Jared Diamond author of “The Ends of the World as We Know Them” highlights the reasons for the disappearance of early civilizations. Civilizations like the Mayans, Incas and Aztecs once inhabited the earth for hundreds of years, However; when these advanced civilizations reached the pinnacle of their capability, they faced tragedies such as war, unusual weather, environmental deprivation, terminated trade markets and unscrupulous leaders who contributed to the destruction of their civilization. One significant idea portrayed from Diamond’s article is that there are many factors that threaten American civilization. America is threatened by the destruction of their own environment. United States is known for their innovation towards alternative energy like solar power, wind power and nuclear power. However , these alternative energies are not completely beneficial towards the United States. For example, Hydrofracking; What is hydrofracking? Gas industries use hydrofracking to extract natural gases from shale ground in order to power Americans homes. When gas industries hydrofrack, they dig ten-thousand feet into the mantle of the earth and turn perpendicular to the t into shale layers with cement and steel casing to prevent leaks. Then rupture the layer of sediment with high pressures of water, sand and a plethora of chemicals. Once the chemicals are saturated in the crevices of the drill site, they extract the excess fluid and then ship them to market. The process of hydrofracking allows for a new source of renewable energy, but it takes a toll on the environment. Five-hundred plus of toxic chemicals like hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride and formic acid are left in the ground. The chemicals produce gases, there... ... middle of paper ... ...nched from North Korea and fell after flying for just over a minute," Japanese Defence Minister Naoki Tanaka said.”(-North). Also America’s defense secretary Chuck Hagel defends this case saying “neither Iran nor North Korea is capable of attacking the United States with a missile armed with a nuclear warhead.”(-Hagel). The article by Jared Diamond called “The End of The World as We Know Them” explains to us we have the chance to change our future from previous civilianization like Mayans. One alternative that we can infer is a stronger focus on benefiting the earth and not our self. For example instead of using war to gain more resources from other countries and cause more damage to other civilization, we should all live in peace and live natural energy from the sun like solar panels. If we keep the ground that we live on, we can keep our lives that we dwell on.
Jared Diamond, author of the Pulitzer Prize Winning, National Best Selling book Guns, Germs and Steel, summarizes his book by saying the following: "History followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples' environments, not because of biological differences among peoples themselves." Guns, Germs and Steel is historical literature that documents Jared Diamond's views on how the world as we know it developed. However, is his thesis that environmental factors contribute so greatly to the development of society and culture valid? Traditions & Encounters: A Brief Global History is the textbook used for this class and it poses several different accounts of how society and culture developed that differ from Diamond's claims. However, neither Diamond nor Traditions are incorrect. Each poses varying, yet true, accounts of the same historical events. Each text chose to analyze history in a different manner. Not without flaws, Jared Diamond makes many claims throughout his work, and provides numerous examples and evidence to support his theories. In this essay, I will summarize Jared Diamond's accounts of world history and evolution of culture, and compare and contrast it with what I have learned using the textbook for this class.
A mixture of processes and voyagers transformed America into a “new world”, catching the world by surprise. America would not have developed to the period of existence today, if it was not for this growing period of the “old” and “new” worlds.
In today's global economy, energy is one of the most crucial and sought after commodities. Who supplies it and how much they supply determines how much influence they have over other countries as well as the global economy. This is why hydraulic fracturing is currently such an important and controversial topic in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as "fracking" or hydrofracturing, is the process of using pressurized liquids to fracture rocks and release hydrocarbons such as shale gas, which burns more efficiently than coal. This booming process of energy production provides a much needed economic boost, creating jobs and providing gas energy for Americans.
On April 22, 1997 Jared Diamond, an American scientist, author, bio geographer, and professor, addresses the topic of patterns in human history and conquests taken place around A.D. 1500 in “Why Did Human Unfold Differently Continents for The Last 13,000 Years?” to the Edge Foundation. Diamond uses proximate reasons like military and technological advantages, the spread of contagious diseases introduction by the Europeans, the political organization and writing. I agree with his views that other things being equal, the rate of human invention is faster and the rate of cultural loss is slower in areas with with competing societies and in contact with societies elsewhere. I believe he used more proximate reasoning because those are most commonly known. His purpose is to understand so we don’t repeat history. Also he wants to provide us with a convincing alternate explanation to the currently racist in order to eradicate racist theories. He adopts an informative tone for his audience members of the Edge Foundation and others interested in the topic. Diamond's approach on analyzing human evolution takes a more scientific route. History and biology are both intertwined in his reading.
Even in America, some of the civilizations had begun collapsing mainly due to over usage of raw materials and climate changes. However, the change of the civilization was not devastating as the outcomes of the diseases that came with the Europeans. The diseases was estimated by scholars to have wiped out 90 percent of the people living at that time bracket (Anandajoti, 2014).
Conflicting reports make it difficult to discern just how detrimental the practice is to the environment and people. What is known is that fracking uses phenomenal amounts of water, which is becoming a scarce resource in many parts of the country. There is no doubt that the fluid used in the fracking process contains chemicals, and when released into water supplies, has negative effects on these sources. Injection of flowback materials into deep wells has been definitively linked to increased seismic activity.
