceived needs is like adding rights, and like adding rights, we add responsibilities whether we acknowledge them or not. Sure, we have the right to travel via motorized transport rather than walk or ride a bike to wherever we want to go, but we also gained the responsibility to control its effects and make up for the damages it causes to our environment. It also applies for the little things, like the right to eat candy out of an individually packaged piece of candy wrapped in foil or plastic. We are responsible at the very least for throwing the packaging into a trash bin, yet people can’t even seem to get that part done. And that’s just the least we could have done. How then do we make up for the environmental implications of more serious contributions to the environment’s capacity to retaliate, like using motorized transport? That’s where the compromise comes in. We cannot on our own reproduce something that is not renewable, nor could we make all the pollution vanish. However, we could help in so many other ways. Part of the problem is not everyone realizes that they have to do their small part to create a great collective effect. Another is that not everyone sees the sense in making up for what you consume. We just consume and keep on consuming because it is what we want to or know how to do. Only when a majority of us stops having this outlook on consumption do we really stand a chance of taking on the challenge of preserving the Earth rather than just prolonging its possible existence.
Ideally, laws should be enforced to make people take much more care of the environment. People should pay for damages to the environment immediately after inflicting them, whether it be monetary (which could be channeled to people who have dedicated themselves to the cause) or through actions. Several actions could make up for what we consume. As the website points out, we could even plant our own vegetables instead of letting them run the whole course of their journey from faraway farms into our stomachs and eventually out our asses. At the end of the day, it is up to every individual to take the right steps and do whatever he/she can to help the Earth maintain or even gain resources throughout the individual’s lifetime.
I do practice simple techniques such as unplugging electronics that are not in use and minimizing my use of recreational electronics among other things. My footprint is at 15.05 global hectares, which translates to needing just 0.96 earths. I hope to learn in this course and in CE 132 how I could do my part in being a contractor, which is what I plan to be in the future. For now, I settle with the common simple energy saving practices and the occasional environmental clean-up projects that I receive invitations for. I also keep an open-mind for other suggestions as to how I can help out, but hypocrisy will not go a long way. For instance, should I meet someone who would convince me that it is significantly better for the environment to cook everything a certain way, then I could probably eat products cooked that way only. The possibilities are endless, and I will do my best to entertain them.
2004-09441
Sunday, November 23, 2008
My First Blog
(I always try to write blog entries and post it in multiply but I find my entries very boring so I always end up with pressing ctrl-A-del. Well this one is required so no ctrl-a-del this time.)
I was born in Davao and stayed there for 16 years. I like to stay there because the weather is just fine. No typhoons, just heavy rains. Davao is located in the southern part of the Philippines and most of the typhoons pass in Luzon or Visayas. When I moved to Baguio, I experienced strong typhoons. I can still remember the day when I experienced my first “bagyo”. Classes were canceled so I decided to play dota in a computer shop near SM. I was walking along session road and the wind was so strong. It was fun, it was my first. The following typhoons were not new to me. I was no longer amazed with the strong winds. When I moved to Manila, still many typhoons arrived.
Data and statistics show increasing number and strength of typhoons not just here in the Philippines but also around the globe. The earth's average temperature is continuously increasing. According to wikipedia, global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the 100 years ending in 2005. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that the trend will continue and get worse much faster than was expected even in their last report.
Increasing Earth's temperature will melt the ice in the arctic and the sea level will rise. In addition, the water in the oceans expands in volume, and additional water enters them which had previously been locked up on land in glaciers. Based on the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, it predicts that many mid-latitude regions, such as Mediterranean Europe, will experience decreased rainfall and an increased risk of drought, which in turn would allow forest fires to occur on larger scale, and more regularly.
Hotter earth means hotter oceans that constitutes to more strong typhoons. I heard recently from the news that a typhoon struck Mindanao including Davao. Its very alarming knowing that Davao is a typhoon-free zone. World leaders are now looking for ways on how to reduce global warming.
People must be educated and be well informed about whats happening on earth. We must educate ourselves about global warming, the more facts we have as to what mainstream science says about it, the more we can persuade others to make simple but effective changes in daily behavior.
