We support bilingual education.

Global Warming
By Rena

Global warming has been watched with keen interest in the past few years. There is a movie called “An Inconvenient Truth” an Academy award winning documentary made by Al Gore. It is based on the facts and the reality of what global warming is causing. People are even more interested compared to before because of the influences like “An Inconvenient Truth”. Still, curiosity will not stop this crisis. We need to do something about it.

Global warming is the increase of earth’s atmosphere and ocean temperature. The main cause of global warming is uncertain, but the leading theory right now is the green gas theory. Green gas theory is also called the Greenhouse effect. The Greenhouse effect was first discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824. This effect is the process in which the earth’s surface is warmed by the emission of infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Green house gases are made by natural processes. Without any of these gases the earth will be 30°C cooler.

Human activities are rapidly increasing the amount of green gases. Some examples are clearing lands and agriculture. These phenomena have been going on since human history, but nowadays it is going too far. The increase of the world population is leading to clearing more lands, and the development of more countries causes more use of agriculture and technology. These human activities kill plants and trees and without trees carbon dioxide won’t be converted into oxygen. Also the water pollutions caused by our usage of oils kill corals that are important for the earth in order to absorb the carbon dioxide in the ocean. Hence, it is more than 90% absolute that global warming is caused by humans. Some scientists say that even if every single person in the world stops using cars in the next few years, global warming will be almost unstoppable. Still, global warming is not new to the earth. It has constantly been happening every few centuries and after each one there has always been an ice age. The ice age coming after the global warming has always been effected by the size of the global warming. If the warming was in a small scale, the ice age was in a small scale too. When the warming was in a huge scale, so was the ice age. Compare the global warming today, and the last warming few decades ago. The difference is clear. There has not been any warming that is increasing in such a rapid speed in a high rate. Its scale is massive. This can mean that the ice age coming up will be immense.

It is clear that that we some how have a connection to global warming somehow. It is said that an average American uses about 6,800 kg of carbon dioxide each year just from house energy. What can we do to prevent this major phenomenon? Something easy to do is to begin with our homes. We can exchange our light bulbs with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). It uses 60% less energy than a normal light bulb. Also half of the carbon dioxide comes from heating and cooling our dwellings. If people set their air conditioners down to 2°C less in the winter and 2°C more during summer, about 910 kg of carbon dioxide can be saved each year. Cleaning our air conditioners regularly can save us about 160 kg of carbon dioxide each year.

A few adjustments can make a big difference and can, not only save the world but also your money. I think that we are facing a very serious problem. I am really worried that it will be too late for us by the time we are the age of 50 or 60. Though I don’t own fluorescent light bulbs I do try not to use the air conditioner or the heater and my family recycles pet bottles. I have watched the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” and I think that it is a very resourceful movie. If you are interested in global warming or in the movie please watch it. I think it will give you the awareness that we are going through something unpredictable, fragile and very dangerous. The curiosity to learn and the will to do something about global warming can preserve the earth’s beauty and spare our lives.
============================================================
Kids' Guide to Global Warming: How We Can Make a Difference
By Michael

Global Warming is the increase of temperature in the atmosphere. Solar rays travel to the earth. Some stay in the atmosphere and keep the earth warm, and some rays bounce right off the earth. This controls the earth's temperature. But in recent years, greenhouse gases have been trapping solar rays, causing the earth's temperature to rise. One type of greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2). We, humans, emit a lot of CO2 everyday. This means humans are indirectly responsible for allowing some species to become extinct. By now, I think you know that global warming doesn't mean a nice warm vacation right at home but a catastrophe in climate.

Leaders of the world are starting to recognize this problem. However, global warming cannot be stopped by a couple of leaders. Individuals like us need to help. This doesn't mean you have to plant a whole rain forest but all the things we do to help can count. Simple things like unplugging the TV when you're not using it or raising the temperature of your cooler, can help the earth. If you're thinking that the adults will do it all, boy you are wrong. Some aren't even aware of what's going on. If Global Warming keeps on going, it's our generation that's gonna get most affected. In the end it's your choice, all I can do is inform you. So, If you're willing to help, read on. If you're not, don't even bother. Just remember, regret is a very bad feeling. Especially when you could've prevented it easily.

Before we explore the ways of reducing our CO2 emission, let's find out how much we emit. When we reduce as much as we have emitted, we become carbon neutral. This is our goal. You're probably wondering what emits a lot of CO2 and what doesn't. It's not too hard to guess that airplanes emit the most CO2. Cars emit a lot of CO2. America emits the most CO2. If a person walked instead of driving 10 miles, they would eliminate 500 pounds of CO2 (in America).

As you can see, reducing CO2 is not that hard. Here are some simple ways to reduce CO2 that I found on Al Gore's website, http://www.climatecrisis.net and April 9th issue of the Time Magazine featuring the Global Warming Survival Guide.
• Use fluorescent light bulbs
• Use a clothesline or a energy efficient laundry machine
• Donate old clothes
• Turn the temperature up on your cooler and down on your heater
• Eat less Beef
• Eat local fresh food
• Carry around your own bag instead of collecting plastic bags
• Dress appropriately for the temperature
• Unplug electronics that aren't being used
• Use less packaging

These steps aren't hard. If everybody pitches in, we can stop global warming. So, spread the word. Remind your parents. You can even write letters to government officials. Just remember that although we are kids, we can have a big impact on the world.