The Climate Change as a Perturbing Social Issue

Earth & Environment, Science & Technology, Current Events |

By MAJOR TOM | October 6, 2009

The vast devastation wrought about by Typhoon Ondoy had left one lasting impression on us about climate change, as the enormous amount of rainfall that was left off by the now infamous tropical storm signaled the onset of a more cataclysmic scenario about our weather, and of our environment as whole.

There lies now the singular question: Is Mother Earth Now at the Brink of Extinction?

Is humanity’s existence threatened by these evolving circumstances especially that of global warming and climate change?

For certain, the specter of global warming is now more real than ever, a truth to be told like the sun in the sky, first as a doubtful phenomenon, even just merely a few years ago, yet now as a universal truth.

With this realization, citizens of the world should all be made aware and be conscious about the nature and implications of climate change, and most importantly governments should start addressing this issue just as any other salient social issue --- current and perturbing --- and every entity should heed and follow the directions towards minimizing its harmful effects, just like perhaps crimes in the streets, drug addiction, graft and corruption, housing or health concerns.

In actuality, it is of note that climate change as a weather phenomenon had already been happening even for millions of years and of ages ago, where the earth have already had numerous steep climate shifts so many times before, having had very cold environment during the so called Ice Ages in the Paleolithic Age while having very hot and warm weather on Interglacial periods. These radical shifts in weather are said to be as a result of the Earths changing position and distance away from the sun at any given period, having lengthened modifications in the so-called Equinox of the Earth in relation to the sun.

In fact, it was because of these shifts in climate that pre-historic humans were compelled to roam away from their natural habitat, as weather changes in those ages affects supply of food (herds migrating, vegetation disappearing), thus, the providing the basis for the scientific phenomenon of the human diaspora in pre-historic times.

An innate occurrence such as volcanic eruptions are events that could actually change the Earth’s temperature in a very radical manner, and in a very different way, as sulfur dioxides released into the atmosphere by these eruptions lowers global temperature and acts as a cooling effect, albeit provisionally.

Thus, the phenomenon of climate change is not actually an absolutely new observable fact that the Earth is facing as it had been actually happening to the earth many centuries and eons ago, through cycles of Ice Ages and Interglacial Periods, at times covering almost the entire Earth surface with ice while at other times it were heated deserts and barren plains that had dominated.

However, it is a notable circumstance that the ensuing weather alterations today are mostly due to human activities, anthropogenic in character, as against the entirely natural causes of climate changes in the past. It is unprecedented in this manner.

Waste and fumes expelled into the atmosphere resulting from the highly industrial and modern routine of today’s humanity remains the foremost cause of climate change, exuding enormous amount of carbon dioxide into the environment, trapping hot gases that should have been let-off into space naturally.

Now, it should be pointed out that since the recent version of climate change is almost purely man-made, then it could actually be reversed, of course similarly through man-made methods.

In this line, every citizen should be made aware of these circumstances, that thru collective action, the threat of global warming could be combated and dispelled away completely, by taking every day measures, like disposing garbage properly, not using harmful elements as much as possible, saving on power, and preserving natural resources. Governments on one hand should implement laws and infrastructure towards this end and execute them rigorously, such as in urban planning, an effective drainage system for one, prevention of deforestation, ban on the use of harmful chemicals, etc. --- thereon treating climate change as among the most pressing social concern that the society is facing today.

6 Comments »

1. Sidney says; October 8, 2009 @ 7:53 am

   We have a lot of work ahead of us!
   Good you are blogging about this issue!

2. Alma says; October 8, 2009 @ 8:48 am

   Tom you are so right. I hope that the disturbing and horrific effects of Ondoy have waken all of us from our slumber. First world countries must begin the initiative and begin the strict implementation of better environmental measures especially on big businesses who ravage and abuse the environment. Loss of lives, damage to crops and properties are just a few of the long lasting effects of Ondoy. I wish our government will stick to the implementation of change and better practices. This is not just about the 2010 election. This is about the restoration of the environment for generations to come.

3. Major Tom says; October 9, 2009 @ 9:07 pm

   to Sidney; Lots of em actually bro, and the tasks are not any lighter for one. So we all must start now, and must start within ourselves.

4. Major Tom says; October 9, 2009 @ 9:09 pm

   To Alma: This would actually be a good agenda to tackle for next year's presidential elections here, especially how each of them sees the need for adjustments against climate change effect.

   We need to have more palpable laws on environmental concerns and implement them more strictly, and of course, with more ardent focus and attention.

   Climate change is here and we could not deny that anymore. We should with this kind of thinking and mindset.

5. Alma says; October 9, 2009 @ 10:14 pm

   Its so sad to wacth the news these days. I cringe and then feel weepy just looking at families who now have to start again. I have no idea what kind of assistance the government can offer EVERYBODY, and I am not talking about loans at all. You are right, we need more laws and implementation is the key. The world is crumbling every second of the day. We must do something about this or we won't have anything left for our children.

   What is sad is that this current environmental meltdown is taken advantage by politician as a stage for next year's election.... Come on people, we need REAL leaders not pretenders...

6. Toe says; October 10, 2009 @ 6:32 pm

   You are right. Climate change has been going on for millions of years and this time, it is our fault, and so we should be the ones to do something about it.

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