A Melting Planet Essay -- Glaciers Ecology Essays

A Melting Planet Although most glaciers and ice sheets reside in areas that man does not inhabit, they are nevertheless important for society and the global environment. Due to anthropogenic activities over the past two centuries, the temperature of the earth is rising at an alarming rate. This rise in temperatures has resulted in an overall loss of ice mass worldwide, including a rapid depletion in mountain glaciers. The effects of glacial melt will have a significant impact on the future of the human race, so it is therefore important to have a firm understanding of glaciers. In order for a glacier to form, all of three conditions must be met. Firstly, the climate of the area must be cold enough so that snow that falls during the previous winter does not melt away entirely before the next winter begins. Next, the region must get enough precipitation in the form of snow for a sufficient amount of accumulation. Finally, the slope of the ground must be gradual enough so that the accumulating snow does not avalanche away. As more and more snow accumulates over many years, it puts a great deal of pressure on the underlying layers. The upper layer of loose snow is 90% air and gives the surface of the glacier its white appearance. The next layer of snow is more granular and is roughly 50% air, while the final layer of snow is firm with only 25% air. Below these three layers, roughly at a depth of 250 meters, the pressure is so great that the snow forms into glacial ice, which gives glaciers their characteristic blue color. This ice has less than 20% air and it t akes at least 10,000 years to form(Marshak 670-2). The great pressure on the bottom layers of ice also lowers the melting point of the ice. The pressure at the base of... ...el. Despite this fear of rising seas, society continues to abuse fossil fuels. Works Cited Cyrosphere. http://www.panda.org/resources/publications/climate/climate_change/page4-5.htm Greenpeace: Ka Roimato – New Zealand. http://archive.greenpeace.org/~climate/docs/franz.pdf Marshak, Stephen. Earth: Portrait of a Planet. W.W. Norton & Company; New York, 2001. National Science Foundation – Ice Sheets. http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/support/icesheet.htm Nesje, Alte. Glaciers and Environmental Change. Oxford University Press; New York, 2000. Oerlemans, Johannes. Glaciers and Climate Change. A.A. Balkema Publishers; Lisse, 2001. USGS: Glacier Monitoring in Glacier National Park. http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/glaciers.htm Warrick, R.A. Climate and Sea Level Change: Observations, Projections, and Implications. Cambridge University Press; New York, 1993.

Belonging – ‘We Are Going’

