it has been crazyyy hot the past week.
it makes me wonder about the melting polar ice.
im not kidding.
well i admit apart from my breakouts and how it'll affect my face as well.
Obama is more like an idol figure.
the always smiling president that even attends comedian talk shows to reach out to more audiences.
people are concerned with everything about him.
even his new black (yes black) pooch gets featured on the newspaper, citing it as becoming the world's most famous dog.
many believed in him and his words, not only because he marks an unprecedented milestone in US racial history, but also because of the belief in his ability.
i have read his speeches, and they were inspiring all right.
but as to proving his words with actions and measuring the effectiveness of his policies, given the current economic situation, takes time.
so i wouldn't comment on it.
what pleased me today,
was his stance to finally allow US to join the world's fight against environmental damage, instead of turning a blind eye to the issue as George bush had in 2001.
i've googled some facts here:
April 27, 2001 President George W. Bush delivered what may be a coup de grâce to the Kyoto Protocol, a United Nations agreement that calls for cuts in the emissions of greenhouse gases by industrialized countries, when he flatly stated that he would not support the global warming treaty, which was signed but not ratified by the U.S. The announcement triggered a torrent of angry reaction, particularly from European nations, but from U.S. environmentalists as well.I know this, because i had studied this as a case study when i was in sec school. and even then i thought of how selfish americans are. they clearly have the power, both political and economical to make a change. because of their short-sightedness in focusing only on their present prosperity and failing to realise their involvement and decision could affect their future, they are jeopardizing the rest of the world's future as well. the effect of environmental problems are perilous but not felt directly. that's why only environmentalists raised their oppositions. you and me, we just don't care.
today, US has affected the whole world with their selfish indulgences yet again. it is due to their self-centered lifestyle and focus on extravagant purchases beyond their abilities to repay that WE have to suffer. that innocent 3rd world countries become even poorer. it is because of their wants for even fatter bonuses that families in 3rd world countries reduce their meals from perhaps once a day to struggling to even finding any food. these chain effects are bound to bite them at the back and we can witness them now from the increase in crime rate, piracy attacks in the coasts.
finally, Obama is doing something right for the US citizens. after 8 years of burying their heads in the sand like an ostrich, he has made an environmental move to involve his country in making a difference. late, but better than never.
Obama to regulate ‘pollutant’ CO2 By Richard Black April 17, 2009 The US government is to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, having decided that it and five other greenhouse gases may endanger human health and well-being…...."Fortunately, it follows President Obama’s call for a low-carbon economy and strong leadership in Congress on clean energy and climate legislation; and… the solution is one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country’s dependence on foreign oil." …...In the endangerment finding, the EPA now cites a number of impacts that it believes may impact significantly on US citizens, including: * an increased risk of droughts and floods * sea level rise * more intense storms and heatwaves * harm to water supplies, agriculture and wildlife
Ms Jackson concluded that these impacts would fall disproportionately on people who were poor or in ill health, and on indigenous groups.
The EPA quoted a 2007 report by a group of retired generals and admirals who said that climate change presented "national security challenges" for the US.
Environmental groups said this was the latest sign that the Obama administration is taking a very different line on climate change from its predecessor. if you wikipedia it, you'll find that US is the largest emission of CO2 in the world in 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions
Singapore is 59th.
and these are absolute numbers.
if you think about it, it's crazy for such a small country like us to rank 59th in the world.
just think about it,
and feel the 'direct' impact on us today, this very moment.
updated at 12:18 PM.
