Final Reflection

    

     If only humanity understood the threat climate change will pose to natural species, civilization, and our way of life before tipping points caused mother Earth to erupt in a uncontrolled fury. Good morning everyone, to begin I would like to make it clear about the tremendous pleasure being part Justin Roger's English 101 class has been for my life intellectually. My final reflection about the class will include two articles that provide a scientific evaluation on the impacts of climate change, and how society will be affected. To begin, models developed by The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change, have provided enough data to show ignoring climate policies will cause Earth to become inhospitable for human beings. Second, Nasa studies prove that economic activities, and growth contribute to placing tons of Co2 into Earth's atmosphere that destroy the planets equilibrium. However, my opinion is that there are many possibilities of dramatically reducing the impact our species have on the planet. Big impacts begin when little people come together, major impacts happen when such people organize plus work together, and finally, the world changes when they stay together.

 The most significant impact of climate change is having to deal with the irreversible consequences of unbalancing ecosystems. Furthermore, many skeptics will argue that because the planet is not dramatically rising in temperature, climate change is a complete myth. According to the article Earth Will Cross The Climate Danger Threshold By 2036 by Michael E. Mann, Scientific American states " Most scientists concur that two degrees C of warming above the temperature during preindustrial time would harm all sectors of civilization—food, water, health, land, national security, energy and economic prosperity. ECS is a guide to when that will happen if we continue emitting CO2 at our business-as-usual pace"(Mann). This means scientists have concluded that a temperature rise of two Celsius can be devastating to many aspects of relying on the planet to survive. This is important because society has the ability to prevent this change from actually happening. An important keyword I would like to focus on includes "Externalities"(Climate Casino,18). The implied meaning of the word suggest a consequence of activities that affects other people without being compensated for. This word is important because not adapting to a doubling of 280 parts per million of carbon dioxide will cause our species to go extinct. Eliminating "externalities" will have to become our priority, if as a society we plan to continue thriving. A couple solution I have learned reading the climate casino during the school year include setting a tax on carbon dioxide, and limiting climate change to two Celsius.

The strain human species cause to the planet's resources can ultimately lead to societies demise. Previous empires can be an example proving that the structure of the economy heavily contributes to the survival of the people. According to the article Nasa Study Concludes When Civilization Will End, And It's Not looking Good For Us by Tom Mckay states" All societal collapses over the past 5000 years involves both the stretching of resources due to the strain placed on the economic stratification of society into elites and masses"(Mckay). This means the economic inequality contribute to the unfair distribution of resources. As a result, consumption of resources become to intense for Earth to replenish causing imbalance. This is important because society could no longer use ignorance as an excuse for not noticing the impact economic growth causes to the planet. An important keyword I would like to focus on includes "divine hand."(Zeitoun,142) The implied meaning of the word suggest an external force that changes human being to contribute positive actions for the good of humanity. This word is important because society at the moment requires this internal change to ensure the prosperity of future generations. Although economic growth contributes to the destruction of the planet, I also believe working together can provide many benefits to restoring the planet's well being.

In conclusion, my reflection of the class is that without living through this experience, and challenging myself to exceed expectations, I would have never educated myself enough to understand the complexity of climate change. Again I would like to express my gratitude to the professor who has made all of this possible. I will make it my life duty to repay you, and humanity when I graduate from LaGuardia as an Environmental Engineer contributing to major breakthroughs in carbonless instruments that society can rely on.

Response to Islamic Hate Chart

   The Chart I will interpret today consist of the data, Anti-Islamic Hate Crime Incidents from the year 1995-2008. The range of incidents in the graph begins at zero and ends at five hundred. The highest incidents occurred in 2001 with 481 hate crimes and the lowest being 21 hate crimes the year 1998. Another important pattern that the graph clearly signals is the significant increase of hate crimes after the year 2001. The data is important because it successfully analyzes the relationship between events and race oppression. I would imagine that the significant increase in hate crimes are contributed by circumstances that involve stereotype misunderstanding. To make an important connection this chart relates to the book Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, when Kathy shares her experience after 9/11.  Kathy becomes a target for ignorance and ridicule because her beliefs, and traditions for wearing a hijab in public automatically deem her different. If this chart was from the United States I believe that the increase of hate crimes is because our involvement in foreign affairs in locations such as Europe.  The only critique I would like to share includes the idea of adding with in the chart information such as what continent this fact derived from. This will provide the reader the ability to compare data with other continents.

