Blog #8

A serious global problem that is plaguing the world is climate change or global warming. Hundreds of millions of people may be trapped in hospitable environments as they attempt to flee from floods, droughts, storms, heat waves, and more. Because of these harsh conditions the death toll will rise severely. This becomes a major health problem when people cannot obtain food, or die because they can’t escape. Scientists warn that this is one of the biggest visual effects of the earth warming and they say it is directly resulting from the use of fossil fuels. Unfortunately many people will migrate into, instead of away from areas of environmental vulnerability, and some will not be able to escape at all. Last year according to the United Nations, 210 million people migrated between countries and in 2009 about 740 million people moved within countries. Climate change skeptics say that is impossible to tell out of that 210 million, how many actually moved because of climate change. Scientists say that within the next 30 years climate change will be a leading cause in such migration. They also say that trying to stop migration is not the right approach; we should anticipate it and become more prepared.
When analyzing this topic first we must assume that there is such thing as global warming and it is causing these disastrous events. For all we know the floods could be directly related in the extermination of all our trees and plants. Here is an example: say you live at the bottom of a hill, and this hill is made completely out of dirt and soil. When it rains the water will come down the hill where some will soak into the soil but most of it will run down and flood your house. Eventually this hill will wither away and you will have a lake where you live. If you so happen to plant trees, grass, ivy, or bushes, when it rains the plants will soak up most if not all the water. This in turn leaves you house above water and your hill will most likely survive. This example on a much larger skill could be the reason for flooding. Droughts and climate change could be explained by the plates shifting and the continents moving into different places on earth. Just like our desserts are in the sub-tropical ridge our plates are moving too different places in the world which is directly related to climate change and droughts. But let’s just say there is such thing as global warming because either way this is a problem no matter what the cause is. When we are seeing such changes to our world which affect the people on it and their health, I believe it is a serious problem. If the scientist are correct which they most certainly might be, global warming and its affects are related to the burning of fossil fuels. A constant burning of these fuels directly affects our atmosphere and ozone which defiantly can cause serious problems that we have yet to see the ultimate effect. A change needs to be made whether it is to stop emissions or change the way we live and the things we do. With every great problem lies a simple solution.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/20/climate-change-millions-disaster-report?INTCMP=SRCH