First, for info that might be helpful before answering my question, check this site:
http://home.wanadoo.nl/f.j.doorman/07Env.htm
Now my question . . .
Can America afford to go green? Americans are driven to buy new appliances, heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators that are energy efficient in an effort to save energy, gas, and natural resources. E-85 fuel-efficient vehicles, hybrid cars, and hybrid luxury SUVs are part of the new craze in buying efficient cars. As part of the stimulus package of 2010, citizens were offered tax breaks on buying new appliances that are energy efficient to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and energy suppliers. My question is: Is this a good idea for the economy? For our ecology? For both?
What do you see as the main benefits to going green? What will happen if many companies and individuals stubbornly refuse to get on board with the green movement? Do you think the world's governments need to play larger roles in establishing and enforcing regulations on factors that affect the environmment? For instance, in 2007 (the latest data available), the U.S. and China were responsible for 42% of all the world's greenhouse emissions. Third and fourth on the list are India and Russia, who emit only 5% each. Does this mean the U.S and Chinese governments must crack down harder on companies responsible for emissions harmful to the earth's environment?
Jesse Hill (8:00)
10 comments:
While I think that going green is a good thing for the environment, I don't think that changing our ways will impact climate change the way environmentalists say it will. Climate change existed long before humans walked the Earth and will continue long after our reign has ended. It's a naturally occurring phenomenon, and while our actions have impacted it very slightly, it has not, and will not be enough to really alter the course of nature. i feel that it is both arrogant and ignorant for us as a small percentage of the population to think that we can control the destiny of the Earth through what we do and don't do. Climate change is natural, and there isn't anything that anyone can do to effect it enough to make a noticeable difference.
Kevin Farnum 8am
The thought of going green is a great idea, but i think we have gone to far in our environment to start now. The climate is natural and it will do as it wants. With the population in the world it would take alot to change the ways.
Scotty
I think that going green is great but it is expensive. I cant afford to buy a new car nor can mostly anyone in my family. I cant afford to pay extra money for the "green" stuff that stores have. The main main reason why my parents dont pay for recycling is because it cost money, which I think they should still go it anyways. I agree with trying to help our environment but its not fair to ask people to just stop the things they have been doing for so long and try to save the world now, its just to expensive.
Alex S. (8:00)
I think our government definitely needs to focus a little more on the environment. Were slowly killing our planet and nobody seems to care that much.
Dylan (noon)
I think after reading all of this information that not only America,but the whole world needs and has to go green. Is that really true our water supply will be low by 2050??? That is probably the scariest thought. I say this because most people say they care about the environment but do nothing to change it. Except after learning that we may run out of water possibly in my life time it is very eye opening,and I want to change it.Because with out water no one lives that is a very big deal. The only way in my opinion to get the ball rolling on this going green thing is our government demanding changes in all aspects of our lives and work through the restructing of our entire coutry and the way we as people have been living.
Jessica Ervin
Not only can Americans afford to go green, in fact they can't afford not to. Not for much longer, anyway. As globalization makes the world smaller, it becomes more and more easy to see how the lives of people (as well as plants, animals, ecosystems) everywhere are closely in sync with one another. For instance, toys made in China can affect the quality of life in Europe. Pesticides used in Argentina can affect the health of people in the U.S. Greenhouse gas emissions from Australia can affect a diminishing rain forest way over in Brazil.
When you think about it, pretty much every single thing we do every day has an impact on the planet, either good or bad.
Some of our personal choices that seem to have no effect at all on the environment in fact can have long-term implications for the planet.
Many people don't understand the alarming rate at which the rain forests are being ravaged. You can easily look up this info on the internet, but most people don't bother. But did you know that 25 percent of Western pharmaceuticals come from flora from the Amazon rain forest? And less than one percent of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists, which means there are likely many other uses for the flora thriving only in rain forests.
Rain forests not only protect biodiversity, they are also excellent carbon sinks. The bottom line is that it benefits everyone on the planet to go green to help keep our wild spaces alive and growing.
Of course some of the companies harming the planet the most are oil companies because of all their emissions. I predict that within 20 years people are being encouraged to boycott the oil companies and to use the greener alternatives for travel available by then. I just hope we're not finally recognizing this problem too late!
So, those are my thoughts. Sorry so random!
Jodi Harcroft
that is a great question, i feel that just like oil and gas got introduce to the world in the late 1800th's and it started slow then it got really big, this going green idea started slow in the late 90's and by now the first ful electric car is out for sell, so we will just adapt to it, and is not like we have a choice because if we dont stop this we will self destruct. I think that we all should help.
Aaron Vega (8:00)
I think we might not be bale to go green due to the way that the country is now i kinda think that it will stay the same and it wont change.
Demario Jordan
I believe that it will help with us polluting the air but as far as everyone doing it i do not think thats going to work because companies and people are going to do what they want and can as long as they are not breaking the law. Yes I do think that the government needs to play a larger role in establishing and enforcing regulations on factors that affect the environment. I feel like the whole world should get involved and go green if the country has the right sources and supplies to do so than it should do it to make this world a better environment for us to live in.
Sierra (noon)
There are more than a few companies that have embraced the 'green' movement. I think to ask if all of America can go green, then the answer would be no. Not in time to save some of the most valuable resources we have. So many times in our history we have simple taken everything. Taken land, rivers, lakes wooded areas even people are no match for the American government. Now is the chance and the time to change our behaviors however; changing a behavior that has been going on for centuries is very difficult. Waking up one day and expecting everyone to recycle and to change their appliances, go to fuel reducing vehicles and just using less energy is impossible. Big screen TV's and SUV's are a staple that is advertised all day long on every channel. I very rarely see a commercial that says 'Lets save the planet and recycle or we will all be living in a landfill'. The last movie I saw that addressed the issue because believe it or not most Americans get their information from TV and internet so if there aren't any flashing lights or grim details then we just don't want to listen.
Most countries around the world have made changes Germany and Norway are some of the worlds top solar producers. Switzerland has the lowest levels of air and water pollution in the world. I think that as Americans we are 'hard headed' we do think that any other country can do it better, so we don't take suggestions, we don't go and see how other countries are making it work for them, and as a result we are stuck in 1940 with our olive refrigerators and huge water heaters and megawatt electrical companies. Sure the Sierra club in our area are monitoring environmental hazards and reporting, asking local government to make small changes. From my perspective wee need changes to happen now. We can wait for 10 years of legislation to tell us that we need to start building more solar panels or to start work on a new wind farm. How about giving the people some incentive tell them they will loss their home if they refuse to update and make changes or the government will make them. I have been in older homes that still operate on radiator heat and have a clunker of a water heater or no air conditioning. These structures are becoming the 'gas guzzlers' of homes. Can we get some upgrades or some help, not just in the form of energy credits or rebates. Low interest loans to cover the cost to families and businesses. More training in the field so that we can have 10 HVAC companies that know how to install solar panels. My mother lived in an efficiency apartment that had 3 panels on the roof. The power company had to send her a check in the mail every month because she was producing so much energy that it was going back into the system to provide energy for her neighbors at cost of course. The benefit far outweighs the risk of global warming and melting ice caps and endangered species and the loss of the natural resources that got us where we are today. If technology means change then we need to utilize technology to change our thinking in this world that is wasting away before our eyes.
Tyreis (8:00)
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