Climate Change.

Many people argue that climate change and global warming is a normal cycle of the planet and that humans have no influence in climate change and global warming whatsoever.  The opposing side of that argues that climate change and global warming is due to human impacts and that we need to be more conscience of what we are doing to our environment.

I would have to be somewhere in the middle.  I do think that global warming and climate change is something that is normal, since the earth has experienced climate changes in the past.  At the same time, I do think the impacts and effects of global warming are increased due to human impact.

(This use to be a colorful, thriving coral reef.  It has been bleached due to increases in sea levels and ocean temperature.)

I do believe that the impacts and effects will be detrimental to ecosystems, plants, animals and humans.    The earth is warming at such a high rate that plants and animals do not have the chance to evolve and adapt to their new, hotter environment.  Even animals and plants that prefer warmer climates.  As the planet heats up we will be seeing increased droughts, massive hurricanes, and devastating floods.  Many people do believe Hurricane Sandy, the drought in the midwest and tornados that rip through the midwest and south each year and linked to climate change and that they are getting worse.  I would have to somewhat agree.  I do feel like every year each natural disaster gets worse and worse and each year I think it was hotter than the last and each summer is more unbearable than the last.

The fate of the planet does concern me and it hurts my heart to think that some of the worlds most beautiful creatures won't be here in ten years because their habitats will be destroyed, due to global warming.

What the US and Europe would look like once all of the ice melted.

The Ranchers.

It is unfortunate that money seems to have so much power over everything.  It is especially unfortunate that money is more important than generations and generations of a family's ranch.  Large companies are coming in and pretty much giving ranchers no choice but to give up their land.  I don't think that is it really fair to have the ranchers in the Southwest exploited in a way that their animals are placed on an endangered list in order to avoid the ranchers making a profit on their land.  I don't think it is fair or ethical that the large investment companies are placing the blame on the farmers and ranchers in order to get access to their land.  

I was happy the rancher in Arizona successfully defended his position and his cattle, (that they did not degrade the area he was using) and that he was awarded some sum of money.  Hopefully this offset some of the legal costs that I am sure he endured.  

The Not-So Tragedy of the Commons

An example of a resource that people have access to but do not overuse would be public parks.  Public parks are put into place for people to enjoy, play, be outside in fresh air, exercise, walk their dogs etc.  The play ground equipment, picnic tables, public pools, public baseball, soccer and football fields are there for people enjoy and use at their leisure.  Public parks, along with the features found within them could be considered resources that are used by people who enjoy being outside, wanting to exercise etc.  These resources could be used or borrowed numerous times by numerous people and would never be overused.  Since the resources are being used, returned to the way they were found and reused again there is no tragedy taking place.