Current Crisis in America

Although the skeptics were thinking that the Global warming will never cross the threshold that it would ever become unmanageable. Alas! The Global warming phenomena is very much evident now. It has become a reality now. Weather conditions are changing sharply and its implications are already evident. We see now unprecedented cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, Katrinas, excessive rains , floods, forest fires, severe droughts etc. It is causing thousands of deaths every year. Billions of dollars of properties are being wasted. Millions are becoming homeless. Children are forced to go out of school. Thousands become homeless and jobless. Millions suffer from various diseases. Business looses millions of dollars. Rehabilitation takes many years and costs billions of dollars of public funds, which weakens the economy of the nation.

Melting of polar ice has started raising concerns in the minds of many. There is a potential fear that many island nations will go down the sea. The prediction is that there is a chance rising the sea level by 4-6 meters. Obviously, this might bring many low lying island nations down into the sea. Coastal cities would also face similar such problems.

Concrete examples of Global warming an astonishing news that the famous SHIVA LINGA in Amarnath, high above the Himalayas, has melted completely before the pilgrims even arrived there this year (2007). This is a sacred place for pilgrimage for the Hindus. For generations, never ever the “SHIVA LINGA” melted away before the arrival of the pilgrims on a particular day of the year, year after year.

While the entire world is worried, USA is held responsible for releasing the largest amount of “Green House Gases ( water vapor, CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide)” in the air. While the short-wave radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, those green house gases rebound the long-wave radiation back to earth’s surface causing the Global warming phenomena.

America has lost its legitimacy to tell others to stop/control it. Recently, it has come to the world attention that China has planned to construct several coal-driven power industry, which is known to emit CO2 in large amounts in the air. In such a case, it would be the World’s largest carbon emitter. But that does not mean that USA’s responsibilities to bring down carbon emission in the air are going to be diminishing any way.

USA’s consumption of petroleum fuel is one of the highest in the world, thereby it was held responsible for depleting this precious natural resource at a faster rate. America so far did not pay much of an attention to the warning of the G-8 nations, and also their requests to ring the bell in this regard. USA must act soon to reduce its carbon emissions in the air so that others can follow.

It is also alarming that Green cover is diminishing fast from USA, Brazil and other countries in Africa and South East Asia. Forests are getting lost every year because of forest fires also. Billions of dollars are wasted and at the same time it cause a great imbalance in our environment.

Because of population increase, the need for making their housing also increased. Woods are one of the major sources for building houses. Forest woods are also poor people’s energy source. . So green Cover is decreasing sharply from the world. We know that plants usually absorb CO2 and release oxygen. Lesser plants mean lesser absorption of CO2 from the air. That helps increasing CO2 level in the air further. The world must come closer to address these issues along with many others to save our planet.

The Industrial greed for more profits together with increasing consumerism are sweeping over the entire US market for about last five decades. Both the industries and the Government ignored almost totally the deleterious effects of industrial pollution. No major efforts were taken towards an effective pollution control measures to protect our water bodies, air and soil. An overwhelming number of cars are now plying on the American roads emitting toxic exhausts. Industrial chimneys are freely emitting toxic gases in the air. Toxic chemicals are being dumped in ponds, lakes, rivers and springs. As a result, Carbon dioxide emissions plagued cities after cities. Water and air have become polluted. Bronchitis, allergy, lung and skin diseases are on the rise.

It is to be realized that increasing emissions of CFCs and other chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons in the air already created Ozone hole in the South and North poles, allowing harmful UV radiation to fall directly on earth’s surfaces.

Crisis in America:

All the above presents a picture of America which is immersed in sky--rocketing problems. What has gone wrong, America? Are we living in the same America as it used to be 40-50 years ago? Obviously not! America has lost its control. America has lost its balance and its managerial capacity. American policy is no longer pro-people. To cover up one mistake it is making more mistakes. Most of the policies and laws are aimed at filling the tanks of those which are already full. Empty pockets are remaining empty. Only the few opportunistic people are minting money like anything. Special interest groups, lobbyists, contractors and suppliers have made inroads in Washington. They do not care about others but only to fill up their own pockets and that of their mentors. Our representatives in Washington only scratch each others back. So either this party or the other, it hardly matters. The people do not see much changes happening anyway.