Global Warming in the Newsmedia - Coursework Example

Global warming in the newsmedia I. Introduction Global warming has become a severe problem for all populations around the world. A series of cities built near the sea are threatened by the phenomenon which causes an increase of the level of the sea at a significant percentage. Another worrying issue regarding global warming is that the development of this phenomenon is continuous and no sign of limitation (although a series of relevant measures have been taken by states around the world) seems to appear. On the other hand, there are several laws, treaties and agreements made regarding the confrontation of the problem, however in most cases the measures decided have not been applied properly or – at the worst case – have been totally ignored. The role of news media in the limitation of the phenomenon is decisive. More specifically, because the news media have a particular ‘power’ over the public opinion being at the same time the most important tool for provision of information of all types, their position towards the phenomenon should be reconsidered. In this context, it has been found that there are news media that refer to the specific problem on a continuous basis while there are also others that ignore the issue or just refer to it occasionally when extended damages are made around the world because of this phenomenon. In order for the involvement on news media in the limitation of global warming to be investigated, the articles published – if any - in a series of newsmedia around the world during a specific period (March, dates 19-23 and 26-30) have been examined. The reason for the choice of specific dates has been the volume of articles published in the media involved on a daily basis. Because of this fact, the research over the content of the news published by these news media during a long period of time would be an infeasible task. II. Global warming in the news media The issue of global warming is not highlighted by the press at the necessary degree. Using as an example the Al Jazeera news for the particular period (March, dates 19-23 and 26-30) there was no article published for global warming. Of course the absence of a relevant article can be considered just as temporary failure regarding the specific problem. However, because the consequences of global warming are severe in all aspects of human life, it is necessary that the press is referring continuously on the relevant issue trying to ‘gain’ the interest of the public. The possible co-existence in a particular period of important local or international news cannot justify the absence of reference to the global warming by the newsmedia around the world. On the other hand, New York Times refer extensively to the phenomenon of global warming and its daily development globally. More specifically in an article published in Wednesday of 21 March 2007 it is noticed that although United States is “the worlds top emitter of greenhouse gases, the country no national laws regulating them”. For this reason, the effort of the residents of a particular region (as presented in the relevant article) is considered to be valuable. In accordance with this article “thirty-three states have informally agreed to create a registry for companies and organizations to log early actions on cutting output of gases linked to global warming -- and possibly get credit for them if future limits on the gases are passed”. This registry is named The Climate Registry and “is intended to support state emissions-cutting programs rather than create a federal program, at least at its start”. The above news provided to the press (Reuters, California) by the deputy director of the North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Brock M. Nicholson. This initiative has to be regarded as really encouraging especially if extended in more regions worldwide. However, it seems that this effort is far from completed. More specifically, in the article under review it is noticed that “no state has formally joined the organization, which is at this point still an abstract entity without a charter, offices or a single employee”. It could be expected though that since a first step has already been made, the progress of the effort will be continuous and – hopefully – rapid. An issue that needs to be highlighted at this point is the fact that the interest of businesses globally to participate in the protection of environment seems to grow. More specifically, in accordance with the above article “trade in permits to emit greenhouse gases is booming while the trade on the European Unions climate exchange doubled to more than 20 billion euros ($26 billion) in 2006”. The above findings are really encouraging regarding the participation of individuals and specifically the entrepreneurs in the effort to protect the planet’s climate. At a next level, New York Times refer to an article published by the Associated Press. The specific article refers to the efforts of scientists to develop a new system for tracking carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (March 22, 2007). The development of this system will be really valuable towards the increase of the effectiveness in monitoring the pollution in the air – an ideal tool for the relevant health departments in large cities around the world. The structure of this system is explained by Richard Spinrad, head of research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In accordance with the above scientist this system “produces an unbiased, objective statement of carbon observations but doesnt favor any particular policy or economic model”. The application of this system could improve the accuracy of measurements of carbon dioxide in the air. Moreover, it is noticed that “being able to determine where and when this major greenhouse gas increases or decreases should help in projecting future climate change and evaluating efforts to reduce releases of carbon”. The role of the above system in the effective monitoring of carbon dioxide levels in the air will be significant. It should be noticed here that carbon dioxide is a natural component of the air, however the development of industrialization around the world led to its increase at dangerous levels. Current levels of carbon dioxide as measured in many areas around the world can cause even death. In accordance with the above article carbon dioxide in modern industrialized global community is produced “in large amounts by burning fossil fuels, such as in manufacturing plants, motor vehicles and generating electricity”. Because of the above facts, the development of the system presented above – named Carbon Tracker – has to be considered as quite important for the limitation of