Issue 13: Do Falling Birth Rates Pose a Threat to Health Welfare?

Issue 13

Do Falling Birth Rates Pose a Threat to Health Welfare?

Authors: Michael Meyer and David Nicholson-Lord

1. (2pts) Definitions. List the important new terms and concepts used by the author. Define terms with which you were not familiar. Circle those that you think need clarification and discussion. Minimum 4.

a. carrying capacity – considering the available space, food, and other resources in a habitat, this refers to the ability of the habitat to sustain a certain number of individuals within a population.

b. birth dearth – a newer word that refers to a falling fertility rate.

c. depopulation – removing or reducing the overall population.

d. population age – the average age of a population.

e. portend – somewhat like giving an omen or sign.

2. (4pts) Summary. In your own words, summarize the themes and key points developed in this chapter, article, or section of an assigned book. Write as if you were the author telling another educated person what you were trying to say in the assigned piece. In this section, do not give your opinion. Present the arguments and themes of the assigned author.

Michael Myer, of Newsweek, states that the world population will decline in 2050 and economic growth with stagnate. Young people will have to bear the burden of supporting more elderly and quality of life will suffer.

Overpopulation has led to environmental degradation, famine, poverty, war, diseases, and scarce energy resources. The world’s population is increasing, but it is projected to decline after 2050.

Developed nations have declining birth rates, not even enough to sustain the current population. However, developing nations are set to triple in size by 2050. The decline in developed countries is occurring regardless of whether or not that country is utilizing birth control programs or birth incentive programs.

Exceptions to this declining tread among developed nations are found in the Middle East, which is expected to double in the next 20 years. However, this is considered to be found decrease in infant mortality and the increase is expected to cease after the 20 years and the population will then age more rapidly than other parts of the globe.

Despite the AIDS epidemic in Africa, the population there is expected to grow; along with that, so is the United States population. Women’s rights and education has a huge effect on the decrease of fertility rates.

After 2015, the labor pool of China will begin to dry up because of their one child policy, Chinese economist Hu Angang says.

Demographic change, result in a magnification of societal and economical problems. For example, welfare will be increasingly taxed by an aging population. Tensions may rise – is immigration to declining population developed nations from developing nations increase, the desire to preserve culture and national unity will increase.

In the next 45 years, the United States alone stands to gain 100 million people from a combination of stable population growth and relatively free immigration laws. However, environmental factors will benefit from a decreasing human population.

David Nicholson-Lord, from New Statesman, refutes this belief and states that the population decline will result in less overcrowding, less violence, a less materialistically based world that is environmentally better off than we are now. With less people in the world, there would be less pollution produced, a decreased need for energy supply and fossil fuel usage, more land available per person, and to the environment.

There would be reduced competitiveness in jobs, crowds, educational placements, and social niches. There would also be less crime with an aging population. Younger people are more likely to commit crimes, so without as many, crime would therefore decrease.

He believes that by just being realistic in policies and behaviors, population decline does not have to entail doom. Some of the policy changes are: commit more to savings, consume less, investments in preventative health measures, a more productive labor force, and increase in retirement age, bring retired persons back into the workforce, penalties for ageism, and making jobs more attractive with added incentives to work.

3. (3pts) Creative Reaction and Integration. Record some of your own ideas that came to you as you were reading and thinking about the issue or issues the author is discussing. Formulate these in well-written sentences, develop them as best you can, and relate them to the author’s discussion and possibly to other readings and course themes.

The growth of the human population is not good because we’re overpopulating the earth and causing too many environmental stains on our planet. But yet, a decline in human population also spells doom! Without the huge working force, the economy will decline, standards of living will decrease, and government programs will also have to cease. It seems that there are too many Malthus’s in the world today. Hasn’t anyone learned from him that you cannot predict too much about the population impacts in the future because you aren’t aware of the possibly technologies that population will benefit from?

Couldn’t it be because we cannot afford six children in today’s economy? Both parents to afford many children and we might not have the time available for such parenting.

They say that with less people in the world, there wouldn’t be as much competition in jobs. Yet, with fewer consumers, wouldn’t there be less need for as many employees? Wouldn’t the business world’s requirement for workers reflect the requirements placed upon them by demand for service or products? It seems counterintuitive that these would not correlate.

4. (2pts) Opinion – Not graded, 2 points awarded if completed.

