Parish
Prevent Global Warming Now
RECEIVED Thu., March 28, 2013
Dear Editor,
I recently read the article "Environment: Don't Hold Your Breath" by Amy Smith [News, Dec. 14, 2012], that discusses Texas's current legislation and Senate bills. The article touches on some current progress being made, and also legislators' hopes for the future. I’m a student at the University of Texas and right now I’m taking a class called "Humans and a Changing Ocean." Before taking this class, I had no idea how big of a role our world’s oceans have in the global warming process that has started to transpire in recent decades. I also had no idea how significant and pressing the situation is. In this class, I am learning how to communicate the knowledge that scientists have observed and discovered with policy makers that have the power to enforce the needed changes. I have also learned that intertwining both sides is not easy because scientists and policy makers think differently and come from entirely different worlds. Even though both professions come from opposite sides of the spectrum, both have society’s best interest in mind. As a native Texan and new Austinite, I love reading about the senators and state representatives that show awareness of the growing situation of global warming. It is up to the community to follow the laws and regulations set in place by them. But in order for a broad change to be made, all lawmakers must be fully conscious of global warming and its effects. We may not start to see very detrimental effects for years to come, but scientists are already starting to see signs. Why not start preventing now? It’s not only up to the community, but more so the policy makers to be the ultimate role models. They must set aside their pride and listen to what scientists are trying to explain to them. Thank you again for writing on this topic and helping to inform our capital city of laws in the making. I really appreciate it!
I recently read the article "Environment: Don't Hold Your Breath" by Amy Smith [News, Dec. 14, 2012], that discusses Texas's current legislation and Senate bills. The article touches on some current progress being made, and also legislators' hopes for the future. I’m a student at the University of Texas and right now I’m taking a class called "Humans and a Changing Ocean." Before taking this class, I had no idea how big of a role our world’s oceans have in the global warming process that has started to transpire in recent decades. I also had no idea how significant and pressing the situation is. In this class, I am learning how to communicate the knowledge that scientists have observed and discovered with policy makers that have the power to enforce the needed changes. I have also learned that intertwining both sides is not easy because scientists and policy makers think differently and come from entirely different worlds. Even though both professions come from opposite sides of the spectrum, both have society’s best interest in mind. As a native Texan and new Austinite, I love reading about the senators and state representatives that show awareness of the growing situation of global warming. It is up to the community to follow the laws and regulations set in place by them. But in order for a broad change to be made, all lawmakers must be fully conscious of global warming and its effects. We may not start to see very detrimental effects for years to come, but scientists are already starting to see signs. Why not start preventing now? It’s not only up to the community, but more so the policy makers to be the ultimate role models. They must set aside their pride and listen to what scientists are trying to explain to them. Thank you again for writing on this topic and helping to inform our capital city of laws in the making. I really appreciate it!
Katie Ricks