pollution worldwide. In fact this system “currently samples the air at 20 places in the United States and 60 worldwide”. It can be expected that its entrance in more countries around the world will help to improve the measurement of carbon dioxide particularly in the heavily polluted industrial areas offering accurate measurements within short time limits. Shortly after the above article, in Tuesday March 19 of 2007 New York Times published a report of Associated Press related with the effect of global warming in the increase of sea levels and the risks resulted in the international community. In the above report, Gordon McGranahan of the International Institute for Environment and Development in London notices that “more than two-thirds of the worlds large cities are in areas vulnerable to global warming and rising sea levels, and millions of people are at risk of being swamped by flooding and intense storms”. Moreover, it is mentioned that “634 million people live in the threatened coastal areas worldwide -- defined as those lying at less than 33 feet above sea level”. The above figures proved that the effects of the increase of global warming can be really severe for all humans around the world. Many of the cities globally have been constructed near the sea and a possible further increase of sea levels can cause even their ‘disappearance’. Regarding this issue, it is noticed in the article under review that “more than 180 countries have populations in low-elevation coastal zones, and about 70 percent of those have urban areas of more than 5 million people that are under threat. Among them: Tokyo; New York; Mumbai, India; Shanghai, China; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Dhaka, Bangladesh”. The above findings lead to the assumption that global warming is not a phenomenon related with a particular area or a specific level of industrial development. Cities of all financial levels are going to be totally destroyed if appropriate measures are not taken in the near future. On the other hand, it is made clear that “the solution to the problem will not be cheap and may involve relocating many people and building protective engineering structures”. Indeed the ‘reconstruction’ of many cities can cost a significant amount of money which will ‘hit’ the local economies. Regarding this issue, specifically for the USA, a draft copy prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change mentions that “two biggest cities in North America -- Los Angeles and New York -- are at risk of a combination of sea-level rise and violent storms; by 2090, under a worst-case scenario, megafloods that normally would hit North America once every 100 years could occur as frequently as every 3-4 years”. The above forecasts involve in the risk of two of the major cities in the world to be destroyed during a possible flood as a result of the global warming. However, many areas around the world are in similar or even worst position. One of the areas that have suffered severe damages due to the changes in climate is Asia. Regarding this issue it is noticed in the above article that “between 1994 and 2004, about one-third of the worlds 1,562 flood disasters occurred in Asia, with half of the total 120,000 people killed by floods living in that region; in addition, more than 200,000 people were killed by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004”. The last natural disaster that hit Asia, the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 was in fact an indicator of the possible consequences of pollution around the world. Although this event should have influenced many of the states internationally in order to proceed to effective measures for the protection of the environment, this did not happen. The development of industrial production has been the main priority for the countries of the international community without taking into account the effects of this behavior on the lives of people around the world. Towards this direction, an article of NY Times in 27 March 2007, referred to a study made by Jack Williams, lead author of a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and John Kutzbach, also of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The above researchers make clear that “global warming could re-make the worlds climate zones by 2100, with some polar and mountain climates disappearing altogether and formerly unknown ones emerging in the tropics”. Moreover, in accordance in accordance with the view of Williams “what weve shown is these climates disappear, not just regionally, but theyre disappearing from the global set of climates, and the species that live in these climates really have nowhere to go as the system changes”. In other words, the decrease in the number of species internationally will be continued if appropriate measures are not taken. Moreover, the climate in the polar zones is expected to change dramatically, and as a result new zones are going to be created as it has been found by the study published in the above article. It has to be noticed that any prediction made in the above study is based on models of climate change. On the other hand, the initiatives taken by the state regarding the protection of the environment from the effects of global warming are limited. A relevant article of Economix published in NY Times on the Wednesday 28, 2007 refers to the proposals of parties in USA regarding the protection of environment. In this article it is mentioned that “in the current Congress, there are six bills to deal with climate change, and more are on the way”. It seems that the efforts made by the government towards the limitation of the phenomenon of global warming are not sufficient. Regarding this issue Representative Ed Whitfield, a Kentucky Republican made clear toVice President Al Gore when the latter came to Capitol Hill in order to discuss the issues related with global warming that “the truth is that some of the ideas now on the table would do very little to change the situation while a feckless new law would be worse than nothing at all right now”. The intervention of Congress in the development of specific laws for the protection of environment is very important however it cannot lead to specific gains if not followed by the introduction and the application of realistic measures. Apart from NY Times, Fox News also refers extensively to the issue of global warming throughout the world. More specifically, in an article published on March 19, 2007, it is noticed that “pollution, global warming and rampant development could destroy some of the worlds most iconic rivers in the coming decades, threatening to wipe out thousands of fish species and cause severe water shortages”. The above comment is included