REFLECTION

http://www.quotesdonkey.com/170-environment-quotes/

It is disheartening but this has become a fact. And this is caused by US. Water pollution on many parts of the world destroyed or endanger ecosystems and biodiversity. We add the changes in temperature, ocean acidification and sea level rise. Meanwhile, air pollution brings risks to human health and the greenhouse gases WE have continuously put on the air are now enhancing the greenhouse effect which brings global warming. What have WE done to the vital elements that we can’t live without?

• This is one of the most striking statements from the MOOC that makes it easy for everyone to understand the 4°C problem.

• This is a fact, a horrifying fact that we, present-day people may not face, but our kids, grandchildren, and future generations will face if WE proceed with the business-as-usual scenario.

From “Projected Extreme Temperatures, ” Video talks Week 2

THE SUPER TYPHOON HAIYAN PHENOMENON

Strongest typhoon ever to make landfall in recorded history

Why a phenomenon? Phenomenon – “something that can be observed

and studied and that typically is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully” (Merriam Webster)

It is exceptional, not something we experience usually

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THE WARNING

“Typhoons such as Yolanda (Haiyan) and its impacts represent a sobering reminder to the international community that we cannot afford to procrastinate on climate action.”

WE NEED to act NOW. People should get the hint that this is a serious problem that does not have a single action as a solution. It involves effort and time. And as Climate Champions or Policy Makers, WE can initiate and encourage those who are apathetic to the reality WE are facing.

(Yeb Sano, Philippines Representative to the U.N. Summit on Climate Change)

The Philippines is located at the Pacific typhoon belt, making it vulnerable to tropical cyclones. As we learned from this MOOC, high-intensity tropical cyclones can become more common as the earth warms. Being a third-world country, it will be very hard for the Philippines to cope with such conditions. But remember that this is not a case possible only for the Philippines, but to anywhere else that can be affected by natural disasters, be it a super typhoon or anything else.

“The risk of loss of wealth because of tropical cyclone disasters appears to be increasing faster than wealth.”

(UNISDR 2011 as cited in Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C World Must Be Avoided World Bank, 2012, Chapter 3, p.27)

It is highly encouraged that we visit this page to see the aftermath of Haiyan in Tacloban City, one of the most devastated areas in the Philippines: http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/typhoon-haiyan-photos-before-after/

IT IS GLOBAL

“Only early, cooperative,

international actions can make that

happen.”

This is a global problem that needs a global solution. This is everybody’s problem and everybody should take part in the solution.

(Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C World Must Be Avoided World Bank, 2012, Chapter 7, p.64)

THE TAKEN-FOR-GRANTED REALITY

Look on the photo and reflect for a while.

OUR Earth is going towards a 4°C warmer world; it is burning, it is sick.

OUR Earth is in OUR hands. As we let it burn and get worse, we also in turn burn ourselves, hurt ourselves.

http://boolger.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-earth-was-dangerously-ill.html#.UwXO_fmSyT8

But remember, it is in OUR hands because WE have the choice to either let it burn and in turn hurt us or WE make an action to heal OUR earth.

WE need to act NOW.

Grab every chance.

Let US ALL turn down the heat!

Background photo from http://www.climate.unc.edu/ClimateActionProgram

SOURCES AND RECOMMENDED READINGS https://d396qusza40orc.cloudfront.net/warmerworld%2Fpdfs%2F

4%20Degree_Chapter%206%2C%207.pdf https://d396qusza40orc.cloudfront.net/warmerworld%2Fpdfs%2F

4%20Degree_Chapter%203%2C%204%2C%205.pdf https://class.coursera.org/warmerworld-001/wiki/Week_2_video http://www.globalresearch.ca/climate-change-the-philippines-haiy

an-typhoon-is-not-the-result-of-global-warming/5358195 http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-

warming/pollution-overview/ http://www.quotesdonkey.com/170-environment-quotes/ http://boolger.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-earth-was-dangerously-i

ll.html#.UwXO_fmSyT8

http://weather.com.ph/announcements/super-typhoon-haiyan-yolanda-update-number-012

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenomenon http://

www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2013/nov/29/climate-change-extreme-weather-philippines-typhoon-haiyan

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131108-supertyphoon-haiyan-yolanda-atmosphere-climate-change/

http://science.time.com/2013/11/11/climate-change-didnt-cause-supertyphoon-haiyan-but-the-storm-is-still-a-reason-to-fight-warming/#ixzz2kS4dziWv

Thank you!

There’s only one earth, and nothing else.