The Earth is in Our Hands
In today’s society, amidst problems such as the economy and foreign relations, there is a bigger problem that plagues our country: the state of our environment. With every passing day, we spill thousands of pounds of toxins into the atmosphere, destroy our ecosystems, and deplete our natural resources. Not only is this an issue within the United States but with the world as well. Often times, the environment takes a back seat to other political and global issues. For decades, activists have been trying to increase the public’s awareness on matters related to the environment. More recently in the 21st century, globally networked environmental activists have begun to use social media to spread their message and call the public to arms in a race against time to help our Earth.
Here is a political cartoon, edited with Al Gore's head on the body of a scientist.
One of the biggest issues our environment faces is Greenhouse gases and carbon in the atmosphere. Carbon is a naturally occurring element, however the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is largely due to human activity. Carbon is also the primary greenhouse gas, accounting for “84% of all greenhouse gases in 2011” (EPA). As humans, we have been altering the Earth’s natural carbon cycle since the rise of industrialization. Not only do we produce more carbon, but we also reduce ecosystems that process carbon naturally, such as forests. According to this chart on the United States Environmental Protection Agency website, the breakdown of carbon emissions is as follows: 38% comes from electricity, 31% from transportation, 14% form industry, 10% from residential and commercial, and 6% from other (non-fossil) fuel combustion. Between the years 1991 and 2011, carbon emissions in the United States have increased by 10%.
This chart depicts US consumption of Carbon between 1991 and 2011.
As mankind scours the Earth for more fossil fuels, the oceans are being targeted as the “next frontier”. Offshore Oil Drilling began in attempts to quench the thirst the industrial world had for oil. The first rig was built in 1897 off of a wharf in California, and today they are monumental structures that can house hundreds of people and descend miles into the ocean. Oil companies have invested billions of dollars into the developmental process of these machines and actually finding the oil buried deep beneath the sea. Currently, there are 111 active offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and countless more around the world. Given the complicated nature of pulling matter out of the ocean floor, offshore rigs often can cause massive environmental damages. In the 2010 BP Deppwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, “more than 200 million gallons of crude oil was pumped into the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 87 days, making it the biggest oil spill in U.S. history” (dosomething.org).
Here, a boat cruises through a trail of oil left by the Deepwater Horizon Spill in 2010.
Another crucial aspect to our environment, glaciers are large sheets of ice and snow that have been forming for thousands of years. Glaciers exist all over the world, particularly in mountainous regions such as Alaska, the Andes, the Alps, and Antarctica. Each year, some of the glacier melts off and snow builds up to make up for the lost mass. This natural occurrence is altered as humans continue to warm the earth, making glaciers melt faster than they can accrue new snow. Montana’s Glacier National Park was founded in 1910 in an effort to conserve the beauty of its estimated 150 glaciers. Today, barely over a century later, there are fewer than 30 glaciers in the Park. In the Garhwal Himalaya region of India, “glaciers are retreating so fast that researchers believe that most central and eastern Himalayan glaciers could virtually disappear by 2035” (Glick, Nat Geo). As the glaciers melt, they cause seas levels to rise and warm at a rapid pace that could endanger the lives of humans living on coasts around the world.
This is the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia, Argentina.
Within all of this destruction, faint glimmers of hope can be seen through the organizations that work tirelessly to stop the devastation. 350.org is a worldwide movement aimed and protecting the environment and reducing the current amount of carbon in the atmosphere (392ppm) to the scientifically safe 350ppm. The 350Vermont movement is one of the biggest in our country, and according to their website, their ultimate goals for the state of Vermont and its citizens are as follows: “100% renewable energy for ALL Vermonters; Energy Efficient homes and buildings for ALL Vermonters; Local, healthy food for ALL Vermonters, Green Transport for ALL Vermonters, Community forests for ALL Vermonters; Green jobs for ALL Vermonters” (350.org). The leaders at this organization get their word out by email, and use petitions and subscribers to get followers for their cause. They also have a calendar on their website that lets visitors know of all the events they host, which are usually multiple per day. Following their February sponsorship of the “Climate Action Now” day at the Vermont state house, they created a social media website to keep the conversation going and to further express their ideas. They are also available on Facebook and twitter to further spread their message.
350.org's recognizable logo in front of smokestacks releasing toxins into the air.
Arguably the most known environmental activist group, Greenpeace is a global organization, and the largest environmental organization in the world. Their mission is simply stated on the website homepage: “Our only bottom line is a green and peaceful future…personal action based on personal responsibility” (Greenpeace.org). They have worked to protect the Earth’s forests and oceans, and to stop global warming since its founding in 1971. On the organization’s website, there is a feature called “Greenpeace Greenwire” which allows volunteers all across the country connect with other volunteers and activists working on campaigns to meet virtually and plan events, share multimedia, and blog their stories. Greenpeace has more than1.5 million followers on Facebook, and over 1 million on twitter. On the latter platform, they use hashtags such as #SavetheArctic so allow their followers quick and easy access to their campaigns and links.
Greenpeace activist Phillip Ball is released from Russian prison following Greenpeace's campaign aginst oil drilling in the Russian Arctic.
Sea Shepherd is another non-profit organization that has been protecting the oceans since 1977. Their mission “is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species” (Seashepherd.org). They have a fleet of ships they sail around the world, clad in signature markings, in attempts to stop those who harm marine life and habitat. Sea Shepherd is currently running campaigns or “operations” in the defense of Dolphins, Bluefin Tuna, Whales, Sharks, Sea Lions, Seals, Reefs, the Galapagos, and Gulf Rescue Oil Spill. Some of their achievements against the whaling industry are highlighted on their website, including “Ramming and disabling the notorious pirate whaler, the Sierra, shutting down half of the Spanish whaling fleet, documentation of whaling activities in the Faeroe Islands chronicled in the BBC documentary Black Harvest, scuttling half of the Icelandic whaling fleet and whale processing station, scuttling of the Norwegian whaling vessels Nybraena and Senet, Confronting and opposing Japan's illegal whaling in Antarctica” (Seashepherd.org).
The head of a whale in front of dozens of whale carcasses, murdered at the hands of the Japanese Whaling industry is shown next to the Sea Shepherd logo.
More often than not, the environment takes a backseat to supposedly more “pressing” issues. But the fact of the matter is, if the Earth is in ruins, the fossil fuels are gone, and the food chains vanish, there won’t be an Earth left. Conflict will always exist, there will always be human rights issues, but at the rate the United States and the rest of the world are consuming what precious materials we have, life as we know it will end, and all that is green and good in this world will be gone. It is now in the hands of the population, and under the guidance of organizations such as 350, Greenpeace, and Sea Shepherd to help out Mother Nature. Through new digital media platforms, their messages can be spread throughout the country and the world in order to educate its peoples and aim for a better, greener future.
Wind turbines in a field symbolize hope for a greener future in the United States.
Works Cited
"Carbon Dioxide Emissions." EPA.
Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
<<http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html>>
"Greenpeace Is the Largest Independent
Direct-action Environmental Organization in the World." Greenpeace.
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
Horton, Jennifer. "Why Is Offshore Drilling
so Controversial?" HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 11 Aug.
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25 Mar. 2014.
<<
http://www.seashepherd.org/campaigns>>
"Signs From Earth: The Big Thaw." National
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"Vermont – About." Vermont –
About. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
<<http://world.350.org/vermont/about/>>
"Weekly Rig Count." Offshore
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<<
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"11 Facts about the BP Oil
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