in a relevant report of World Wide Fund for Nature which was published recently. The same day, March 19, 2007 another article published in Fox News refers to a series of ‘weird’ proposals in order to save the planet from the effects of global warming. Although these proposals have been considered as rather ‘unfeasible’ they are supported and funds are being invested into their realization. However, in the same article it is mentioned that “there will be unintended side effects; others worry such schemes might prevent the type of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are the only real way to fight global warming”. In another article also published in March 19, 2007, an extensive presentation of a film related with global warming is taking place. More specifically, in the particular article, the film “The Great Global Warming Swindle” is presented as a successful ‘representation’ of the possible effects of global warming in the world climate. An interested comment made in the above film is that “the origins of global warming alarmism had its roots in the 1970s-era fears of global cooling and an impending ice age, resulting from the 1940-1970 global temperature decline”. The issue of global warming is included in an article published the following day (Tuesday, 20, 2007). In the specific article the work of Congress regarding the limitation of global warming are being presented. The methods of measuring the global average temperature are strongly criticized by the Professor Bjarne Andresen of the University of Copenhagens Niels Bohr Institute who says – in an interview published also in Tuesday 20, 2007 in Fox News that “it is meaningless to talk about an average global temperature because there are several different methods by which scientists calculate average temperatures — and they can come up with many different answers from the same set of numbers”. In Wednesday 21, 2007, the issue of measurement of carbon dioxide using the system ‘Carbon Tracker’ – an issue which was also mentioned in the NY times as presented above – is extensively analyzed. On the other hand, an article published on Monday, March 26, 2007 refers to the issue of change of zones of climate as stated by the professor Williams (also published in NY Times on 27 March, 2007). It should be noticed that although the disaster in the climate of the poles has been accepted by the international community “oil and gas exploration in the Arctic is moving full speed ahead” in accordance with an article published in Fox News in the 26th of March 2006 while the increase in the level of the sea globally (as highlighted in a report published in the 27th of March) does not seem to influence the business projects of multinational corporations. Finally, Star (star.com) also refers extensively to the issue of global warming. The particularly media includes analytical reports on the change of climate every day from Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 of March. In these reports the plans of specific corporations, like the Ontario Power Generation, are presented in accordance with the guidelines given by the Congress regarding the limitation of the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases across USA. The extended reference made by Star media in the change of the climate globally continues on the following days: from Monday 26 of March to Wednesday, 28 of March. The first of the above articles refers also to the study of professor Williams (published also by Fox News on Monday the 26 of March and by NY Times on Tuesday, 27 of March) regarding the global climate and the creation of new zones of climate globally. The second article (published on Tuesday the 27th of March) presents the general aspects of global warming as they can be observed through natural disasters occurred continuously around the world. In the third article (published on Wednesday, 28, March) refers to the failure of Canada to apply the principles of Kyoto Protocol as they have been decided by the international community. III. Conclusion All the media presented above refer extensively to the phenomenon of global warming, apart from Al Jazeera News which avoids any reference to the problem. On the other hand, it can be observed that in some cases the articles published refer to the same events, a finding that can lead to the result that all these media monitor carefully any research or study made in the field and publish it in order to inform the public. This strategy shows a significant interest on the protection of the environment which is a necessary prerequisite for the active involvement of media – as also of any organization – in the relevant efforts. Works Cited Al Jazeera news (2007), (March, dates 19-23 and 26-30) Fox News (2007) WWF Says Pollution, Dams Threaten Rivers, Monday, March 19, 2007 Fox News (2007) Crazy-Sounding Ideas May Help Combat Global Warming, Monday , March 19, 2007 Fox News (2007), Must-See Global Warming TV, Monday, March 19, 2007 Fox News (2007), Utility Chiefs Wary of Emission Limits, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Fox News (2007), How Do We Really Know if the Earth Is Getting Warmer? Bad Science, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Fox News (2007), New Carbon-Dioxide Tracking Developed, Wednesday, March 21, 2007 Fox News (2007), Warming May Create Climates, Cut Others, Monday, March 26, 2007 Fox News (2007), Global Warming Spurs New Race for Northwest Passage Barren and uninhabited, Hans Island is very hard to find on a map, Monday, March 26, 2007 . N.Y Times (2007) Effort Afoot to Start U.S. Climate Registry, Wednesday, March 21, 2007 N.Y Times (2007) New Carbon - Dioxide Tracking Developed, March 22, 2007 N.Y Times (2007) Cities at Risk of Rising Sea Levels, Monday March 19, 2007 N.Y Times (2007) New, Unknown Climate Zones Seen by 2100: Study, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 N.Y Times (2007) Economix, Earth’s Climate Needs the Help of Incentives, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 The Star (2007) Dions solid plan on climate change, Monday, March 19, 2007 The Star (2007) Large pension funds and companies called yesterday for the United States Congress to place limits on emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 The Star (2007) Some Canadians cynical about climate change: Poll, Wednesday, March 21, 2007 The Star (2007) Challenges of climate change TheStar.com - opinion - Challenges of climate change, Monday, 26, 2007 The Star (2007) Challenges of climate change TheStar.com - opinion - Challenges of climate change, Tuesday, 27, 2007 The Star (2007), Canadas approach on Kyoto criticized, TheStar.com - News - Canadas approach on Kyoto criticized, Wednesday, 28, 2007 Read More