Perhaps I’m looking too much on the environmental side of this situation, but I believe population decline to be a beneficial thing. We have strained our world so much, the climate is now changing. I do not think this is a bad thing, then, that less people, less consumption, and less need is demanded of our world. Also, the decrease in violence seems an added bonus.

Issue 4: Is BioDiversity Overprotected?

Issue 4

Is Biodiversity Overprotected?

Authors: David N. Laband and Howard Youth

1. (2pts) Definitions. List the important new terms and concepts used by the author. Define terms with which you were not familiar. Circle those that you think need clarification and discussion. Minimum 4.

a. tragedy of the commons (introduced by Garrett Hardin) – the conflict of the individual and common good, wherein the common good has the least invested upon it and the individual ends up bearing the load of the work, costs, etc.

b. tragedy of the political commons – similar to the tragedy of the commons, although in this case, a political environment is added to stigmatize or otherwise punish an individual who does not comply to the ‘common good’ and bear the brunt of efforts.

c. biodiversity – the variation of life forms within an ecosystem. The value of biodiversity is normally divided up with intrinsic and instrumental values. Intrinsic is basically that we have diverse life forms here – isn’t that great? And aren’t they pretty? Instrumental value lies more with what use we or the ecosystem gets from such a diverse array of organisms.

d. exotics – nonnative species in an area that characteristically overtake the habitat because of a lack of natural predators and non-adapted prey.

2. (4pts) Summary. In your own words, summarize the themes and key points developed in this chapter, article, or section of an assigned book. Write as if you were the author telling another educated person what you were trying to say in the assigned piece. In this section, do not give your opinion. Present the arguments and themes of the assigned author.

David N. Laband, a professor of economics, provides the positive argument. He believes that biodiversity is protected only because political leaders and citizens do not have to bear the burdens of it.

He points out that we desire the reduction of timber being cut, but we still want to have housing, furniture, paper, and paper products. We want our cake and to eat it too. He says we can’t have it both ways.

He believes the urbanites, which do not have to pay any direct payment to preserving biodiversity. The costs of such preservation falls upon land owners, who are now required, for instance, to replant within two years an equal amount of timber that they have cut.

He quotes Garrett Hardin, who uses a sheep herder as an example. Sheep will graze the land until there is nothing left of it. A sheep herder will increase his sheep herd to create gains in profits. “Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit – in a world that is limited. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in society that believes in freedom of the commons.” (p. 57)

He also points out that there are currently no incentives for land owners to allow an endangered species on their land. As the Endangered Species Act is so restrictive, a person can no longer use her land as she wants or needs to. So, he says, it is understood why landowners will “shoot, shovel, and shut up” when sighting an endangered animal. This does not help our biodiversity, the goals of the ESA, or satisfy the landowners. But they do it because they have to.

When urbanites claim to appreciate biodiversity, he says, look at their lawns. They use chemicals and lawnmowers, grass trimmers and brush hogs in order to keep their lawns looking fresh and neat – the exact opposite of biodiversity. And even though they pay for such treatments to their own lawns, it is obvious where their value is placed more highly.

He concludes by saying that it is irresponsible that land owners should bear the financial burden of environmental protections, but reiterates that for as long as we all do not share the burden of protecting the environment and its biodiversity, those removed from the costs will vote on ideology and not actual practice.

Howard Youth, a wildlife conservation research and writer, argues for the negative side. He believes we need to protect our biodiversity for our future and for our economy. He points to bird extinction in his article, and says the threats they have to deal with are habitat loss, human disasters, and disease. Bird extinction is now 50 times the natural rate of extinction.

Human population expansion from 1.6 billion to 6 billion in the last century contributes largely to the greatest threat: habitat loss birds and other life forms are experiencing. Almost half of the world’s forests have been claimed by farms, pastures, and settlements, and for timber. Only 4% of North America’s grasslands remain. Spain has lost an estimated 60-70% of its wetlands since the 1940s. Mountains are now looked to as the last terrain, and with their steep elevation, have narrower strips of habitat. Human invasion of mountains is already evident by the removal of mid-elevation forests, which has led to severe erosion problems that have affected humans and birds alike.

Exotic species can wreck havoc on their new habitats as well. They lack their natural predator and their prey is ill-adapted for them, and so they decrease the biodiversity of a region dramatically. The estimated annual cost of the damage exotics plague on our nation and the cost of measures to control them are not $137 billion.

Other human activities adversely affect bird populations as well – hunting for sport, poaching, smuggling, global warming, and pesticide use. Just by our efforts to control some contaminants – PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDT, bird populations have rebounded.