How to reduce global warming?
I surfed the net and read some interesting ways on how to reduce global warming.
-Choose vegetarian or vegan meals. Livestock are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation is.
-Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace three frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs/lamps and save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide
-Fill the dishwasher. Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Save 100 lbs. of carbon dioxide
-Grow fast growing plants. Plants like bamboo grow faster and produce 35% more oxygen than trees like oak or birch, and require fewer chemicals and care.
-Use public transportation. Taking the bus, the train, the subway or other forms of public transportation lessens the load on the roads and reduces one's individual greenhouse gas emissions
By doing simple things just like whats written above, we can prevent the world temperatures to rise from between 2 to 4.5 degrees Celsius by the year 2100.
Ralph O. Acebedo
2005-65673
I was born in Davao and stayed there for 16 years. I like to stay there because the weather is just fine. No typhoons, just heavy rains. Davao is located in the southern part of the Philippines and most of the typhoons pass in Luzon or Visayas. When I moved to Baguio, I experienced strong typhoons. I can still remember the day when I experienced my first “bagyo”. Classes were canceled so I decided to play dota in a computer shop near SM. I was walking along session road and the wind was so strong. It was fun, it was my first. The following typhoons were not new to me. I was no longer amazed with the strong winds. When I moved to Manila, still many typhoons arrived.
Data and statistics show increasing number and strength of typhoons not just here in the Philippines but also around the globe. The earth's average temperature is continuously increasing. According to wikipedia, global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the 100 years ending in 2005. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that the trend will continue and get worse much faster than was expected even in their last report.
Increasing Earth's temperature will melt the ice in the arctic and the sea level will rise. In addition, the water in the oceans expands in volume, and additional water enters them which had previously been locked up on land in glaciers. Based on the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, it predicts that many mid-latitude regions, such as Mediterranean Europe, will experience decreased rainfall and an increased risk of drought, which in turn would allow forest fires to occur on larger scale, and more regularly.
Hotter earth means hotter oceans that constitutes to more strong typhoons. I heard recently from the news that a typhoon struck Mindanao including Davao. Its very alarming knowing that Davao is a typhoon-free zone. World leaders are now looking for ways on how to reduce global warming.
People must be educated and be well informed about whats happening on earth. We must educate ourselves about global warming, the more facts we have as to what mainstream science says about it, the more we can persuade others to make simple but effective changes in daily behavior.
How to reduce global warming?
I surfed the net and read some interesting ways on how to reduce global warming.
-Choose vegetarian or vegan meals. Livestock are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation is.
-Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace three frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs/lamps and save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide
-Fill the dishwasher. Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Save 100 lbs. of carbon dioxide
-Grow fast growing plants. Plants like bamboo grow faster and produce 35% more oxygen than trees like oak or birch, and require fewer chemicals and care.
-Use public transportation. Taking the bus, the train, the subway or other forms of public transportation lessens the load on the roads and reduces one's individual greenhouse gas emissions
By doing simple things just like whats written above, we can prevent the world temperatures to rise from between 2 to 4.5 degrees Celsius by the year 2100.
Ralph O. Acebedo
2005-65673
mEARTHa stewart's blog
It was early in the morning. The sun shined happily. The birds were chirping cheerfully. I heard the noise made by our neighbor doing laundry outside. And the joyful sounds of children playing. And of course, the morning chismisan of our neighbors outside their houses could not be missed.
What a pleasant day.
But why was it so that after a short while, the beautiful morning scenario was covered with hasty dispersing darkness. It hid the handsome sun. And as a result, heavy rain suddenly poured down. The sound of the falling rain swallowed the bird chirps. It made my neighbor pack up her laundry set-up outside her house. The rain interrupted the happiness of the playing children as they went inside their homes. And definitely, the momentum of my neighbors’ pleasure of chit-chatting was distracted too.
What an awful day.
Yet the sun showed up after a few minutes. It shined brightly again. Everything went back to the starting scenario. Only that it was wet outside.
