Global Warming Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Global Warming - Speech or Presentation Example Our Earth is a finely balanced miracle of nature. Changes in one area create a ripple effect which touches each of us. Glacier thaws increase sea levels. Warming directly impacts weather patterns which affects every facet of nature: plant growth, species survival, and water resources to name a few. I would rather say there are many here who would still think global warming will not affect them much. Take a moment and consider what it would be like to walk outside and not hear a songbird singing or on a larger scale think about turning on your tap to get a drink of water and there is none or going to the grocery store only to find shortages of staples because of drought. Today I want to speak with you about Global Warming by first explaining briefly what it is, how it is measured and what affect it has upon our world. We'll briefly discuss how the earth's temperature and other weather conditions have been negatively impacted by the effects of global warming. And at last, I will explain simple steps we can all take to reduce the effects of Global Warming. In order to understand the magnitude of the problems associated with Global Warming, we first need to understand exactly what it is. According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Global Warming is "an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth's surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns" (EPA, 2007, 1). Warming of the earth occurs naturally through reflection back to earth from the sun's rays by natural greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Without these gases the surface of the earth would not be able to sustain life as we know it now. The most recognizable greenhouse gas is Carbon Dioxide (CO2) which often is associated merely with car emissions. This however is not entirely true. CO2 is a naturally occurring greenhouse gas. The problem lies when we introduce manmade greenhouse gases into the atmosphere disrupting the natural balance and quantity of these gases. I don't want this to become a science lecture so we will not go into further detail about the types of gases. Rather, we need to examine the causes and quantities of these increased levels and the impact they have on our planet. During the 20th century we have made remarkable technological advances which have improved our way of living. However, these advances have not come without a price. Since 1900 the surface temperature of Earth has risen by approximately 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, since we have been recording weather data it has been documented that the warmest global temperature averages are increasing. The hottest averages have occurred within the last 15 years. The highest temperatures averages recorded occurred in 1998 and 2005, respectively. Further, the United States while only accounting for five percent of the world population is responsible for production of 25% of the manmade greenhouse gas emissions (EPA, 2007, 1). The impact of global warming is already being felt worldwide. Glaciers melt, reduction of the permafrost in the artic and Antarctica regions have already been documented. This melt has resulted in rising sea levels. Additionally, because of these climatic changes brought on by global warming we are experiencing a redistribution of wildlife including plants and animals. As we all have noted there has been a

All Museums Should Be Free of Charge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

All Museums Should Be Free of Charge - Essay Example Free access to the museum is essential to provide us with the opportunity to learn about our heritage more closely. Museums have an important role in preserving and bringing a country’s historical inheritance to the view of the new generations. Museums are repositories of knowledge and through them; we discover and find out important aspects of our civilization. Free access to museums would help a greater number of people to learn and discover additional things about their country and the world as a whole. The history of the country helps to increase their knowledge about their country and a sense of pride among them. At the same time, it helps in promoting greater comprehension and acceptance of foreign cultures. Museums are like libraries and schools, which offer knowledge. Knowledge should be available to all irrespective of the economic conditions. Therefore, following the trend of education for all museums should be made free to the public. Many people do not have access to the museums because of the high charges. People should have free access to the knowledge of art and history. The Indianapolis Museum of Art has made its admission free of charge. The Museum boasts of a huge collection of art and making the entry free has attracted a large number of visitors to it. (The Indianapolis Museum of Art). Therefore, free access to the museum is essential to provide us with the opportunity to learn about our heritage more closely. Most of the museums use the city and the county tax collections for its maintenance. Therefore, making the entry fee nil will not be detrimental to their income. A number of museums in the United States have made an entry for the public free of charge.