There are conservational programs that work, offering some hope. In Florida, the Florida Ecological Network has been established. It targets the most diverse remaining habitats and wildlife and plans to protect and provide for these areas. They secure funding to buy acres of land in need of protection and turn it over to government protection or it is kept for private preserves. The cost for this is an annual $105 million. Here’s something that the people in Mr. Laband’s examples would appreciate: “Some properties are held in conservation easements, under which property owners receive state payments or tax incentives in return for managing property as wildlife habitat.” (p. 66)

3. (3pts) Creative Reaction and Integration. Record some of your own ideas that came to you as you were reading and thinking about the issue or issues the author is discussing. Formulate these in well-written sentences, develop them as best you can, and relate them to the author’s discussion and possibly to other readings and course themes.

Laband uses a similar argument that is used in Issue 8, where the author makes the claim, with supporting evidence, that ideology can be strong as we would like it to be, but when it comes to practical application, ideology falls short.

4. (2pts) Opinion – Not graded, 2 points awarded if completed.

I don’t think biodiversity is overprotected, but I believe that we should all bear the burden of the costs. We all require much of our world, and companies and people are often vilified for extracting that resource for our use. For example, we hate oil companies for what they do to the environment, but we fill our cars and heat our homes from their efforts. We must all be found guilty of hurting the environment, and we must all be responsible for its care.

Issue 7: Should the Military Be Exempt from Environmental Regulations?

Issue 7

Should the Military Be Exempt from Environmental Regulations?

Authors: Benedict S. Cohen and Jamie Clark

1. (2pts) Definitions. List the important new terms and concepts used by the author. Define terms with which you were not familiar. Circle those that you think need clarification and discussion. Minimum 4.

a. ordnance – any military equipment: from vehicles to ammunition to weapons.

b. bed-down – a military term for settling a new device or person into a situation or setting.

c. encroachment – building on someone else’s property either by intent or accident.

d. critical habitat designation – “(1) specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing, if they contain physical or biological features essential to conservation, and those features may require special management considerations or protection; and (2) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species if the agency determines that the area itself is essential for conservation.” (NOAA Website)

2. (4pts) Summary. In your own words, summarize the themes and key points developed in this chapter, article, or section of an assigned book. Write as if you were the author telling another educated person what you were trying to say in the assigned piece. In this section, do not give your opinion. Present the arguments and themes of the assigned author.

Benedict Cohen provides the positive viewpoint. His side comes from his testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on April 2, 2003. He believes that the environmental regulations placed upon the military by the government interfere with their activities. If removed, he claims that they would continue care for the land provided them.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has been entrusted with 25 million acres of land by the U.S. government. The efforts they make to protect the environment are: (1) “investing in pollution prevention technologies to minimize or reduce pollution”, (2) “managing endangered and threatened species and all of our natural resources,” and (3) “cleaning up contamination from past practices.” (p. 111)

However, the ability to train and the restrictions placed upon the military by environmental legislation has limited their ability to maintain the readiness of American military forces. In his testimony, he requests five changes in the provisions:

1. “Authorize use of Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans in appropriate circumstances as a substitute for critical habitat designation”

2. “Reform obsolete and unscientific elements of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, such as the definition of “harassment,” and add a national security exemption to that statute;”

3. “Modestly extend the allowable time for military readiness activities like bed-down of new weapons systems to comply with Clean Air Act”

4. “Limit regulation of munitions on operational ranges under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), if and only if those munitions and their associated constituents remain there, and only while the range remains operational.” (p. 112)

He anticipated the critique that these proposals would be sweeping and that other federal agencies would follow suit. “Accordingly, our proposals are neither sweeping nor exceptive; to the contrary, it is our critics who urge us to rely on wholesale, repeated use of emergency exemptions for routine, ongoing readiness activities that could easily be accommodated by minor clarifications and changes to existing law.” (p. 114)

The negative side of the argument is from a testimony before the same committee on the same date by Jamie Clark, part of the National Wildlife Federation. The proposal to lessen the environmental responsibility of the DoD to conserve wildlife and not pollute with hazardous chemicals is “unjustified and dangerous.” (p. 121)

There are three main reasons she believes these exemptions should not be made:

1. Other agencies with important missions will attempt to copy and capitalize on this opportunity to gain exemptions.

2. Eliminating critical habitat designation on DoD lands would remove an essential tool for protecting and recovering species.

