"350"

Last year I took a class to fulfill a general education requirement in information literacy, UUNL206x, which was taught by Irina Holden. This class was aimed at research in the physical and natural sciences. Entering the class, I did not have many expectations besides completing my requirement in information literacy, but the class proved to be very valuable to the rest of my college career thus far. One of the things that stuck with me after completing the course, besides some of the very valuable research techniques, is that I continue to read the New York Times via the Internet. This was required for the class but the habit remained after the course because of the valuable information, particularly in the science and health sections.

One article in the science section caught my eye in its relatedness to this class. The article is titled “Campaign to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Picks a Number” by Andrew C. Revkin and was published on October 24, 2009. The article focuses on the number “350”, its significance, and why environmentalist campaign’s are choosing to display awareness of this number. The number 350 is in reference to the number of carbon dioxide parts per million (ppm) present in our atmosphere, that if surpassed can cause drastic effects on the atmosphere and climate. Currently, the number stands at 387 ppm according to the article, a significant increase over the recommended maximum. Some scientists say that 350 is an impossible goal at the present time or in the near future and almost seems absurd. Regardless of the actual number, the goal should be to decrease the current level not slow the rise or halter the increase. www.350.org has some valuable information on the subject matter and is run by environmentalist Bill McKibben. Sociologists question this older tactic in the fight against global warming and deleterious environmental effects, and say that a fight with legislation and litigation would be more effective. I agree, but this is a start and awareness is always the first step in progress.

So how can we decrease this number? Well one way is to decrease and limit emissions of various harmful substances that we have become so accustomed to. (i.e. fossil fuels and coals) We must plant trees; not destroy them. Overall this is a problem that we (the human race) will have to deal with and the main focus as we have so eloquently discussed in this class is “change”. Renovation of our current lifestyle and overhaul of the things we depend on and use for energy.

References:

http://www.350.org/understanding-350#6

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/science/earth/25threefifty.html?_r=1&ref=science