Existence of Human Rights and Effect of Climate Change on Humanity - Essay Example

Existence of Human Rights and Effect of Climate Change on Humanity Section The Existence of Human Rights Human rights are viewed, internationally, to be the foundation of society. This is a widely acknowledged view not only in metaphysical spheres but also in politics and law. The several human rights treaties as well as the addition of human rights into many constitutions are without a doubt a clear indication of the existence of human rights in the society. Regardless of this, there are still lingering doubts on the existence of human rights with some people choosing to see it as an illusion. These doubts are existent mainly in the dark regions of political and religious extremism. According to some individuals, the belief in the existence of human rights is just the same as believing in unicorns and witches. Despite some people questioning the existence of human rights, there is no doubt that human rights does indeed exist (Alexy 15). The answer to the burning issue of the existence of human rights is pegged on what human rights are, and as a way of definition, human rights are rights. What proves the existence of human rights is its universality? Ideally, every human being is eligible for human rights. In most cases, human right is used to put a claim on the right to life for every individual. Apart from this, this is used to denote the right for every individual to take part in the process of political-will formation, especially on the area of voting. While the right to life is universal, the political will formation is applied to only some parts since what might be acceptable in one location might not necessarily be acceptable in another place (Rivers 178). Ideally, human rights are as old as the existence of man and their value remains cornerstone to the human race. However, the usage of this term was heightened in the mid-20th century during the struggle for the recognition of civil rights for blacks led by Martin Luther king Jr. However, for many years, individuals in the United States have been fighting for their rights especially the rights of women and children. This means that the existence of human rights is something that has been around for a long time. In most cases, the question of law and order is used to define human rights. While some people claim that the society is only guided by morality, the truth is that the presumed moral standards are nothing but an observance of the rules set down so that human rights are not violated (Rivers 179). Human rights are theoretical rights, and as abstract rights, human rights in many ways clash with without countless other civil rights. In order to ensure that human rights are upheld, there is need for the formation of a body that not only defines the human rights but one that ensures that they are met. In the question of who is the custodian of human rights, an important question about justification arises. This means that governments are allowed to come up with mechanisms for justifying human rights. Perhaps the thing that makes it appear as though human rights do not exist is because disagreements always crop up when the issue of justification is brought up. Ideally, the government is given the responsibility of ensuring that human rights are not violated since most of the human rights are defined by the constitution. As the guardian of the constitution, the government therefore becomes the automatic protector of human rights (Rivers 180). Section 2: How Global Warming Affects Me The US National Academy of Science (NAS) predicts that the current level of global warming is going to escalate to unimaginable levels in the coming years. This trend has been recurring in history when the heating goes beyond a certain point. In the last few years, the world has now gone beyond this limit. Given those prevailing conditions, there has been a significant rise in climatic change. If not checked, this will have drastic environmental repercussions. While climate change is a serious threat to humanity, many people do not believe that it affects them (Anthes et al 623). The world that we live in today is interconnected, and this is especially true in areas that touch on the environmental matters. It is interesting to note that something that happens in the furthest part of the world might have adverse effects for another person living in the opposite part of the world. As an individual, one thing that I believe affects me directly is global warming. Ideally, most people have been reluctant to take steps that reduce global warming since they are unable to see its direct effects on their lives (Anthes et al 624). In case there is something that Americans are worried about today, then it is the occurrence of natural disasters. Today, catastrophes such as Hurricane Sandy have been termed by scientists as some of the effects of global warming. The ravaging droughts in the Midwest and the forest fires in Colorado that have left unimaginable destruction are also some of the clear effects of this problem. It is even sadder that people are accepting the current extreme weather as a normal part of their lives. However, I believe that this problem does affect me directly given that it is hard to predict where such disasters will strike next (Lean 157). Although most of the food consumed in the United States is produced from factories, I believe that global warming will have an effect on the food that we consume. In essence, the issue of global warming has been identified and determined to have severe ramifications of agriculture. Scientists have warmed repeatedly that the increasing heat levels will reduce crop yields not only in the developing nations but also in the developed nations. It is apparent that agriculture plays a critical role in our economy and this means that if it is not countered, then the country’s GDP will decrease leading to inflation. Higher inflation implies that I will have to dig deeper into my pockets to buy the basic products that I need as a student (Anthes et al 625). The last 30 years has recorded a new high on hazardous heat waves and severe droughts that have left many people dead. Such effects are termed by climate scientists to be among the consequences of global warming and they are expected to exacerbate in the coming years if nothing is done to curb them. The worst thing is that these effects of global warming have also had a negative effect on both human and marine health and the environment in general (Anthes et al 626). As an individual, I realize that there are steps that I can take to mitigate the effects of climate change. Although carbon from industries is considered the biggest contributor of global warming, it is also clear that other factors have led to the problem. One of these has been the cutting down trees that play a key role in rainmaking. In this line of thought, I intend to plant more trees and form pressure groups to compel the authorities to address this problem. Works Cited Alexy, Robert. Arguing Fundamental Rights. Dordrecht: Springer, 2006, 15–29. Print. Anthes, Correll et al. “Hurricanes and Global Warming: Potential Linkages and Consequences” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 87: 2010. 623-628. Print. Lean, Jean. “How Will Earth’s Surface Temperature Change in Future Decades?” Ceophysical Research Letters, 36: 2013. L157. Rivers, Julian. Law, Rights and Discourse. Oxford: Hart, 2007, 178–180. Print. Read More