3. The DoD can and has achieved readiness objectives while complying with ESA (Endangered Species Act). In 2001, there were no ‘jeopardy’ rulings by the ESA when consulting with the DoD so they were not hampered by these provisions.

It appears that the DoD has attempted to make the conflicts seem more unsolvable and the need for exemption greater. In an internal memo to the chiefs of the armed forces, the “implicit message is that efforts at the installation level to resolve conflicts between conservation and training objectives should be suspended, and that such conflicts instead should be reported to the Pentagon, where environmental protections will simply be overridden.” (p. 128)

This proposition has been passed in the Senate in 2003; however the House decided not to even consider it. The DoD is seeking exemptions once again, in April 2006; this is the fifth successive year.

3. (3pts) Creative Reaction and Integration. Record some of your own ideas that came to you as you were reading and thinking about the issue or issues the author is discussing. Formulate these in well-written sentences, develop them as best you can, and relate them to the author’s discussion and possibly to other readings and course themes.

It sounds sinister to ask for a definition of harassment when referring to marine animals. Why do they need these extensions and exceptions? The military seems to have no concern for the environment in the least. History of wars and conflicts proves such a thought with “scorched earth” wars. The environment is to be exploited to our advantage, according to the official military stance.

It seems as though the Pentagon was trying to make it appear as though there was a greater conflict than actually existed, in order to get the support needed from Congress to amend the environmental laws. This seems like a dirty trick, but we see it all the time in politics. Make it fresh in the mind and its significance will soar.

4. (2pts) Opinion – Not graded, 2 points awarded if completed.

I believe what the military is trying to pull off is shameful. They would have the entire world changed in order to fight this war and it’s high time we tell them no! They can’t take our rights away in order to “find the few” who are here and wanting to kill us. They can’t lie to us and then require our money for this war they wage. The officials at the Pentagon have painted this war and what we need to do about it in every single way but the truth. It’s frustrating and this article is another example of their deception.

Issue 2: Is Sustainable Development Compatible with Human Welfare?

Issue 2

Is Sustainable Development Compatible with Human Welfare?

Authors: Jeremy Rifkin and Ronald Bailey

1. (2pts) Definitions. List the important new terms and concepts used by the author. Define terms with which you were not familiar. Circle those that you think need clarification and discussion. Minimum 4.

a. sustainable development – “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (p. 20-21)

b. profligate – shamelessly immoral

c. confab – short for “confabulation”, which means discussion

d. vacillates – to change opinion or stance.

2. (4pts) Summary. In your own words, summarize the themes and key points developed in this chapter, article, or section of an assigned book. Write as if you were the author telling another educated person what you were trying to say in the assigned piece. In this section, do not give your opinion. Present the arguments and themes of the assigned author.

Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economic Trends, argues for the positive viewpoint. He claims that by the history of our continents, America and Europe are fundamentally different. Americans pursue individualistic success and “the American dream”, while Europeans settle for communal happiness and quality of life. Americans are 28% wealthier than Europeans, but, he claims, Europeans have a higher quality of life because they are not competitive.

Because of this, our viewpoints on nature and its sustainability vary as well. Europeans look more to the interconnectedness that nature provides while Americans see things individualized or packaged in compartments.

Europeans employ the precautionary principle, and Rifkin champions this policy as the best way to protect nature and life form well-being. Americans, however, have never signed this policy into law and will most likely not do so in the future.

Ronald Bailey, an environmental journalist, provides the negative side of the argument. He believes that economic growth is the only way to eradicate poverty and improve the environment. He says, “[p]overty eradication is clearly crucial to preventing environmental degradation, too, since there is nothing more environmentally destructive than a hungry human.” (p. 30) He mocks the ‘Greens’ who, after the World Summit on Sustainable Development, complained that they failed to accomplish anything because he says, they wished for the summit to “set the international agenda for sweeping environmental reform over the next 15 years.” (p. 29)

What they desire, Bailey claims, is an end to economic growth and globalization. Globalization, they say, is the bane of the developing world. Yet, the UN reports that “[d]uring the 1990s the economies of developing countries that were integrated into the world economy grew more than twice as fast as the rich countries. The ‘non-globalizers’ grew only half as fast and continue to lag further behind.” (p. 30)

3. (3pts) Creative Reaction and Integration. Record some of your own ideas that came to you as you were reading and thinking about the issue or issues the author is discussing. Formulate these in well-written sentences, develop them as best you can, and relate them to the author’s discussion and possibly to other readings and course themes.

