Changing in Global Climate - Admission/Application Essay Example

Global climate change is one of the greatest threats to our modern way of life. This is an international issue that has no easy solutions. One of the greatest tests of our ability to really cooperate across national, religious, economic and ethnic lines is how we will address global climate change. The debate over climate change is of international importance. Most scientists agree that the burning of carbon based fuels such as crude oil, natural gas and coal is the source of the gasses that cause global warming. Burning these carbon rich fuels release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is what scientists commonly refer to as a greenhouse gas. These gasses allow the radiation from the sun to enter the earth’s atmosphere but then prevent it from escaping back out into space. In this way, they work to keep the earth warm, so they are necessary. But too much carbon dioxide might cause us to get too warm. Weather data indicates that we are currently warming at a very rapid pace. Some scientists are skeptical of the theories surrounding global warming. They feel that humans do not release enough carbon dioxide to alter the climate of earth. Instead, they point to the many cycles of warming and cooling that earth has experienced over the years. They conclude that we are currently in a warming trend and that the earth will adjust eventually to a warmer climate. Given enough time to adjust, the earth will eventually begin to cool again and all will be well. The problem with the scientists that are skeptical about the cause of our warming earth is quite simply this; what if they are wrong? Many believe that if we mobilize our resources and use enough ingenuity, we can reverse much of the recent warming that has taken place. This will require a great effort by all peoples and nations, but most especially the nations that contribute the most greenhouse gasses to the environment. Addressing the issue will be costly and inconvenient. Consumers may need to alter spending habits. This change will likely lead to painful economic adjustments. Energy will need to come from renewable sources such as wind, solar and wave power. While clean, these energy resources are much more expensive than carbon based fuel. While economic adjustments will be required to combat global warming, ignoring the warming and allowing it to go unchecked will be expensive as well. Global climate change will greatly alter the amount and type of rainfall available globally. Many computer models show that a warming global climate will create more hazardous storms in areas of the world that are already wet, while causing arid areas to become even drier. This is of a concern to me on a personal level. My home is in Morocco. Access to fresh, clean drinking water is an issue for many people in my country. If the climate is to become even more arid, then this precious resource will become even more precious. This will affect the growth of the economy in Morocco by limiting the expansion of infrastructure necessary for the growth of a modern, convenient tourist industry. My hope is to return to Morocco to help modernize the tourist infrastructure by building and managing modern hotels and resorts. A lack of something as basic as water would make this task a daunting one indeed. I am optimistic about the future of our planet. I do believe that we can work together to solve this universal problem. I believe that places like my native land of Morocco stand much to lose if the international community does not address global climate change promptly. An historical figure that has had a great influence on me is Nicollo Machiavelli. This may be a surprising admission, because Machiavelli is often viewed as a bad person. Many associate Machiavelli with quotations such as, “The ends justify the means”. He also is famous for pondering the questions whether it is better to be loved or feared. Machiavelli concluded that it was better to be feared. Nicollo Machiavelli’s most famous work as an author is “The Prince”. In this small book, he offers advice to one of the Medici rulers of Florence. This advice often sounds harsh. He advises the prince to occasionally display cruelty if he needs to in order to rule his kingdom. He stated that the only thing that matters is keeping power so the state can continue in a safe and prosperous manner. I feel that Machiavelli is a great influence on me for several reasons. I would suggest that if you place Machiavelli’s comments in their proper historical context, they are not nearly as harsh as they sound. He did not suggest that the prince should ever act in an immoral or extreme manner. He simply said that sometimes when the objective is important, extreme measures might need to be employed to obtain the objective. Much of what Machiavelli suggests deals with others perceptions of our actions. He said that the prince shouldn’t worry about what other people think of his actions, as long as his actions will result in proper governance and safety. This philosophy is influential to me because I have great hopes of returning to my home in Morocco to establish a chain of modern hotels and resorts. I want to do this so that I can bring opportunities for advancement to the people of Morocco. In a way, I want to be a ruler similar to the one that Machiavelli was giving advice to. He talks about princes that rise to power through their own efforts as opposed to those that come into power through heredity. My father is in the real estate business in Morocco, so establishing myself in the hotel and hospitality business will be something I will need to do on my own. I will need to follow the advice Machiavelli gives to the prince of Florence. He said that the best princes could be loved and feared if they have nobility of character. This nobility of character he speaks of is what I want to develop. I believe that being sincere in friendship while at the same time being willing to make difficult choices for the good of the company develops this character. I think that too many people view the benefits that come from ownership and management of a business without considering the difficulties. How do you handle unfair accusations from a competitor, corruption or retrenching employees during an economic downturn? These situations are very real in the world of business, and even though “The Prince” was written to a political leader, the advice can influence me in my future business dealings. Staying focused on the objective of establishing and growing the business while making the difficult example expected of an owner/manager that are for the good of the company are concepts Machiavelli clearly expresses in his writings. I do not consider Machiavelli a role model in any way. I must admit, however, that his writings have influenced the way I view business and my future career. The cruelty he advocated showing can be replaced by decisiveness and good judgment. For this reason, I would count Machiavelli as an influence during this time in my life. Read More