Category: Unit 2

Life as we know it is changing. And pretty quickly. There have always been two sides to this. Those who put the blame on ourselves, that we are the root of this rapid change and those who simply believe that it is a natural cycle, that global warming at this rate has always happened in the millions of years of its existence. It’s not as simple at first glance but let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Why should we care? An article dating back to 1882 “Pollution of the Atmosphere” by H.A Phillips touches on the subject of climate change dating back to the late 19th century and an article from New York Times “ Climate Change Is Speeding Toward Catastrophe. The Next Decade Is Crucial, U.N. Panel Says” by Brad Plumer discusses it now in the present. Both authors touch on the same issue/topic with its goal of addressing the audience to spread awareness and educate.

Global warming is one of the most pressing environmental issues that our planet faces today. It is caused by human activities that release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, leading to an increase in global temperatures. “From this we may conclude that the increasing pollution of the atmosphere will have a marked influence on the climate of the world”. This was a follow up made by H.A Phillips in response to pace. “Since the year 1854 (as near as I can estimate) there has been burnt 10,000 million tons of coal”. The idea of the pollution impacting this rapid climate has been talked about even dating back to this time where Phillips, among others, inferred this possibility. It is no stranger that global warming was ramped up by the burning of fossil fuels. The gasses trap the heat coming from the sun, resulting in rises in temperature. Because of the increase in temperature, many things have occurred such as the rise in sea levels, wildfires like the ones that are currently happening on the west coast, heatwaves, the list goes on. Phillips then goes on to say “The mountainous regions will be colder, the Arctic regions will be colder, the tropics will be warmer, and throughout the world the nights will be colder, and the days warmer. In the Temperate Zone winter will be colder, and generally differences will be greater, winds, storms, rainfall greater”. Phillips here describes the possible oncoming effects of global warming where one is able to visualize it. Point being is all of these have come true so whats stopping the claims being made now in the present from also coming to fruition. Although a very short reading attached to several others under one article, Phillips used ethos to share facts and used the information gathered by Prof. Tyndall to support his ideas. In doing so he provides his audience with credible and informative details.

           Now let’s look at an article written in present times. Brad Plumer here like H.A  ,Phillips, uses ethos but differently in his article. While Phillips was talking about the ramifications of global warming in the future , Plumer discusses the possibilities and solutions to combat global warming.  In reference to a report made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Plumer states “There is still one last chance to shift course, the new report says. But it would require industrialized nations to join together immediately to slash greenhouse gases roughly in half by 2030 and then stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere altogether by the early 2050s”. This claim can be deemed credible and draws the attention of the reader in order to give an understanding of what needs to be done with greenhouse gasses. Limiting the use of fossil fuels has never been an easy task but as stated by Plumer, it must be done by these target years in order to prevent the temperature from rising 2.7 degrees fahrenheit. 2.7 degrees fahrenheit seems very miniscule but can bring upon natural threats. In another quote from Plumer’s article” Many scientists have pointed out that surpassing the 1.5 degree threshold will not mean humanity is doomed. But every fraction of a degree of additional warming is expected to increase the severity of dangers that people around the world face”. Before getting into the context of the quote, you can say Plumer here unlike Phillips uses Pathos to get his point across. His choice of words are meant to strike concern and maybe even fear to the audience. What he also does is alleviate any concern in that same sentence by assuring that it “will not mean humanity is doomed”. Despite this, the dangers are clear that an increase in temperature could mean more rise in sea levels, more wildfires, stronger storms, and humanity would still face these adversities.

             Global warming is a significant threat to us, that’s why we should care. The impacts of climate change have serious ramifications on the environment, wildlife and society as we know it. Phillips, despite having a short piece discussing climate change, shows us how ethos was used back in the 19th century to warn and educate his audience. Plumer uses ethos and pathos to address the reader on the negative impacts of global warming but also provides use with various sources that strongly support his ideas. The main point of choosing an article from that far back in time and choosing one in the present was to compare the ideas and reactions of global warming to see what has changed. And to most importantly question, do these points still stand?