...tion, but a pessimistic one because change is hindered by the system of capitalism that prioritizes the needs of the market and economy before the environment, which is a paradox in itself because markets need the environment to produce the materials that allow it to survive to begin with first place. To reiterate Wright, the progress trap is hitting modern society and people should recall fallen civilizations in order to escape what is inevitable: collapse. Delaying the collapse is not good enough, and changing the track no matter how difficult a move this is, is needed in order to prevent to sustain life on Earth.
In an advertisement from ExxonMobil, they explain how fracking works. “First once the necessary infrastructure is in place a drilling rig is assembled and inspected in accordance with the required safety and environmental standards.” After drilling a hole about a mile and a half away from groundwater layers of steel and cement casing are inserted. Then a perforating device creates tiny hole in the casing and rocks. Comprised of mostly sand and water, fluid, also called fracking fluid, is pumped into the wellbore. The gas trapped inside the shale zone is released and brought up to the surface where it can provide a cleaner energy source for over a hundred years. (ExxonMobil).
Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is the process of extracting natural gas from the ground. A well is drilled vertically to the shale layer (where the natural gas is located), then turns ninety degrees and continues horizontally for several thousand feet into the shale. A mix of water, sand, and chemicals is pumped into the
“In 1821 decades before the first oil well was drilled, commercial shale gas was extracted in Fredonia, New York”(Sovacool 250). The availability of natural gas and its relatively clean properties has allowed the expansion of natural gas extraction. By the year 2005, the extraction of shale gas had expanded with the discovery of hydraulic fracturing. In the United States alone it has led to an enormous growth in the oil industry and this technology has been adopted by many other countries around the world including Iran, Canada, and Europe. As a result, the country is less dependent on foreign countries to meet the growing demand for natural gas, and it has improved the country’s economy while producing less carbon emissions into the atmosphere. But what is hydraulic fracturing?
What is it? Oil companies pump a combination of water, sand and toxic chemicals in to the earth crust to break up shale. This process facilitates the release of natural gasses, which serve as a source of energy.
The process starts with drilling a hole into the ground where hard rock formations are abundant. Shale, tight sand, and coal seam are primarily used as natural gas deposits in the United States (EPA, 2016). The hole is then drilled horizontally, usually for miles across to access enough shale rock. Large volumes of fluid are sent down the opening at a highly pressurized rate (BBC, 2015). The fluid, a mixture of chemicals, water, and sand, is sent along the horizontal section, which causes the geological formation to break, or fracture from the pressure. Within these fractures are natural gas molecules, which are forced to the ground surface when they are released by the fracking fluid. Massive amounts of fresh water from local sources are needed; approximately 5 million gallons (Gottlieb, 2012). This form of natural gas extraction increases the amount of fresh water used by each natural gas well by as much as one hundred times the quantity used in conventional drilling (Gilbert, 2010). Risk of contamination can be through seepage or spillage into ground water supply, improper wastewater disposal, and natural gas leakage (EPA, 2016). Rural communities and fracturing have a higher risk of being exposed to toxic fracturing fluid and poor air
Solar, wind, and hydroelectricity are all great ideas, however as outlined in the recent Alternative Lie Series these alternatives still require extensive research and development (R&D) before they can be deemed as viable options to replace oil. Some of these alternate energy sources are simply too costly for the average American family, while others have components that are not safe for the environment. Until suitable energy alternatives are created, Americans can continue to depend on our established network of oil refineries and pipelines.
Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracking, is the process of natural gas extraction from shale (fine grained sedimentary rock) deep within the earth, and considered a relatively new process. Although the technique of fracking has been known since the 1940s, only in the recent decade has there been a fracking boom. The process of fracking begins with a vertically drilled well, which then turns ninety degrees and continues horizontally into the shale rock layer. A mix of several thousand tonnes of sand, around eight million litres of water, and two hundred thousand litres of various chemicals (known as fracking fluid) is then pumped at high pressures into the well to create fissures which the gas can use to escape. The sand is used to prevent the cracks from closing, the chemicals are used to compress the water, kill bacteria and dissolve the minerals. The natural gas that escapes is then drawn back up the well to the surface, where it is processed and shipped. After the fracking process is completed, wastewater, containing potentially toxic chemicals, returns to the surface. Once the gas source is exhausted, the wastewater is pumped back into the deep underground layers and the well is sealed. This article will address how fracking contributes to water pollution, and the resulting effects.
By showing the world the severity of our need for conservation, we will be able to save the earth and get the most out of our resources. We need to fix this problem before it becomes uncontrollable to the point of having no resources to supply our needs. By reducing our consumption of resources, we will be able to become closer to fixing the problem of global warming, high gasoline prices and pesticide filled meats. The outcome of respecting our world and “going green” will better how we live our lives, our communities and the environment. The concept of “going green” is a necessity for the future because “our children deserve cities as beautiful as they are.