In Class Blog Zeitoun

     Good evening bloggers, today I would like to discuss whether Zeitoun's judgement to remain in the flooded city was the correct decision to make. Although Zeitoun had the responsibility to protect his family's well being from the hurricane, Zeitoun excuse to remain in the city was that a "divine hand" mused him to protect the well being of other individuals as well. My belief is that the text from the book book Zeitoun by Dave Eggers does a good job defining the key wordz" Again Zeitoun felt the presence of some divine hand. The Williamses needed help immediately, help he had not been able to provide, and here was Todd with precisely the vehicle he needed, at precisely the right moment"(Eggers,137).This means after Zeitoun witnesses the blessing to encounter someone like Ted who happens to have all that is necessary to rescue the elderly couple. This is important because Zeitoun is sacrificing his life and family to provide assistance to victims but receives satisfaction from rescuing other victims. An important key word I would like to focus on is "divine hand." The implied meaning of the quote suggest a external force that keeps the balance of life at a point of equilibrium. This is important because "divine hand" relates to the text when Zeitoun convinces the captain of the ship that God is to blame for keeping heaven from falling on Earth. This external force is what keeps Zeitoun in the city rescuing victims or lambs of God to say. For this reason my belief is that Zeitoun is a Martyr because his beliefs are what motivate him to be a good person.  

Reactions to Instagram

 Log into your Instagram account either from your phone or on the computer. Leave a comment on two photographs by fellow students. In your comments, discuss what the image made you think about regarding the future of climate change and New York City. What do you think the image will tell a future historian or time traveller?

This picture made me think of the future generations that will inherit a Earth of troubles. Also this image provides inspiration to think about the well being of our descendants.

A Historian would understand that  sacrificing the present to provide equal chance for our future is how to overcome climate change.

Response to Kelly Baby photo.

This image brings to my mind the importance of a universal society where all individuals look after one another.

A future historian would realize that simplicity is key to happiness.

Response to Yankee photo  

In abundance there is need

Ruben Aponte

    Modern day youth in America have a much better quality of life, but are still not completely bliss. The United States provides enough basic necessities for a well established family to not have to worry about surviving. What I am trying to explain is that compared to third world counties the United States has an abundance of food, and wealth. However, a society that is never in need can have disastrous influence on the future generations who never have to worry about anything because all is given. Zeitoun makes an important claim about the corruption in American culture where the richer get wealthier and the poor diminish. According to the book Zeitoun by Dave Eggers states " God most hated: murder, divorce, and waste." This means Zeitoun was not raised in a generation where he would not understand the value and importance of work. This is important because the quality of life he is providing for his children is for them to follow in his footsteps, and become the most they can. The implied meaning of the quote suggest American culture is corrupting the mind of the youths to become materialistic and robotic.

Responding to Sandy Story line part two.

Good evening everyone, because of a class assignment for my English class I am going to respond to a passage from the website SandyStoryLine.com, and give my interpretation plus feed back whether New York City is adequately preparing for climate change. According to the reading from the passage The Night Sandy Came my belief is that New York City is not providing appropriate accommodations for hurricane victims. The Night Sandy Came is a story created by Mitchel that shares her experience and thoughts of hurricane Sandy. It begins by explaining that she is not the kind of person to remain silent about her emotions. That instead Mitchel is the kind of person who would much prefer to bring into light her dramatizing experiences that have affected her life then to suffer hiding her emotions bottled up. Mitchel also explains hurricane Sandy has had a tremendous impact on her life because the events she has perceived were potentially life threatening. However, Mitchel claims that she was very grateful and fortunate to have close friends to help her over come the whole ordeal who have been very supportive of her and family. What I noticed about the story is that Mitchel becomes very emotional writing about the event and in some way it reminds me of a child pickling a scar that will last a very long time. For the first time Mitchel believed she made a fatal decision staying home and killing herself plus her three children. Being the responsible mother she was Mitchel decided it would be wise to head outside to survey the extent of the flooding outside, but was completely devastated and astonished to find out her home was soon going to be a island with water levels rising from both sides of the horizon. Back home around six in the afternoon her husband Billy decided to take action and make a request to leave the home behind using the family car, but Mitchel recalled that floods were known for dragging cars in directions that would lead to extreme danger and being the good mother she was Mitchel decided best not to risk the live's of the children's. With rising sea levels Mitchel became so physically and mentally destroyed that she toke a break from reality by taking a nap. The next blessed day had signs of a flood that was going to destroy Mitchel and her family receding back to the ocean. Mitchel states in the passage "Decision Making" to explain the importance and urgency to escape  the flood before having no options. However, the implied meaning of the quote suggest New York is making irrational choices that do not protect city residents from the danger of climate change. In addition, New York should really take into consideration implementing responsible plans of action that will prevent residents from experiencing the dangers of climate events. For this reason I believe New York City has some serous "Decision making," to adequately prepare New York for climate change.                    