Show me a soccer or football game as they call it, game and then tell me again that Europeans aren’t competitive.

He praises Europe for their spoken commitment for the entire paper, but very briefly acknowledges that Europe’s actual commitments remain weak and not concrete. People and governments can say all they want and it will sound good, but it is actions that make policy and decide the changes that occur. All he could give as an example was Europe’s opposition to genetically modified foods, which they finally decided to use after many regulations and tests, labeling, and additional research after the product made it to the public.

4. (2pts) Opinion – Not graded, 2 points awarded if completed.

Rifkin seems to flaunt over the Europeans and his narrow view that they are all nature-loving conservationists, filled with unity and interconnectedness. Europe has its own problems, and I don’t buy this at all.

I do not think that anyone has the right to regulate our reproduction or capitalist interests because they are concerned about sustainability. The economy cannot stagnate so that future generations have a world to live in, because the world the future would receive would be degenerated and poor, desolate and weak. I would rather the future inherit wealth and strength, security and national pride, with the desire to explore more frontiers – just like our ancestors did and we do now, as Americans.

Issue 12: Is It Time to Revive Nuclear Power?

Issue 12

Is It Time to Revive Nuclear Power?

Authors: Michael J. Wallace and the Editors of Public Concern

1. (2pts) Definitions. List the important new terms and concepts used by the author. Define terms with which you were not familiar. Circle those that you think need clarification and discussion. Minimum 4.

a. capital-intensive – refers to the initial costs of a project, which, in the case of nuclear energy, is very high.

b. nuclear versus nucleur (for our President) – nuclear refers to the process of creating energy and to cohesiveness, such as a family. Nucleur is not a real word. It might be confusing for some people because the nucleus of a cell is spelled with a ‘u’ and implies cohesiveness as well.

c. nuclear meltdown – Occurs when the control and cooling of the reactor core of a plant fails and the fission reaction and products can overheat the system, reducing the ability of the containers to contain the radiation. There is high risk of releasing high radioactivity to the environment.

d. deregulation – refers to the whole or part removal of government regulations on an industry, in this case the electricity industry, and includes the removal of price control. Prices are then left to be subjected by market forces.

2. (4pts) Summary. In your own words, summarize the themes and key points developed in this chapter, article, or section of an assigned book. Write as if you were the author telling another educated person what you were trying to say in the assigned piece. In this section, do not give your opinion. Present the arguments and themes of the assigned author.

Michael J. Wallace, Executive Vice President of Constellation Energy, argues for the positive. He lists the many benefits to nuclear energy: (1) does not burn any fossil fuel, (2) does not emit air pollution or contribute to smog or haze, (3) does not depend on any foreign resource to fuel our country, thereby strengthening our independence, (4) does not emit carbon dioxide and therefore does not contribute to the ever-growing problem of global warming. He says that with the security measures in place to keep nuclear energy safe, the only problem remaining with nuclear energy is not having enough of it.

Nuclear energy satisfies 20% of all American energy needs, and has 103 reactors operating today. Nuclear reactors are currently operating at 90% capacity. Public opinion has increased in favor for nuclear power over the years, as well. 80% of Americans feel that nuclear power is an important part of our energy future and 67% favor its use. 60% agree that there should be new power plants built nearby existing power plants in order to satisfy our energy needs.

We rely too much on natural gas. Over the past five years, 90% of new generators were fueled by natural gas. Our over reliance upon this fuel leaves us vulnerable to insecurity both internationally and domestically. We cannot face the foreign affairs with the objectivity needed if we are reliant on another country’s export of oil. Also, we are vulnerable to price spikes and supply disruptions. We are putting all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak.

New nuclear power plants can offer stability in the market, by offering the vital energy at a set price to consumers, and by reducing the overwhelming demand for natural gas. Without the high demand for natural gas, users of natural gas do not have to pay for the higher competition and when supply is low, they are not paying higher. Nuclear power plants produce electricity that otherwise would be supplied by oil, gas, or coal and would therefore not have emissions that these technologies are subject to.

Unfortunately, it seems that the nuclear power industry requires funding through Congress. In 2006, the Administration pledged $56 million to the Nuclear Power 2010 Program, and they still need more to go ahead with building new plants. Nuclear technology is capital-intensive, but leaves the market with a price stability unfound in other energy technologies.

