My Connections to Climate Change

Global Climate Change Awareness
An Essay by Emma

As global climate change becomes a more frequent topic in the media, we are shown statistics, charts, and graphs depicting our world’s situation. If those aren’t enough to convince people to decrease their carbon footprint than the shocking photos should be proof that our planet is transforming. We need to stop thinking of global climate change as phase. As of now it is a never ending road.
Every day when the sun sets, my house darkens. Every day I need to turn on lights to counter that darkness. Each light I turn on creates more watts of electricity and more energy. When I am cold I turn on my gas fireplace and use one more BTU of gas. With one wish and one flick of a switch we can command energy and fuel to meet our every inclination. No thoughts of the CO 2 released and the increasing temperatures. In Portland we are not yet hit by the impacts of global climate change, just the emotional impact when shown photos or statistics. We need to pull that fear and compassion for the ones less fortunate and for thought of future generations, and use it to inspire our every wish. We need to be more than conscious of the photos. We need to feel the pain of every child who’s home has been washed away.
Books are constructed with an introduction and continue with rising action until the climax appears. As books decline and are brought to a close the reader is left with a sense of conclusion and finality. This cannot be the way that we view energy use. The effects of our energy choices will be felt for long after the energy is used. All around the world, unaffected people continue their lives with that sense of finality; no sense of the continuing effects that their actions will have. They have the notion that other people (or governmental agencies) are working the prevent the problems the world is facing. Still others refuse to let global climate change pass as a subject untouched, but they believe we are at the rising action or climax of our disaster and think it will conclude safely. The smallest percentage of people reject these false peaces of mind one could fall into, and see it as a never ending book. Each time we switch on a light, or turn on our gas fireplaces we add another chapter to our ever lengthening book.
Any one thing someone does to help our earth is a drop in the bucket of our goal. As the media shows us the photos, graphs, charts, and statistics we are all encouraged to make that drop in the bucket. This time, when the sun sets and the room is darkened, I will turn on only as many lights as I need. I applaud all those who are likewise inspired and use that to power their next wish. It will take many small actions and many large ones to create a solution strong enough to tackle this vast, serious problem.