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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Toastmasters Project # 9 (Persuade With Power) - Are You Doing Your Part to Stop Global Warming?

Do you know that our common neighbor, the tiny island nation of the Maldives, could sink beneath the ocean within 100 years, if Global Warming continues?

Do you know that, if Global Warming continues that there will be severe droughts which can cause conflicts and wars among nations?

Are you doing your part to stop Global Warming?

Dear Fellow Toastmasters and Distinguished Guests,

Salam Aleikum and Very Good Afternoon!

Global warming is creating enormous problems and disastrous consequences to us and to our future generations

I would like to draw your immediate attention to this commonly acknowledged global problem for the solution of which we feel that we cannot do anything as individuals. We think only the governments, big industries and commercial establishments can contribute to the mitigation of this global problem.

No! It is wrong!

We too as citizens of the global village can contribute a great deal to stop or minimize the Global Warming.

Let us have a closer look at some of the Deadliest Effects of Global Warming.

1. Polar Ice Caps are melting …Due to this sea levels will rise, desalinate sea and change ocean currents which regulate temperature, change landscapes and endanger certain species.

The largest single block of ice in the Arctic, the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, had been around for 3,000 years before it started cracking in 2000. Within two years it had split all the way through and is now breaking into pieces.

As mentioned earlier, our tiny neighbor may disappear from the face of the earth. This happens for no fault of theirs. Protection of nations like Maldives is a Global responsibility. To take their message to the world, Maldives' new president held its first cabinet meeting under water.

2. Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves .. Global warming makes certain parts of the world wetter but some other parts drier, like Africa. There will be severe droughts and this can cause conflicts and wars among nations.

The 1980 United States Heat Wave which lasted the whole summer of 1980 claimed almost 1700 lives.

These are some of the deadliest consequences of Global Warming. The actions I am going to highlight will prevent or minimize the amount of carbon dioxide being released to atmosphere. All what you need is to make some small changes in your daily life, in what you eat, what you drive, how you build your house, etc. I have a selected a few that we could do almost immediately.

1. Plant a tree. Trees, when fully grown, will help keep the planet cooler as they absorb carbon dioxide. Do you know that every time I go on vacation, I make sure some trees are planted in my lands? I may not be able to derive any benefit from these trees in my life but at least our younger generation will.

2. Do something as simple as walking instead of taking the car will help reduce pollution. As well as stopping pollution, you are giving yourself exercise. So the next time you get into your car think - do I have to make this journey by vehicle or can I walk? This is something, I usually follow. I am sure you too can do it.

3. When you are at home, and your getting a little cold. Put a jumper on and do not adjust the heating. The extra heat produced by our homes also affects the planet. So try wearing an extra layer in winter. One thing important is to put on socks, as you know if your feet are kept warm, you will feel warmer overall.

4. Keeping to the speed limit can also help the environment. The more you speed the more petrol you are going to use, making the pollution higher. Also, SUV’s make about six times their own weight in CO2 each year. A small fuel-efficient car covering the same distance not only uses much less fuel; it makes two thirds less CO2.

5. Where possible use solar energy, after all it is free; all you need to buy is the equipment. You can get much of your hot water and heating from the sun and even generate electricity.

6. Turning off unused sources of power such as televisions and heaters will help the environment, as well as save you money.

Dear Fellow Toastmasters, If everybody sticks to these rules, we would be doing a great thing by protecting the earth. After all, it will be our next generation that will feel the effects. Let us do our part!
Let me finish my speech with two quotations:

"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry." --Thomas Fuller (English Churchman, Historian)

"Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children." - Kenyan proverb

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