The negative argument, authored by the editors of Public Citizen, argues that nuclear energy is too unreliable and too risky to rely upon. They instead insist that we move to clean and renewable energy sources that are safe. They call for legislators to pursue energy that is safe and clean, sustainable, is regulated, and that in essence, places the citizens’ energy needs before the corporate need for profits.

They feel as though nuclear energy is unreliable (evidenced by the Northeast and Midwest blackout of 2003), over budgeted (e.g. the Grand Gulf in Mississippi) by tax-payers, and unsafe (Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island). The possible risks of a nuclear power plant are: (1) the rupture and degradation of the steam generator tube could cause a nuclear meltdown and at least sixteen occasions of this has occurred since 1975; (2) the degradation of reactor vessels and its components could lead to a loss of coolant and exposure to the reactor, which would lead to a meltdown (occurred in March 1987 at Turkey Point 4 in Florida but was prevented from a meltdown by a quarter inch of stainless steel); (3) overall cutting corners with safety and inspections on both parts of the energy companies and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission puts all of us at risk.

Nuclear reactors are powered off-site, and the blackout or any power loss causes the plant to go on emergency generators for safety operations while they shutdown. They have to have power to keep the coolant circulating to prevent the reactor core from overheating and thus, having a meltdown. Nuclear power plants rely on diesel fuelled backup generators. However, between the dates of September 2002 and August 2003, there have been fifteen reported failures of the backup generators. On seven of these occasions, the plant had to shut down. And on four of those occasions, all the backups failed all at once! Of the nuclear power plants that are subject to the power grid that failed in 2003, four out of nine had to be shut down because their backup power generator failed.

Why are the backup generators so important? According to the editors of Public Citizen, “[w]ithout emergency generators, steam and battery power provide a “last chance” means to cool a reactor and stave off a meltdown. The batteries can operate for between two and eight hours; but in the recent blackout, Detroit did not see full power returned until Saturday, August 16, over 36 hours after power first went out. Had the emergency generators failed during this timeframe – as they did in the aforementioned situations – a nuclear meltdown and widespread radioactive release is rendered not at all beyond possibility.” (p. 222) So grand power outages demonstrate a great risk of nuclear power.

If there were a power outrage, and if a meltdown were eminent, what response can the public have and how would they be aware of such an event? There are emergency sirens in place to alert the public; however, these are powered by the same power grid as the nuclear plant is on. Therefore, in a blackout, they would be rendered inoperable.

But, even with a warning, all the public can do is evacuate the area. Evacuation plans are formed by local emergency personnel. However, former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director James Lee Witt found many of these evacuation plans to be inadequate in 2003. Even the local EMS services are not confident of their ability to aid the general public. One hundred seventy-five Indian Point-area first responders signed a petition to FEMA, voicing their concerns that their best efforts could not organize an evacuation or in any other way protect the public from a meltdown. The nuclear power plant at Indian Point is near New York City and a potential twenty million lives would be at stake.

Spent fuel, or irradiated fuel, is submerged in large pools of water. Irradiated fuel has more radioactivity on average yet is kept in a less secure tank than the original fuel. Also, the backup generators do not power these fuel pools. Without power, they cannot keep the water circulating and it can lead to the exposure of the fuel rods, which leads to a fire and meltdown. The greatest risk is when new irradiated fuel is added to the fuel pool from the reactor chamber. Most reactors refuel every eighteen months. If a blackout or other power loss were to happen during this time, the public would burden the risks.

The sixteen reactors that submitted applications to renew their operators’ licenses were accepted. But most of these reactors, they claim, are falling apart and need repair. Beyond that, most of the repair efforts have been akin to patching a hole on a submarine. The most reliable thing about a nuclear plant is that is it dangerous. And the irresponsible attitude of legislators and regulators is not helping the situation.

The push for the energy bills in the House and the Senate do not address the blackout danger and other dangers demonstrated by a nuclear plant. Yet, it allows for incentives to nuclear operators and research and development, and promotes the construction of new nuclear power plants. The House subsidizes $3.2 billion and the Senate provides $1.5 billion to the nuclear industry. This foolish attitude by the legislative branch of the United States government is costly to the taxpayer and puts its citizens at great risk.

3. (3pts) Creative Reaction and Integration. Record some of your own ideas that came to you as you were reading and thinking about the issue or issues the author is discussing. Formulate these in well-written sentences, develop them as best you can, and relate them to the author’s discussion and possibly to other readings and course themes.