What does the Oodgeroo Noonuccal poem ‘We Are Going’ have to say about Belonging and Not Belonging? How does the poet use language forms, features and structures to convey ideas and feelings? The poem ‘We Are Going’ by Oodgeroo Noonuccal is about the displacement of the Aboriginal people in Australian society/culture and their confusion about where or what to belong to as their traditional customs are taken away/forgotten. The text raises the issues and themes of ‘Belonging’ through a mostly-‘defeated’ tone as it shows their loss of tradition and culture in the new Australia.In order to create a sense of sympathy and consideration for the Aboriginal people, the poet uses a range of language forms and techniques to cause effect in this text. One of the most important of these is the writer’s use of Irony – in Lines 8-9 we see the words, â€Å"We are strangers here now, but the white tribe are the strangers. We belong h ere, we are of the old ways†. This statement, in particular, expresses the overall message of this poem while focusing on the ‘Belonging’ concept.The writer put forward the interesting yet tragic idea that the Aboriginal people no longer belong to their homeland, whereas the â€Å"White tribe† – who are unable to fully understand or appreciate it as the Indigenous do – have now overrun them and belong more to this land now than they do. This side of the poem brings it its tragic and â€Å"defeated† tone, thus affecting the reader. The language the poet uses is quite informal and colloquial, without using any slang. The feeling created is that of a story-telling almost.They also use some Indigenous words such as â€Å"corroboree† and â€Å"Dream Time†. This is in-keeping with the poet’s heritage and the nature of ‘belonging’ to a language and to a people. Using unusual, broken-meter and irregular phrasin g, the melancholy mood is heightened in that it doesn’t flow as a poem often does. This puts more emphasis on each line and makes it sound less like a poem, more like a short story. Then, in Lines 8-14, the constant repetition of the word â€Å"we† at the beginning of each line gives the poem a more defiant, hopeful edge; making it sound like a pledge.The blunt contrast between the words â€Å"We† and â€Å"They† at the beginning of many lines de-humanises the White people, making them seem more like an enemy or foe. The poet also uses very emotive words such as â€Å"Subdued and Silent†, â€Å"Dream Time†, â€Å"Laughter† and â€Å"Belong† to cause effect, as well as Visually-impacting words such as â€Å"Wandering Camp Fires†, â€Å"Lightening†, â€Å"Dark Lagoon† and â€Å"Shadow Ghosts†. These add to the emotional effect and eerie feel. Like a true Indigenous person (the author is clearly Aborigi nal by looking at her name and her use of â€Å"they† and â€Å"we†), they speak of the land like their mother, their provider (eg. The shrubs are gone, the hunting and the laughter. The eagle is gone, the emu and the kangaroo are gone from this place†, and so the poet asserts a strong connection and sense of ‘Belonging’ to the land and to their people, even though they are â€Å"dying out† as a culture and community. As the final line states, â€Å"And We Are Going†, the writer is not only stressing that their race or clan is becoming extinct, but also that the traditional Indigenous customs and traditions and being forgotten.These are a part of the Aboriginal culture and a significant thing, which they belong to as a people. This is shown through the writer’s emphasis on these customs and traditions in such lines as â€Å"We are the corroboree and the bora ground† and â€Å"We are the wonder tales of the Dream Time, the tribal legends told. † When the poet uses phrases like â€Å"The Shrubs are gone† and â€Å"The emu and kangaroo are gone from this place†, she doesn’t mean they are extinct completely, of course.What she is saying is, in fact, is that their traditional way of life is gone – the hunting and gathering, their â€Å"wandering camp fires†. The White people have come and taken over their land and have chased away many of the native plants, animals etc. and as such the Aboriginals are left confused and misplaced in their own land, becoming dependent on the Europeans for food, whereas before they were self-sufficient and able to hunt, and medicine, with the introduction of virus and disease.And so, basically, the poem is in fact a metaphor for the disappearing old way of life of the Aboriginal people and their connection and sense of Belonging to the land. It assumes a slightly nostalgic tone with traces of defiance in some parts but an overall sen se of hopelessness and defeat. Through it, we the reader meditate on the idea of ‘Belonging’ and ask ourselves what the Aboriginal people will belong to in our society where their old traditional ways are being taken away. In the words of Oodgeroo Noonuccal, â€Å"We Are Going†.

