The documentary “Drop in the Ocean?” (Click on the link to watch the full documentary) was very informational and focused mostly on the effects of climate change on
Ireland. I thought this was quite an interesting location to focus on, because
it usually is not discussed. Even though most of the video is centered around Ireland
there are other topics discussed. For instance, people in politics discussing climate change, people in Africa speaking out about how visible climate change is in
their area, and the rising sea levels are also subjects touched upon in this
documentary. However, for me, the most interesting aspect of this film is the reactions
from the local people of Ireland that they interview to see what people really
know about climate change.
First off,
the initial responses from people who live in Ireland are that they always
associate climate change with people suffering in Africa and never pay too much
attention to it. They honestly feel that they have more important things to
focus on in their daily lives because climate change has not directly hurt
them. This is the number one issue the globe is facing when it comes to this
increasing problem of climate change: people not being well-informed or as
concerned as they should be. As the video continues they also interview people
living in Africa who are witnessing and feeling the damages climate change is
leaving on the planet.
The people
in Africa are finally speaking out about how outraged they are that the actions
of the rich countries are harming the land of the poor, and that not much is
being done to stop such activities. Many people in Africa finally understand
that the droughts they are currently experiencing are being caused by the CO2emissions from motor vehicles and large factories in the United States and
other major countries. They are asking, almost begging that people find green
forms of energy to use that will not only benefit the people of Africa, but
benefit the entire globe.
Finally, people
in Ireland point out the fact that obtaining or using green energy is not done
as easily as it is talked about. The cost is so great that many of the locals
have no way of changing the form of energy that they currently use. If solar
power and wind power were as cheap as other forms of energy it would obviously
be used as much as possible. Also, many people are against wind energy because
they are uneducated about the actual effects the wind-turbines leave. Ireland
is no-where near as large as the United States, yet their emissions are insane
and quite damaging. This documentary was very eye-opening and really helped put
the damage that we do to the Earth into perspective.
I totally agree that we need to inform more people about this problem. I watched a documentary about the future of energy and it seemed to think that solar and wind power are cheeper than fossil fuels. I think it may have been exagerating a bit-but over time the cost of installing solar or wind power is less than the money saved in the future.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that over time solar and wind power would save money, but the initial costs scare people off which is the main reason we have not switched over already.
DeleteIt is sad to realize how indifferent people can be towards others. Even if they don't realize how global warming is going to effect everyone they should still care about their fellow human beings to change what they are doing. Informing people about global warming and the realistic steps that they can take is really important.
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting how each culture deals with and accepts climate change differently. Here in the United States it seems as though we try to remove ourselves from the problem by denying that we have contributed to the problem, or that there isn't really a problem. In Ireland they seem to accept that climate change is an issue but they try to distance it from themselves by placing the problem somewhere else and not accepting that it is affecting them. It seems as though those in Africa have accepted what they are experiencing as a direct relation to climate change. I feel like the acceptance/denial/displacement has to do with the extent that the culture is experience climate change.
ReplyDeleteI think Ireland probably represents how a lot of people feel. Everyone lives a busy life and they do not have time to worry about other people's problems. Little do they know that this problem will eventually be their problem, and by that time, it may be too late to fix. As bad as it sounds, an event caused my climate change hurting a developed nation may be what we need to get everyone on board as far as faxing the problem now before it is too late.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that the people who are seeing the most obvious effects of climate change are the ones who are least fit to solve the issue. Yet we as Americans, the wealthiest nation to ever exist, are still debating the merits of scientists who have been trying to warn us of the exact problems that poor Africans are now facing for many many years.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though solar and wind energy would eventually pay themselves off and them some, but it would simply take years, and people do not tend to think of the far future. They are only thinking of the now and what it would cost now, not being aware that the current luxuries might have some consequences later down the road. I like that you included Ireland's mentality of switching gears and reasons why people may be hesitant.
ReplyDeleteThe graphic novel I'm reading actually explains the downsides of using solad, wind, and nuclear power. At the end, it all equals out. Even if we switch to green technology, we will still be emitting greenhouse gasses. A tremendous amount if we're talking about millions of solar panel/wind turbine production.
ReplyDelete