Nuclear energy does not produce the waste that burning fossil fuels does. In that, it seems a viable solution to our energy problem. We would not be caught up with the many problems in the Middle East – at least, not so much as we currently are. We could be a stronger country by relying more on nuclear power.

However, nuclear power is dangerous. The risks involved and the price for the initial building and security guards are great. Human mistakes with such a volatile substance would result horrendously.

What solution can we find? Is it possible to have nuclear energy, with all its benefits and shortcomings, to supply our nation’s ever-growing need? Is there a reason to have the plants so close to humans? Couldn’t we have the plants out in the middle of nowhere and feed our nation energy from nuclear power at a safe and secure distance?

Congress would have to be involved to look steadfastly at the nuclear corporations and the needs of the citizens it is supposed to protect from danger and greed, and say, “Well, we need this energy, but we also need to be safe from danger,” not weigh the greed more heavily than the needs of citizens.

4. (2pts) Opinion – Not graded, 2 points awarded if completed.

I’m finding this hard to stomach. I read the pro argument and was completely convinced of the value of nuclear energy. But then, I read the con argument and am appalled that they aren’t policing the situation any better. After reading both, I must say I’m still convinced on the value of hydrogen fuel and wind and solar power. I believe the reason we aren’t just powering our homes and businesses with solar and wind power and our cars with hydrogen is because of corporate and political greed. They can’t really regulate and control solar and wind power because it’s free – all the consumer needs is the equipment. It’s distressing to think that our lives, health, and safety are put at risk because some elite few want to make more money.

Issue 9: Should the U.S. Be Doing More to Combat Global Warming?

Should the U.S. Be Doing More to Combat Global Warming?

Authors: Jerald L. Schnoor and the Bush Administration

1. (2pts) Definitions. List the important new terms and concepts used by the author. Define terms with which you were not familiar. Circle those that you think need clarification and discussion. Minimum 4.

a. animal husbandry - the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock

b. biogeothermal cycle – refers to the symbiotic relationship between the Earth and humans. Human activity can alter the Earth, and the Earth, in this case, the atmosphere will change. This resulting change impacts on humans and other life forms.

c. albedo – “(Latin for white) commonly used to apply to the overall average reflection coefficient of an object. The greenhouse effect, by trapping infrared radiation, can lower the albedo of the earth and cause global warming.” (Source: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/albedo.html)

d. arrears - a legal term for the type of debt which is overdue after missing a payment.

2. (4pts) Summary. In your own words, summarize the themes and key points developed in this chapter, article, or section of an assigned book. Write as if you were the author telling another educated person what you were trying to say in the assigned piece. In this section, do not give your opinion. Present the arguments and themes of the assigned author.

The positive argument argues that global warming does exist and that human activity is to blame. Consequently, we must take drastic measures to reduce carbon dioxide levels within our atmosphere to curb the climate change. This relates to Issue One: The Precautionary Principle. As the data is, some scientists say it indicates a climate change whereas politicians and other scientists can take that same data and say it indicates a biogeothermal cycle occurring.

The major points the positive argument’s author Jerald L. Schnoor makes are:

We know that the increase in greenhouse gases are being caused by humans because (1) the increase began in the end of the 18^th century with the start of the Industrial Revolution, (2) our global emissions match the rate of CO₂ increase in our atmosphere, (3) “the temporal and spatial dynamics of CO₂ in the atmosphere, mixing from north to south, and fluctuating annually with an increase in the baseline each year, can only be explained by human emissions.” (p. 155)

Global warming is occurring. The Earth is 1.1ºF or 0.6ºC warmer on average than it has been in the past 1,000 years. General Circulation Models predicted twenty years ago that the Arctic would have a more obvious reaction to the warming trend because the ice would melt first, which increases the albedo of the earth surface and causing more increase in temperatures. The sea is also warmer, which worries climatologists because there will be more evaporation, which could potentially cause more extreme events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods.

Humans and the environment are affected by global warming. The summers are hotter than before. Professor Tony McMichael of the Australian National University estimated ~160,000 people died in 2003 from heat stroke resulting from the climate change. Pollutants in the air pose great risks to the elderly and asthmatic. Also, there has been an overall pole ward or elevation increase movement in plant and animal populations worldwide, though other populations just have decreasing numbers.