This experience of mine is an example to a sudden climate change, a characteristic of global warming. It is quite alarming that in our everyday lives, we could feel the effects of global warming. The facts I learned from watching Signos made me be more cautious of the way I treat the environment. At the same time I felt guilty because of what I did and is continually doing that contributes to the destruction of the environment. Simple acts like throwing candy wraps anywhere in the streets, leaving trash on the places I have stayed, leaving the lights and appliances on even when not in use, using the air conditioner even when it is cold, and throwing papers away when it could still be recycled. These are such irresponsible things to do.
When I was in grade school, one of my teachers always said that we are all stewards of God’s creation. We are all responsible in taking care of the environment. Every person is expected to do their part in nurturing the nature. As early as childhood, parents should instill to their children the importance of this shared responsibility in taking care of the environment. And it needs a constant reminder, proper guidance and as an elder, one should set as a good example.
But come to think of it. Are we all aware of the problem on the environment we are facing now? The answer is no. Some people may not be aware of the meaning of a simple word like pollution. To be able to start solving the problem, one must be knowledgeable of the problem, even a little only. This is to instill in the minds of the people the awareness one should have. But still, awareness can do nothing if we would not do something to cure the problem. Motivation to act goes side by side with awareness.
Speaking of actions, we can do so many things to lessen the effects of global warming. The short documentary even cited simple ways to help heal the nature like using paper bags instead of plastic bags that takes so many years to decompose, removing the plugs of unused appliances from the socket, and minimizing household wastes.
In our home, a simple way we do to minimize and organize our wastes is through recycling and waste segregation respectively. We have a big box for paper and carton wastes and a large plastic bag for PET bottles. We see to it that we only bring out our garbage bags if the garbage truck is already outside to prevent its scattering by cats and beggars. Another thing we do is turning lights off when sleeping at night. We do not use the air conditioner and electric fan if it is cold. My mother always reminds me to conserve water. Use a glass in brushing your teeth. In our bathroom, we do not use the shower. Instead we use a tabo and a pail. We use the water tank for emergency only.
You see? We can do so many simple things in order to save the environment. Awareness, motivation to act and cooperation, these we must have to help save Mother Earth. Lessen your carbon footprint, save Mother Earth!! Yeah.
Marian Grace T. San Pedro
2006-10356
Fight For Change
Alfredo R. Villareal Jr.
2006-41524
CE 131
We are adopting the use of compact fluorescent lamps in our home. We also minimize using plastics and other non-biodegradable materials, and we’re trying to lessen our garbage through recycling. That’s why I consider our family to be environmental friendly. Anyway that was before, but after I’ve watch the video, I was shocked because I noticed something. I had noticed that we missed to unplug our appliances when not in use. Most of the time I leave my room with unplugged lights, electric fan, and television.
I can easily noticed the abrupt climatic change even if I’m in the university. During this season, it should be cold but there were times that I can feel the radiance of the sun as if I’m on a summer vication. I have observed that when the cold season starts, it is not always as cold as expected and even if it is cold, it excedes the extreme temperature that I’m expecting. The same irregularities was observed during dry season or summer. I think this is already a sign of global warming.
I’m a sports fanatic that’s why I enjoy engaging with different kinds of sports. I often play basketball on an open court but now I used to play on a covered court since I can not predict when will the rain is coming. It is now very difficult to plot the expected whether conditions of a certain place that’s why it is better to be precautious. I had watch the whether forcast last october and one of the important details in the news was the upcoming typhoons in the month of november. According to the news I’d watch, the expected number of typhoons this month was two but it is still November 23 yet it already exceded the expected number of typhoons. I don’t know what is really happening but what I’m very sure is that it has something to do with global warming.
I am still a student right now and I always think that I can do nothing for the environment but after I’d watch the film, there is a huge realization within myself. If I want change to happen, it should start first in me. That’s why I’m now trying to avoid those small things that can contribute to global warming and I also adopt some helpful and environmental friendly exercise discussed in the film. It’s good I not smoking, well, I know that’s a nice one.
Maybe there are still lots of things that I should do. I should participate and attend any symposium or gatherings with regards to global warming. And I should take in mind that I’m not just a student but a student with awareness and concern with what is happening around. We should not be sellfish for the next generation, we should preserve what we have now and even try to recover others that were already destroyed. Aren’t we fortunate enough that we still have oxygen to take and a tolerable temperature, what about those who are next to us. We should always think what’s next.
