In our last class, we watch a video where Sen. Elizabeth Warren and economist Thomas Piketty discussed how the U.S. as well as other developed nations should quickly deal with issues of Income Inequality and inequality in general so that they can focus on more serious problems (i.e., climate change. The present article disucss how climate change is seriously affecting the everyday lives of people reside in the Marshall Islands (Link here).
We learn that the climate change can lead to devastating affects, in terms of how it impacts the day to day living situation of the native residents of the Marshall Islands. The author of the article, Renee Lewis states "sea level rise poses an existential threat to the Marshall Islands where the atolls are only about six feet above the waterline. With scientists predicting oceans will rise by up to six feet by the end of the century, the Marshallese regularly head to U.N. summits to demand that the world’s biggest polluters wean themselves off fossil fuels, but most also realize they could be among the first climate refugees to see their country nearly disappear".
It seems like the idea of climate change has not yet hit home for many people, including myself. I think that partly has to do with it not being something I have to deal with daily (i.e., my reality) as it has for the Marshallese residence. Here are some of the comments they shared with the author.
“Tell them about the water, how we have seen it rising, flooding across our cemeteries, gushing over sea walls and crashing against our homes. Tell them what it's like to see the entire ocean level with the land, tell them we are afraid, tell them we don't know of the politics or the science but tell them we see what is in our own backyard.” (Poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijner)
“Culture is the most sustainable way of living,” Kelen said. “If we had followed those traditions, we probably wouldn’t have had this problem with climate change.” (Alson Kelen, the executive director of Waan Aelon in Majel)
What are you thought on climate change and reactions to the article? Do you agree with Sen. Warren and Dr. Piketty that the issue of inequality should be addressed quickly, so that more serious problems such as climate change can be examined? If so, why?
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ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Sen. Warren and Dr. Piketty that issues of inequality should be answered quickly; however, the domestic and international issues of inequality are not easy to find solutions to. Having said that, I cannot imagine cemeteries flooding or worrying whether the ocean is hitting the sides of my home today. The Marshallese residence are suffering the effects of pollution caused by the ignorance of all the other nations; thus, the other nations have to own up to the results of their actions and allot some amount of time and money to research and policies to reduce the excessive global warming caused by human activities. Periods of global warming are natural phenomena when considering the changes in global temperatures over the last couple centuries; that is, the earth naturally cools and warms up over a duration of time as a result of the three Milankovitch cycles. With that said, human being have definitely exacerbated the warming periods.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sen. Warren and Dr. Piketty, that inequality does need to be addressed. But, I also agree with Veeral, that it is difficult to address inequality on a global level. I think it is much more realistic to talk about decreasing inequality in an individual country basis. Also, other issues like climate change need to be addressed, but I do not think inequality needs to be "fixed" to start addressing issues like climate change.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Senator Warren and Dr. Piketty that inequality needs to be addressed and addressed rather quickly. However, I disagree with them that inequality needs to be addressed so that other issues such as climate change can be addressed afterwards. Instead, in choosing to address climate change or inequality, countries could effectively help address both simultaneously. People living in areas of poverty are disproportionately effected by climate change so in addressing environmental issues, the quality of life for people below or around the poverty line could be improved. Many underdeveloped countries that are already experiencing problems due to climate change have asked countries such as the United States for monetary support, in order to rebuild after a natural disaster for example. However, the United States and other developed countries have stated that it is not their responsibility to pay for natural disasters even though developed countries are the greatest contributors to climate change. Issues such as inequality and climate change won't be addressed as long as countries continue to ignore the responsibility their institutions and policies have played in creating the current problems.
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