Worldview As A Person s Worldview - 1402 Words

A person’s worldview may not be my worldview, a person’s worldview is individual to the person. I would define worldview as a person’s specific bias or opinion on topics that influence how they look at the world and their surroundings from what is there to what is expected to be there. Now that I have a definition of a worldview, what is a christian worldview? With the article, A Christian Worldview, there are five points that make up a christian worldview. First, God exists and the world was created by Him. Secondly, humans who fully believe in God has enjoyment to look forward to after death because they can be with God, but everyone has a soul and spirit to go somewhere after they die. Third, science and metaphysics are not the only approach that explains the big bang theory and everything that exists today. Fourth, epistemology is not the only intellectuality that helps us perceive real senses. Last, there is a difference between objective morality and subj ective morality along with the Bible as a source for Christians to follow God’s will for our life (Drury 3). Likewise, with the five points to a person’s worldview and a christian worldview, terminally ill or extremely pained people end their life. Currently, there are four states that passed a law stating under certain circumstances a person is legally allowed to die with physician-assisted suicide. The opponents state that people have the right to refuse life prolonging treatment, but have no right to end theirShow MoreRelatedA Worldview Is A Person s Framework Of Ideas Essay1789 Words   |  8 PagesA worldview is a person’s framework of ideas that is used to interpret their view of reality. A worldview is a mental construction that is constantly being built by factors like culture, religion, language, beliefs, personal experiences, the historical context in which they exist in and their interaction with society. It is important to note that humanity does no t hold the same worldview because it is a personal view of the world that only exists in the mind. This ultimately affects how one behavesRead MoreA Person s World View May Not Be My Worldview1505 Words   |  7 Pagesmay not be my worldview, so how do I differ what a worldview is? Along with, how is a person’s worldview different from a christian worldview? When I read an encyclopedia the definition might look like this, a person’s specific bias or opinion on things that influence how they look at the world and the things around them from what is there to what is expected to be there. Now that I have a definition of a worldview, what is a christian worldview? With the article A Christian Worldview there are fiveRead MoreWorldview As A Person s Perception Of Life And Perspective Of The World1615 Words   |  7 PagesChristian Worldview Rachel Rotolo Liberty University  Table of Contents Part I 3 Part II 3 Part III 6 References 8 Part I A worldview is often defined as a person’s perception of life and perspective of the world. A worldview involves more than how a person interprets life, but it also involves a person’s philosophy of life, and a person’s decision-making (Gutierrez Weider, 2013). Gutierrez and Weider describe a worldview as the lenses that one looks through to see the world, and that whatRead MoreStereotypes And Perception Of A Worldview1221 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction In our first class we discussed that a worldview acts as a ‘filter’ through which we understand and perceive phenomena (Koltko-Rivera, 8). This discussion was very important, as understanding the meaning of the term worldviews laid the foundation on which the following classes could be built upon. â€Å"We don t see things as they are, we see them as we are† (Koltko-Rivera, 3) was the statement that stood out most for me, it explained how we are each shaped by our own personal experiencesRead MoreAt Any Given Point In Time, An Individual Has Established1260 Words   |  6 Pagesperspective is called a worldview. Delving further into the contexts of a worldview possess complexities because its essence differentiates from one person to the next. In general, a worldview affects an individual s mindset by developing and adjusting their outlook on reality. The characteristics of a worldview can stem from many causes in our lives in which forms how we think and why we do the things we do. Therefore, those said variables play an essential part of an individual s established frameRead MoreChristian Worldview And The Secular Worldview Of Account1245 Words   |  5 PagesTo compare the Christian worldview to the secular worldview of account, one must understand the definition of what a worldview is and what a Christian worldview looks like as well as what a secular worldview looks. According to Valk (2012), Worldviews are those larger pictures that inform and in turn form our perceptions of reality. They are visions of life as well as ways of life, are individual and personal, yet bind adherents together communally (p. 1). It is not uncommon for individuals toRead MoreWorldview Reflection Paper1327 Words   |  6 Pagesno idea that I had a worldview. I know my worldview didn’t change, but my understanding of myself, others and what that means changed enormously. I learned something very useful and important about the way I perceive things a nd gain knowledge; I learned about things I didn’t know previously. In the book, The Universe Next Door (2009), Sire communicates various worldviews. For any of us to be fully conscious intellectually, we should not only be able to detect the worldviews of others but be awareRead MoreOur Outlook On Life Is An Ultimate Of Beliefs, Teachings, And Morals849 Words   |  4 Pages and morals. Even greater, how one views the world. As a follower of Christ, a woman after God s own heart, a Christian, my world view is defined and greatly impacted my the Bible. As Dr. Henderson stated in his presentation, [worldview] determines the shape of someone’s emotions, one’s wisdom, one’s desires, and one’s will. Everything one looks at, thinks, and does is influenced by their worldview. An articulation of basic beliefs embedded in a shared grand story rooted in faith commitment andRead MoreHorton Hears a Worldview640 Words   |  3 PagesWorldview is an idea or image of the relationship between humanity and the universe. In Horton Hears a Who, there are a few main characters: Kangaroo, Horton, and the mayor of Whoville. Each character has their own worldview. Kangaroo’s worldview is naturalism, while Horton and the mayor have a relatively same worldview: theism. The movie depicts that no matter how hard someone believes in something, there will always be obstacles and if they stay true to their worldview they can overcome them. EachRead MoreThe View Of A Worldview1155 Words   |  5 Pagesconsists of many different humans who have many different opinions on life. I cannot begin to explain each worldview. But what exactly is a worldview? We can just break the word down and say a person’s view on the world, or viewing the world through different religi ons or through other people. Everyone has a worldview, and all people act and in a certain way because they are guided by a certain worldview. Sample states, â€Å"The interpretive ‘lens’ helps people make sense of life and comprehend the world around