The United States needs to ratify the Kyoto Treaty. It was signed, but never ratified. He believes that the U.S.’s objection to developing countries being allowed to emit greenhouse gases is wrong. The U.S. currently emits approximately 25% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. He believes that “developing countries also must reduce emissions if we are to be successful in preventing global warming, but only after they have reached a certain level of income and development. … [T]he developing world must be allowed to reach some level of prosperity before being obliged to reduce emissions.”

We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while securing our energy needs. By using our energy efficiently and relying on wind power, we can reduce our use of fossil fuels by 50%. Wind power is growing 30% per year since 1995.

The negative argument believes that global warming is real, but that it’s blown out of proportion. There will be no climate change, it’s just a warming trend that happens every hundred years or so. Also, the Bush Administration and other detractors feel as though the trade-off of protecting our environment at the expense of our economic growth is ill-advised. They offer a solution of reducing greenhouse gas emissions so that the economy may still grow. However, Schnoor does not accept this, as a growth in an economy coupled with reduced emissions still results in the same emissions as we now have or more, both of which are at a dangerous level for our planet.

The changes implemented by the President are outlined thus:

Reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the U.S. by 18% over the course of ten years

o Economic growth is the solution, not the problem. It will fund research and technology needed to combat a climate change. We need to implement emissions reductions, regardless of incomplete scientific data.

o Reducing 183 metric tons of emissions per million dollars GDP to 151 metric tons by 2012. This is comparable to the requirements that the nations who have signed the Kyoto Protocol.

Substantially improve the emission reduction registry

o Participation has been limited with the 1995 Energy Policy Act and the Secretary of Energy has been directed to make improvements that would compel businesses to comply for incentives.

Protect and provide transferable credits for emissions reductions

o Businesses and individuals can register the reductions they make and ensure no penalty under any future climate policy. Those who implement real reductions in emissions will be given transferable tax credits.

Review progress toward goal and take additional action if necessary

o Allows for a revision in 2012 that may include more incentives and voluntary measures to accelerate technological advances.

Increase funding for America’s commitment to climate change

o America is spending $4.5 billion total in climate regulation – a figure unmatched in the world.

Take action on the Science and Technology Review

o The President has devoted $1.7 billion to fund research on both climate change and new energy technologies.

Implement a comprehensive range of new and expanded domestic policies

o Tax incentives for businesses, investors, and individuals for use of solar, wind, and biomass power, and for use of hybrid and fuel cell vehicles.

Promote new and expanded international policies to complement our domestic program

o The President is investing $25 million in climate observation stations in developing countries, and has challenged other developed nations to match it.

o The President has tripled funding for his Debt-For-Nature program, which releases developing countries from their debt to the U.S. by promising not to release their rainforests to logging use.

o The President has provided a way for joint research to be conducted with Central America, Italy, and Japan concerning the climate change.

3. (3pts) Creative Reaction and Integration. Record some of your own ideas that came to you as you were reading and thinking about the issue or issues the author is discussing. Formulate these in well-written sentences, develop them as best you can, and relate them to the author’s discussion and possibly to other readings and course themes.

If developing countries have no limit on their emissions, and their economy is growing, wouldn’t their emissions increase? So if developed countries reduce their emissions and another country is increasing theirs, isn’t it the same as if the developed country remained the same with their emissions and the developed country stayed low? What good is this? The source of emissions does not matter as much as the total amount of emissions, because it is the overload of emissions that our planet cannot handle. Not the origin of emissions.

However, the Administration is not taking global warming as a real threat. When the EPA put out its report in 2002, that admitted that global warming was indeed real and that human activities were to blame for it, President Bush reacted with a retort that seemed to dismiss the report in its entirety.

4. (2pts) Opinion – Not graded, 2 points awarded if completed.

I do not know if President Bush believes in global warming or not. I don’t think he does, as his actions do seem to be strong and decisive to combat it, I wonder if he actually believed in it, would he not do more? We certainly need to do more. I do not agree with the Kyoto Protocol because I feel it is unrealistic and would harm our country more than it would help our environment. But, as the producer of nearing 25% of global emissions, we are responsible to do our part to help our world. I believe our vast resources could be used to research and implement innovative technologies that would curb our overuse of energy. Also, we could follow Australia’s path and make incandescent light bulbs illegal for use because it pulls too much energy that is not used for light, but rather, heat. Any method that us to promote the welfare of our environment should be taken seriously, considered, researched, and funded. The environment has too long be taken for granted.