Students Attend Conference at UN
In March, Grayson Gibbs, Christina Theodore, Alex Mathieu, Pauline Badarani, Paige Enfinger and Lizzie Warner traveled to New York to participate in a joint UNIS-UN conference on global warming with more than 600 students from six continents. They listened to Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General, as well as many expert speakers on the topic of global warming. On their return, they wrote essays about their experience.
Global Warming May Be Inconvenient, But Stopping It Doesn't Have To Be
By Christina Theodore, Grade 10
Recently, five of my classmates and I had the privilege of attending the United Nations International School conference entitled "Global Warming: Confronting the Crisis." The conference, which was held in the General Assembly of the United Nations building in New York City, consisted of presentations made by numerous climate change experts ranging from NASA scientists to economists.
If there ever had been any doubt in my mind about the severity of global warming, it was erased the minute the first speaker began discussing the catastrophic effects of the ever-thawing polar icecaps. Every speaker made it perfectly clear that not only is global warming an issue, it is an issue that we as a civilization are causing. As presentation after presentation revealed just how disastrous the effects of global warming will be, I began to feel hopeless. Is it too late to stop global warming? The answer is no.
In her speech, Laurie David, environmentalist and co-producer of the film An Inconvenient Truth, likened the effects of global warming to a car crash. Presently, we have the power to choose between a ten-mile per hour crash if we act now or a fifty-mile per hour car crash if we do not act at all. There will certainly be a crash, but we can significantly reduce the severity of it. There is still hope that we can limit the effects of global warming, but how?
There are numerous simple ways in which we can reduce our energy consumption and help slow the effects of global warming. First, by replacing five regular 60 watt light bulbs with lower wattage, energy-saving bulbs, you can save as much as 700 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, in addition to saving $90 in energy costs. Another way to save energy is to unplug cell phone and computer chargers when you are finished using them. Chargers continue to use electricity while they are plugged in, even if they are not in use. Finally, recycle cans, bottles, paper and ink cartridges to prevent 850 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually.
In short, global warming may be "an inconvenient truth," but there are many far from inconvenient ways to help stop it. However, if we want to change the future, the time for action is now.
These are not the only ways to "go green". For more information, visit www.stopglobalwarming.org.
Six Students Attend Global Warming Conference at the United Nations
By Grayson Gibbs, Grade 10
As it turns out, global warming is real. Those crazy scientists with PhDs from MIT and years of proficiency at NASA weren't wrong when they told us that the Earth was getting hotter. Now that most Americans admit that maybe this absurd concept is a reality, one would think that the United States was putting forth an effort to combat this issue. After all, when there's a problem, it is the duty of this country to fix it, especially when we're a major contributor to it -- right?
At the beginning of March, we had the unique opportunity to sit in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations, where some of the most famous people in history have discussed some of the most pressing issues of all time. In the room where we had the immense honor of convening, resolutions have been passed which have saved lives, halted wars, and buttressed growth. Democracies, kingdoms, and theocracies alike came together not as adversarial players in the international theater of politics, but as brothers (and sisters) in our sometimes dysfunctional global family. The rows of seats where we sat held the haunting memories of decisions which ignored genocide, bolstered unjust rulers, and paved the way for future calamities. This organization, sometimes labeled as bureaucratic or ineffective, has indeed both accomplished miraculous feats and been responsible for atrocious mistakes.
While at the conference, we sat in the presence of the new Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, as he spoke of a new green initiative and stretched our brains around the complexities put forth by the Director of NASA's Goddard Institute. We were engrossed by an Antarctic climatologist's bloodcurdling facts and inspired by the tenacious drive of a leading environmentalist. By the end of the two days, each speaker had shared a conclusion in common: global warming is here and we are causing it at a cataclysmic rate. These scientists and environmentalists were not particularly well known people; in fact, almost every one of them commented on their nervousness or humility at the mere fact of being able to speak at such a unique venue. However, just as famed leaders and politicians had spoken about some of the most pressing issues of their time in this hall, these men and women now were verifying perhaps the most essential issue of our time.
The world has played dumb before; it has kept its eyes sealed tight as the present calcified into history. We all know the result of ignoring what we don't want to admit is real-we call these inconvenient truths. It's always the same: we promise ourselves "never again," but eventually move on to business as usual. Only this time, with global warming as the subject, the world may not have that luxury, because this isn't a mistake that will pass and be forgotten-it's one that will worsen the more we disregard it. So to answer the original question, "Is it our duty to fix the problems of today, especially when we are a major contributor?" My answer is yes and no. The United States is the number one reason why global warming exists, correct. Then again, we're not the only reason, for this is our first truly global problem. Let's make sure that we, as united nations, come together as our brother's keepers and never waver in our resolve that we, for better or worse, are first and last a united Earth.