I was enlightened by the video since I’m not a person that is really concern about the environment. I think I’m rational enough to know what is the right thing to do. I should be part of the movement for the preservation of the world and that is to fight global warming.
2006-41524
CE 131
We are adopting the use of compact fluorescent lamps in our home. We also minimize using plastics and other non-biodegradable materials, and we’re trying to lessen our garbage through recycling. That’s why I consider our family to be environmental friendly. Anyway that was before, but after I’ve watch the video, I was shocked because I noticed something. I had noticed that we missed to unplug our appliances when not in use. Most of the time I leave my room with unplugged lights, electric fan, and television.
I can easily noticed the abrupt climatic change even if I’m in the university. During this season, it should be cold but there were times that I can feel the radiance of the sun as if I’m on a summer vication. I have observed that when the cold season starts, it is not always as cold as expected and even if it is cold, it excedes the extreme temperature that I’m expecting. The same irregularities was observed during dry season or summer. I think this is already a sign of global warming.
I’m a sports fanatic that’s why I enjoy engaging with different kinds of sports. I often play basketball on an open court but now I used to play on a covered court since I can not predict when will the rain is coming. It is now very difficult to plot the expected whether conditions of a certain place that’s why it is better to be precautious. I had watch the whether forcast last october and one of the important details in the news was the upcoming typhoons in the month of november. According to the news I’d watch, the expected number of typhoons this month was two but it is still November 23 yet it already exceded the expected number of typhoons. I don’t know what is really happening but what I’m very sure is that it has something to do with global warming.
I am still a student right now and I always think that I can do nothing for the environment but after I’d watch the film, there is a huge realization within myself. If I want change to happen, it should start first in me. That’s why I’m now trying to avoid those small things that can contribute to global warming and I also adopt some helpful and environmental friendly exercise discussed in the film. It’s good I not smoking, well, I know that’s a nice one.
Maybe there are still lots of things that I should do. I should participate and attend any symposium or gatherings with regards to global warming. And I should take in mind that I’m not just a student but a student with awareness and concern with what is happening around. We should not be sellfish for the next generation, we should preserve what we have now and even try to recover others that were already destroyed. Aren’t we fortunate enough that we still have oxygen to take and a tolerable temperature, what about those who are next to us. We should always think what’s next.
I was enlightened by the video since I’m not a person that is really concern about the environment. I think I’m rational enough to know what is the right thing to do. I should be part of the movement for the preservation of the world and that is to fight global warming.
global warming and nature
Early this morning, as I prepare for the eight o’clock mass, it is raining like hell. As I get my clothes on, suddenly it stopped and while walking to go to the church, it rained again. The worse is just it ruined the procession for the feast of Christ the King. It was crazy for that to happen everyday here in our town in Cavite. You don’t know what the weather will be for just a single day. You can’t count the number of times weather has changed for just a day. And I don’t think it is just happening here in our town but most of the country, even the world. And it’s not just the rain, the extreme heat of the sun is also a major change here. Back then, because the town is situated near Tagaytay, the people can go out at noon without any umbrella because of the warm but moist environment. As the years go by, people started complaining about a very blazing hot morning till afternoon and the breeze of the wind is missing, making it worse.
As I recall my elementary days, it is fun to play under the rain during the wet season, it is safe back then. As my high school day came, I describe the rain as “unsafe” because of its “magnitude” in terms of the volume it pours. You can’t see any children playing in the rain, not wanting to experience being pounded by extreme wind and rain conditions. And it is only an ordinary rain, what more if typhoon days came, it is simply scary to think what may happen.
As I watch the documentary film “SIGNOS”, just like Al Gores’ “An Inconvenient Truth” and the other one by Leonardo de Caprio, I can see the reaction of the people being their house, family and self destroyed by our nature. The sufferings they are experiencing is unexplainable until you experienced it. There is no one to blame but humans, their overuse of resources and continuous destruction of nature. It is true that nature is seeking revenge on us. I think that if we don’t think and start replenishing the “lost” piece of nature that we took, we will all be suffering. Like in a town in the film, with over a 50 hectares of landmass and now, only five hectares remain. And the Artex in Malabon, I have never seen any place like that, except for Venice but it is like that for a long time. It saddens me to see people struggling to survive but they have no choice. The film is selective of the places, just the worse cases, but who knows in the future, it is the whole world.