Instagram assignment (updated)

Hurricane Sandy

Ruben Aponte

Hello fellow bloggers, today's work is for a English assignment asking to write about whether New York City was adequately prepared for hurricane Sandy. My belief is that New York City response to hurricane Sandy was inadequate. The reason for this thought is that I feel public services meant to help hurricane victims did a poor job at relocating most people. In addition, public funds to help victims who lost their homes was not enough to compensate for the physical and emotional damage received. Hurricane victims were also prohibited from returning to their land because government officials claimed the land to be unsafe. According to the passage Blanking The Beach "Militarized gentrification"(chap 64). The implied meaning of the quote suggest the declaration of using brute force to claim land that is already owned in a attempt to modernize. This connects to my idea of New York City's  inadequacy because city officials purposely allowed "militarized gentrification" to private companies. This kind of government favoritism explains why  city residents who lost their homes are now living in homeless shelters with not financial aid from the city. In addition, this is important because the city instead of helping residents is using natural disasters to exploit residents for profit.  

Ruben Aponte



     This paragraph will provide my opinion as to why New York City is not prepared for climate change and what measures New York can take to resist the consequences of future flooding. My belief is that City officials from  New York lack the initiative to protect the City from catastrophic climate events. From personal experience when hurricane Sandy passed by the City of New York for days residents lost access to basic necessities such as City transportation, electricity, gas and most importantly lives. In addition judging from my perspective that history always repeats, my guess is that the next major hurricane will cause just as much damage as Irene or Sandy. However, do not despair if City officials were to have some ambition to safe guard the City from climate change then global warming will affect local City  inhabitants less. According the article New York is Lagging As Seas And Risk Rise, Critic Warn by Mireya Navarro, "Federal agencies should be investing in protection like sea gates that could close during storms and block surges"(Douglas Hill). Respected engineers like Douglas Hill recommend setting up sea gates in key locations around the City of New York to prevent devastating flooding. Although this recommendation seems like a legit solution will the City of New York loosen a already tight budgets? At the moment not adapting to climate change will cost more damage then trying to find appropriate solutions. This issue is important because solutions can be implemented in the present before they become much worse in the future. At the moment New York City does not have the endurance or resilience to overcome climate change and I strongly disagree the City will be prepared for Global warming in the near future. What is important about global warming is trying to unite the people for a cause that will benefit the masses.                   

Ruben Aponte

      Good evening fellow bloggers, today as asked for a class assignment I will be responding to the feed back received from class peers related to my essay. My peers really enjoyed the length and descriptions used in the essay. In addition what stands out most about my essay was the amount of work to state my opinions while still maintaining my own creative voice. What surprised me about my essay was  the grammar, unlike previous assignments my grammar evaded my classmates focus as the essay remained virgin to sloppy ink mark corrections. Although my essay provided a lot of positive feed back revising and polishing my thesis will help make for a stronger argument. My following steps to prepare my essay to receive full credit will include setting up an appointment with my professor to revise my work, buffing up my thesis, and revising my paper with tutors in the writing center. My biggest concern for this assignment is not my writing but the truth I learned researching my essay that New York City is not prepared for climate change.    

      Hello fellow bloggers, today for a class assignment I will be summarizing, comparing and contrasting two graphs from the book The Climate casino by William Nordhaus. According to the graphs "Consumption per ca pita,"(pg.80) and "Increase global temperature."(pg.80) The first chart includes information regarding the cost of living beyond the year 2000, and as the years pass by the price of everything will constantly increase. In addition the value of money seems to degenerate as inflammation causes the graph to rise dramatically by the year 2100. What the second graph consist of is the change in global temperature from year 2000 to 2200. The graph indicates compared to the first that the higher the global temperature may be the more expensive the cost for living will reach. In addition by the year 2100 the equilibrium of civilization seem to reach a tipping point as the graphs rise dramatically. What is different between the first graph and the second is that even after no growth the second graph indicates that the global temperature will continue to rise. Although both graphs were made to be simplistic the data they explain convey the appropriate message that even children can come to understand. In addition the data provides insight how rapid climate change will become if economic growth continues to inflate and how slowly the climate will change if society were to monitor everything. Either way the climate will continue to change and the only reasonable conclusion to the graphs would be to find alternatives for products that are friendly to the atmosphere. The author suggest the best method for eliminating global warming would be to eliminate corporate "externality," which means to place a hefty tax on products that companies advocate  for contributing green house gases into the atmosphere. What I do believe is that the reason climate change will continue to plaque the human species for generations to come is that those who are on top the pyramid of ignorance are not affected in any way to bother help save civilization from it's self inflicted doom. For anyone planning to have children the information on both these graphs should help you come to a conclusion that global warming will cause pestilence to dominate the world.    