Work Cited

PHILLIPS, H.A ” Pollution of the Atmosphere”. Nature 27, 127 (1882)

07 December, 1882

https://www.nature.com/articles/027127c0

Plumer, Brad “Climate Change Is Speeding Toward Catastrophe. The Next Decade Is Crucial, U.N. Panel Says.” New York Times20 March, 2023 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/climate/global-warming-ipcc-earth.html

Fermin Perez

04.02.2023

1. Noticing a Problem

Climate Change. An issue that has been pushed to the side when it should be our number one priority. As I am typing this right now, the weather is 65 degrees fahrenheit while yesterday was 30. Yeah it’s spring but this has now become a normal occurrence during the winter where it did not snow once here in New York City. The issue goes beyond that of NYC getting snow but involves the future we hold. What does the future have in store for us and how much of it is dictated by our actions? What can we change? What are the ramifications of Climate Change? And most importantly, why should we care?

2. Researching the Problem

The way I plan to approach my research is the reaction to climate change in the early 20th century all the way to the present in hopes of finding parallels, innovation, progression and concern. There must certainly be articles that were published around the time and are still floating in the internet. Perhaps posted by other news sources talking about climate change in the 1900s. Apart from researching the past, I want to research the implications that climate change can bring about and learn what is being done to combat those issues. I also want to touch on the reactions that people have on climate change in social media as it has become one of if not the biggest platforms that can influence many people’s ideas and opinions. The generation that will take up this issue will be the generation that is very familiar with social media.

3. Why is this topic interesting to you? Why do you care about this topic?

I have always joked about the world ending at the hands of climate change. But truthfully, there has always been some fear behind those jokes. We have seen the devastating destruction caused by hurricanes. They have increased in strength, size and they will continue to do so. This is no coincidence. We recently saw the unprecedented Texas Winter Storm. Some of the few disasters that have happened can be directly linked to climate change. Now there has always been the topic of discussion about how we are the cause of this rapid change. At this rate is it too late? Too little too late. And even if everyone joined together to combat this issue, would it make an impact? I remember being a 1st grade student in my science class and reading about how icebergs were melting and causing a rise in sea levels. I remember seeing one specific number, 2030. It highlighted the year that sea levels would pose a serious threat to the world. Fast forward 13 years later and we are here. Still talking about whether global warming is real or not.

4. Why should your readers care about this topic?

Why should my reader care? Well the idea of the future being impacted negatively should be enough. We are talking about generations, our kids and our kids and so on and so forth. We are destroying our planet and it could reach the point where the world will be unlivable. A life to fear. The environment we live in can be destroyed, conditions where necessities such as food can’t be grown. Now whether you believe we are the root of the issue or not, the matter of that fact is that it is something that should be taken seriously.

Whats 25 cents,

A quarter, 2 dimes and a nickel

25 pennies, add that

A quarter of a dollar

Not much you can get with 25 cents,

But as a look over to left

Theres something shining next to the bench

It was 25 cents

Now that is something I like to view as good luck

It’d be a-shame to leave it there

It isn’t something these squirrels can use

But I’d love to see one pick it up

Poetry, why is it so hard for me to understand,

The idea of sentences spewing words,

To look for a deeper meaning,

Many people find comfort in it

A form of expression

But as I write this poem

Im focused on making it seem…

“Poem Like”

Is that what would poetry should be?

Am I mistaken?

As a child I was taught that there is no such thing as wrong

In poetry

While I can sit here and write about my surroundings,

Help me understand Poetry

The people, the birds

The squirrels and the dogs,

Everyone has showed out today

And while I haven’t acknowledge it,

The weather is warm,

The gleaming, hitting me in the eyes

It is evident that spring is coming

The allergies, the sneezes make it clear

And although many love spring,

I do not

Fall has was been for me,

So has winter,

But let’s enjoy what we have now

Since Spring is here