Wednesday, September 14, 2011
What I did this summer and how it connects to the world
These past few years have been filled with countless natural disaster that have taken place all over the world. Including the tsunami and earthquake that took place in Japan (click to see story) only a few months ago to the most recent flood that happened in Nigeria.(click to see story) Talking about what I did this summer seems pretty insignificant but there are connections everywhere in the world. At the beginning of the summer I traveled to Florida with some friends and the drought season was starting to begin. I never would have noticed how much this particular drought was effecting the state except for the local air boat tour businesses. They depend on the swamps in florida to run their alligator tours. While talking to the owner of the business after the ride he mentioned to me that the boats can usually travel much faster but because of the low levels of the water they aren't going to get as much business and these were the lowest levels he has seen in ten years. This is only one example of the types of issues that global warming is causing and will continue to cause. The other half of my summer I spent working with my dad counting parts for his business. It sounds very irrelevant but these parts that I was counting were actually semi-conductors (click here to see about semi- conductors in japan) that are made in large factories in Japan. Due to the major earth quake that just took place the conductors were no longer being produced for a period of time due to the state that Japan is in. My dad had bought these parts perviously and had me distribute them to companies all over the world that rely on these semi-conductors for their line of work. they many not have been life saving but to someone it mean their job. Many other events occurred over the summer as well all over the world that connect to everything we do in our daily lives and you never have to look farther then your next meal because chances are it will have any connections with the world as well.
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Naomi, it is true, global warming is affecting us everyday. I did not go anywhere that was under the threat of natural disasters,but my cousins traveled to St.Marteen where Hurricaine Irene was suppose to hit. By the time Irene hit it was very small causing only slight rain fall. Great job on your blog
ReplyDeleteNaomi, great job on acknowledging the problems in our world and what has transpired over the past few months. It is sad to visit places effected by various natural disasters. When I visited Kenya this past summer, I saw first hand the drought impacting the lives of those living in Eastern Africa.
ReplyDeleteThrough raising awarness about these natural disasters and the issues, hopefully, we can make a difference!
Wow, it’s pretty crazy when you think all the people and businesses affected by one small environmental change. I suppose that change starts with one effect and then that effect ripples through businesses and the population. One question I do have for you though is how are decreasing water levels related to global warming?? I thought global warming was causing ice caps to melt resulting in elevated sea levels which could result in flooding not droughts.
ReplyDeleteThe same principle applies to the semi-conductors you helped distribute. Japan couldn’t provide them so the companies they supplied to had to go without. This would cause certain jobs that rely on the semi-conductors to be impossible. This in turn would result in downsizing that could put hundreds out of work. Without jobs these people couldn’t provide for their families. It’s crazy how to think an earthquake on one side of the world can affect the jobs of people on the opposite side and everywhere in between.