Global Warming is Everyone's Problem

Is it really a surprise to say that global warming doesn't just affect developed countries but the poor countries as well? We get so wrapped up in how the environment affects us, those in the United States we just go with the trends. When it's time to buy a new car, we'll get a hybrid or a vehicle that gets great mileage. We'll buy the CFLs and weather proof our windows at home. And of course, all of these activities are great and help our environment. But we seem to be forgetting about those who are less fortunate. Those who have no idea how to protect themselves from global warming or afford to find environmentally friendly ways to live.

We fail to realize that our CO2 emissions affect more than those who can afford to fix it. The World Wildlife Fund reports that Mount Kilimanjaro located in north eastern Tanzania, is readily suffering from the effects of global warming. Its ice caps have already melted 80% since 1900. I think what has to be understood is the fact that 'yes' CO2 levels do fluctuate and ice caps melt in cycles. But the numbers that scientists are recording are steadily rising. They're never going down. The ice caps on Mount Kilimanjaro are essential to giving the people and animals fresh, clean water as well as providing irrigation for crops.

In the same World Wildlife Fund report, more examples of weather change due to pollution is affecting countries in Africa. There has been reduced rainfall in Sahel region located south of the Sahara desert. On the eastern coasts of Africa there has been significant coral reef loss - an estimated 50% of the coral reef has been bleached - due to pollution which has a huge negative impact on the fisheries.

No more can we say that this is 'not our problem' because it is our problem. We must begin to look at how we can help globally rather than our own immediate needs. Saving the environment impacts everyone and we must find ways to solve the problem. Under our current government administration the Kyoto agreement has not been signed. The agreement requests that countries cut down on their emissions to try to cap greenhouse gases which lead to global warming. We must push our congresspeople to pressure Bush and our incoming President to sign this agreement and work with the rest of the world in fixing this problem.

The Problem with E-Waste

E-waste or electronic waste are any unused electrical or electronic appliances. So this basically includes cell phones, computers, blenders, etc. The thing about e-waste is that it is not biodegradable and many of the components are toxic. For years, e-waste has been filling up in our landfills releasing toxins into the air.

Many European countries made it illegal for e-waste to come into landfills in the 1990s. Laws were passed that made the manufacturers responsible for their e-waste at end-of-life. However, here in the United States, our federal government has not implemented any such laws or regulations and like most things regarding the environment, has left the problem up to the states. It is an expensive process to break down e-waste so many are trying to find ways to cut corners.

One such corner is shipping the waste to other countries where recycling or safely disposing of e-waste is non-existent. In China, they take apart the electronics and extract circuit boards in order to reuse them. However, in other countries such as Kenya children get these appliances and extract the copper wires. They then put all of these wires in a pile and burn them for about 20 minutes. This process melts the plastic coating around the wire. When this plastic is burned toxins are released into the air.

A journalist from National Geographic reported on following the trail of e-waste to Kenya and while he was standing with the kids watching the pile of wires burn he began experiencing nausea. He asked the kids if they had the same symptoms and they said they had but were used to it now. I dare say that if this was happening here in America, someone would have sat up and done something about it.

The thing is it doesn't matter where this is happening the fact is that it is. It should not be tolerated. So we must stop the chain of e-waste. Adopting a similar solution such as the European Union has - making the manufacturers responsible. If our government wants to put this on the back burner and leave it up to the states, then I say lets do it. The people run this country so let's not let everyone else suffer because we don't know and don't care.