- Research and find an alternative/opposing point of view to Climate Change as proposed in the Introduction.
https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
This article from NASA gives specific statistics about how climate changes started to take a turn for the worst when humans came into the picture about 7,000 years ago. This article even mentions it is “extremely likely’ human activity is the reason for the warming trend, heat-trapping carbon dioxide, and greenhouse gases. NASA has taken samples and data from ice cores, tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. From all the evidence collected NASA has found the Earth is warming about ten times faster than the average rate of the ice age. Would the Earth have warmed at this rate had humans not evolved or developed? And how, if we can, do we reverse the harm we have done to our planet?
- Under Learning Objectives on page 248, find #6 and choose two (2) questions to answer. Be sure to list your questions in your post.
- What environmental responsibilities do we have to the rest of the world? What obligations do we have to future generations?
Depending on which ethical theory being looked at, a person can either take the route of egoism or utilitarianism. If we are living the way of egoism our environmental responsibility would only be to keep the Earth “healthy’ for as long as the individual is alive and not worry about what happens to future generations. Or if we are living the utilitarianism way we would be morally inclined to include future generations in our environmental responsibilities actions.
With that being said, I do not believe one theory is more popular than the other when it comes to this topic. Climate change can be such an interesting topic, but I like to think society leans more towards utilitarianism and wanting to protect what is left of our environment for future generations. As Alaskans, we can witness first hand glaciers retreating. I have only been in Alaska for almost six years and I have seen a significant difference. This makes me more protective of our Earth and more conscious of my carbon footprint everyday because I want to live in a world with these beautiful glaciers and I want future generations to be able to witness their magnificences as well.
I do not have any children yet but with the nieces and nephews I have, not only do I feel it important to teach and model how to respect our planet, but it is also important to introduce it to them at a young age because future generations are growing up in a more polluted Earth than ever before. Adults and generations of today need to become knowledgable about how to slow or reverse the damage that has been done. We also need to realize we are the ones who did this damage, we are every bit responsible as the people around us; which can sometimes be hard to admit. But once we do admit it to ourselves, we can start taking actions to slow the damage.
- Lastly, as you read through Chapter 7, answer this question: Who should pay the cost for protecting the environment — those responsible for causing the pollution or those who stand to benefit from protection and restoration. Explain your position.
I think it would be unethical for the people responsible for the problem to not pay the cost of damage done. However, I also believe those benefiting from protection and restoration can pitch in a bit in order to benefit, but these people should not have to pay as much as those who did the damaging. I think of an example of throwing a party at your house. The guest who made a mess and just leave without helping clean up I would not be as interested inviting back to my house for the next get-together. On the other hand, those who made the mess and stayed to help clean up I would be more inclined to re-invite for next time, they know they did some portion of the damage so they take responsibility and help undo what was done.
If the generations who did the damage do not, or are not, willing to help pay for the damage done to the Earth, it makes current and future generations less willing to help them with things they need because it makes them seem selfish and egotistic.
1 Comment for “M7-Pottle”
Shawn G
says:The NASA article was interesting. It is fact that the Sun and Earth experience cycles that alter the climate but what hasn’t been confirmed that green house gases have heated things up. Regardless, I think human damages have accelerated an already warming planet. I like your comparison of environmental conscience to house guest, it should be everyone’s responsibility to clean up after themselves but since that’s an ideology we have to get the job done anyway. We can get caught up in who’s responsible and who’s duty is it, so it remains polluted. As an example, when BP polluted Louisiana volunteers that weren’t at fault came to assist in the disaster clean up. It may not be everyone’s blame but it is everyones responsibility to the planet to protect it.