Upon answering the quiz in myfootprint.org, everything that we do is affecting the nature. The worsening situation of the world is not a joke. We are affected, as the economic crisis of the world is down, for me it is connected to nature. Nature is seeking revenge on us. Solutions on the problem are not being taken into full seriousness of the government. No one in the government, in massive terms, is using these methods to minimize the effects of global warming. Every single thing we do affects the outcome of the nature gives on us. And if we do nothing about it, no one knows the real “thing” that will happen ten years from now. I feel bad on our government because it lacks the effort of giving the people proper information on what is happening in the nature, not just information but solutions. But who am I to blame the government if we are the ones who are not responding to the call of nature.
If everyone started to conserve energy, the effects will minimize. It is our duty to regain the loss what we had done to the nature. Conserve electricity by turning off the plugs of the appliances when not in use. Reuse and recycle the plastics we have in our home, for plastics decompose for a very long time. The wrappers of candy should be thrown in the proper place, simple yet we always forget. Use your chemical energy, walk when the place you are going is not that far. It lessens your expenses and yet it is healthy to the body. Just ten minutes of brisk walking can reduce the rate of heart attack, it sounds silly but just do it. Setting an example, I hope, will inspire others to take action on the current situation of the world. This things we are doing is not just for ourselves, it is also for our destroyed and abused Mother Nature.
SHADES OF TRUTH: THE DISMAL DRILL
“The land was converted, the river was moved, the village expanded, some say it's improved, but the lingering feature is a grim attitude.”- Greg Graffin
The world itself is dynamic. When industrialization strikes way back in the 18th century, man found himself exploring the unchartered territories, going beyond the bounded realms of their time. Human activities were greatly altered and destructive not just to the earth but also to the ones who were entrusted with it. Now, we are on the edge of the perfect imbalance and we are to pay the price, the price that we owe to the nature.
Signos is one of those films which actually trigger the nerves within us. After Al Gore revealed the inconvenient truth, chains of news reports, further studies, environmental awareness and movements have been conducted. And the chain has arrived in our country. While most people in the world are discerning about this matter, George Bush and his administration ended up their term unfocused on this particular issue and even insisting that global warming is no less than a piece of fiction.
Days in this fragment of time are atypical. From the past few years, it has been remarking to me the great change in our climate. Our country’s conventional climate flow seems to be varying and rearranging itself. September to December are no more cold as they were. Summer floods us with rain while the should-be raining months are dry. Things like these can bring an appalling change on how plants would behave especially to those which are fruiting. My family’s front and backyard trees and plants couldn’t produce as much fruits as they do in the past. This effect is a huge impact especially to those which make planting or farming as their primary business. We also experience intense heat in some time of the year. It was 9am, November 16 of this year, as I was walking along Magsaysay Street here in our campus, I experience a strong heat penetrating deeply in my skin. I wonder why that heat came like an early bird catching its first worm. It is also so unusual for this part of the year for such a heat to take place early in the day. When 12 noon strikes, it was a different atmosphere. The temperature seems to drop. This kind of oddity is mind twisting unless you believe in global warming.
The condition is a too much and a too less case. Vast dryness is being experienced in some areas while some areas dream of desiccation. Rainfalls also became differently deviant. Just this year’s summer, cant remember the exact date, rain poured out so hard for about an hour and it resulted a flash flood. The heavy rain came falling from the sky violently that made a GK site here in Quezon City flooded, leaving the residents of the area standing and sitting in their own rooftops.
Every single step that we make has a consequence or an exchange effect in our environment. Every aspect of our living can do good or bad things to it. According to www.myfootprint.com, we need 0.35 earth to live if we follow my own lifestyle. I felt guilty though. From food stuffs to homing to transportation and everything, they all collectively contribute of how an individual could bring about an effect to the environment. Sets of realizations are made here that everything we do is accompanied by a diminutive amount of consequence.