Good evening everyone, my name is Ruben Aponte and for a class assignment I will be summarizing a article posted in the New York Times related to the topic of climate change. As compassionate human being's responding to my blog would mean love to me as every perspective or view point someone has can help me improve my writing skills.
         
           Evidence to support why the city of New York is not prepared for climate change. According to the article New York Is Lagging As Seas And Risk Rise, Critics Warn by Mireya Naverro Suggest that New York is suffering due to slow progress in developing a flood proof city. With ocean levels that are expected to constantly rise, can it be a risk worth taking? If New York  city officials were to stay passive to climate change then it would cost billions of dollars to repair underground transportation systems that are prone to be filled with flood water. In addition with transportation systems in a halt and parts of the city submerged in water then progress that is constantly achieved will be stunted. However the mayor of New York Michael R. Bloomberg proposes that his "district," is purchasing wet lands located around the coast lines to prepare New York for sea level rise. In addition to come up with possible solutions to effectively deal with climate change Bloomberg has the best scientist that a New York budget can afford researching climate change to come up with strategies to deal with a city doomed by flooding. Other sources suggest a solution to climate change will be installing a flood gate in key points to prevent future flood chaos. My belief is that I disagree with what New York city officials are proposing to prevent economic disaster because of  climate change. Every statement to prepare New York for climate change seems a bit temporary, and not effectively deal with climate change as a long term investment.

          Responding to the "readers share their thoughts," section where readers post their opinions is quite fun and interesting. The first posted by "DOB," the comment is about personal experience when traveling from New Jersey to New York when a flood caused the incidence of a path detour. Who then suggest insight for the constant harm that climate change will cause to people who rely on transportation. Another comment posted by "Rama68," suggest that enough money is spent building luxurious condo's why not invest in flood proofing the city? The last comment was posted by "Kald," and this person suggest that the harm climate change causes does not effect in any way the people who have the wealth and influence to make a real change.    

Summery to the first chapter of Climate Casino by William Norhaus

Ruben Aponte

The Climate Casino by William Norhaus

     The author explains in the first chapter of Climate Casino what exactly is Global warming. William's approach to introducing climate change is by comparing references from sources who agree or disagree with the topic of climate change. Then explains why the title of the book is called "The Climate Casino," the reason behind the genius title is that the author realizes that civilizations are growing in such a rapid speed that no longer is nature independent from human will. This means that if we continue to depend on burning fossil or carbon based fuels to make our life simple, then the climate will continue to increase in temperature. Global warming is a serous problem because it can have disastrous consequences that effect everyone including nature. The warmth provided by global warming can cause heat to increase on ocean, land and Ecosystems. However the author does emphasize that it is not to late to make positive changes to combat global warming. According to the reading Climate Casino Norhaus states " It is clear that rapid technological change in the energy sector is central to the transition to a low carbon economy." This means if the economy were to switch to a more Eco friendly power source then the impact of global warming wont be as chaotic. It's important because eliminating dependency on fossil fuels can end global warming and clean Earth's atmosphere. Nordhaus idea of mitigation to reduce Co2 is important because not seeking the solution to global warming will plaque human generations to come. In addition reducing pollutants from the atmosphere  will reduce human impact on Earth returning natures: natural balance. I believe such transitions that Nordhaus proposes will not set to motion until Eco friendly becomes something that investors can make money off of.

Twitter account made for enlightening

            Hello fellow bloggers hope everyone is having a grand day. For those of you who do not now me my name is Ruben Aponte, and this blog has been set up to provide my perspective of what Global Warming is, and how it will effect the human species using references from articles plus books. In addition my goal for this blog is to debate whether Global Warming is a problem that must be confronted in our generation. The best way to contact me is though twitter by typing in ArgeniusRuben or by clicking this link: https://twitter.com/ArgeniusRuben