Environmental awareness is the basic step in saving the earth in a possible dreadful upcoming future. I can still remember how my grade five teacher told us about the greenhouse effect, the global warming and such kinds. Although they were brought into the picture, the concepts are vague to me that I can’t even grasp its reality. Maybe I was just a kid then, unprepared for such topics. Global warming should be continuously opened to the future generation so that at an early time, they would be educated, be aware and beware of the later consequences of how we interact with the environment. We are living in the existence of our environment, so, we must play according to its own rule. But awareness is of no value unless followed by any action. By our own little means, we can bring about a change in our world and prevent this tragedy. It is a collective effort after all in saving our own heritage. It is not just the few that should take an action against this world threat. We, as sovereign people of this earth, are all responsible in taking care of this planet earth before it would just only be a part of a tragic memory of once lived human beings.
Heherson tabag
06-28158
The world itself is dynamic. When industrialization strikes way back in the 18th century, man found himself exploring the unchartered territories, going beyond the bounded realms of their time. Human activities were greatly altered and destructive not just to the earth but also to the ones who were entrusted with it. Now, we are on the edge of the perfect imbalance and we are to pay the price, the price that we owe to the nature.
Signos is one of those films which actually trigger the nerves within us. After Al Gore revealed the inconvenient truth, chains of news reports, further studies, environmental awareness and movements have been conducted. And the chain has arrived in our country. While most people in the world are discerning about this matter, George Bush and his administration ended up their term unfocused on this particular issue and even insisting that global warming is no less than a piece of fiction.
Days in this fragment of time are atypical. From the past few years, it has been remarking to me the great change in our climate. Our country’s conventional climate flow seems to be varying and rearranging itself. September to December are no more cold as they were. Summer floods us with rain while the should-be raining months are dry. Things like these can bring an appalling change on how plants would behave especially to those which are fruiting. My family’s front and backyard trees and plants couldn’t produce as much fruits as they do in the past. This effect is a huge impact especially to those which make planting or farming as their primary business. We also experience intense heat in some time of the year. It was 9am, November 16 of this year, as I was walking along Magsaysay Street here in our campus, I experience a strong heat penetrating deeply in my skin. I wonder why that heat came like an early bird catching its first worm. It is also so unusual for this part of the year for such a heat to take place early in the day. When 12 noon strikes, it was a different atmosphere. The temperature seems to drop. This kind of oddity is mind twisting unless you believe in global warming.
The condition is a too much and a too less case. Vast dryness is being experienced in some areas while some areas dream of desiccation. Rainfalls also became differently deviant. Just this year’s summer, cant remember the exact date, rain poured out so hard for about an hour and it resulted a flash flood. The heavy rain came falling from the sky violently that made a GK site here in Quezon City flooded, leaving the residents of the area standing and sitting in their own rooftops.
Every single step that we make has a consequence or an exchange effect in our environment. Every aspect of our living can do good or bad things to it. According to www.myfootprint.com, we need 0.35 earth to live if we follow my own lifestyle. I felt guilty though. From food stuffs to homing to transportation and everything, they all collectively contribute of how an individual could bring about an effect to the environment. Sets of realizations are made here that everything we do is accompanied by a diminutive amount of consequence.
Environmental awareness is the basic step in saving the earth in a possible dreadful upcoming future. I can still remember how my grade five teacher told us about the greenhouse effect, the global warming and such kinds. Although they were brought into the picture, the concepts are vague to me that I can’t even grasp its reality. Maybe I was just a kid then, unprepared for such topics. Global warming should be continuously opened to the future generation so that at an early time, they would be educated, be aware and beware of the later consequences of how we interact with the environment. We are living in the existence of our environment, so, we must play according to its own rule. But awareness is of no value unless followed by any action. By our own little means, we can bring about a change in our world and prevent this tragedy. It is a collective effort after all in saving our own heritage. It is not just the few that should take an action against this world threat. We, as sovereign people of this earth, are all responsible in taking care of this planet earth before it would just only be a part of a tragic memory of once lived human beings.
Heherson tabag
06-28158
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