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what is your opinion? use reasons and examples to support your answer Posted by flona on Oct 27, 2009. |
Science Group
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Yes to both. Of course some things people are doing hurt the planet. If you believe in global warming, like most scientists do, that's the most obvious example. But there are others, such as all the runoff from agricultural chemicals that goes down the Mississippi and creates a huge dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Of course human activity makes earth a better place for humans to live. I would not like to live on a planet where human activity hadn't killed off most of the large predators (anyone like to run away from a sabertooth tiger or a grizzly bear)? We've also managed to make it so we can live through winters in comfort, etc. So the problem is making sure we don't harm the planet too much. And it's hard to know at what point that happens. Posted by pohnpei397 on Oct 27, 2009. |
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Most certainly all human activities are designed with the objective of making the world a better place to live in for human. And some very selected parts are indeed made more comfortable by such human activities. But unfortunately, as a result of such improvements some other parts of the earth are being harmed also. Take for example of the air-conditioned house you live in. The air-conditioner is cooling your house to make it more comfortable. But there is no way this air conditioner can work without making aria outside the house warmer. Air conditioning of one single house does not make any significant difference to the world, but combined effect of all the air-conditioner in a world that is already too warm for comfort can be serious. Then in addition to direct effect of operation of the air conditioner think of the pollution created by the utility to generate power for the air-conditioner. That creates pollution also, directly releasing additional heat in the atmosphere plus causing global warming through greenhouse effect. Thus there are chains hundreds of such activities and industry, each of which damages the environment in one way or the other. This include air, land and water pollution. In addition it leads to destruction of flora and fauna, particularly reduction of forest area which is so important for converting carbon dioxide back to Oxygen and in absorbing part of sun's heat received by earth. It is not possible for humans to go back to the prehistoric ways of living to avoid the damage to the environment. In any case the current population of the world just cannot be sustained with that kind of technology and economy. However there is distinct need to find ways of improving condition of existing population in a way that does not lead to destruction of mankind itself in the long run. Posted by krishna-agrawala on Oct 27, 2009. |
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It makes it a better place for HUMANS to live, but this could very well be in the short term. We haven't exactly made things better for a lot of other animal, and plant species. We have decreased the diversity of life on earth, and less diverse ecosystems are in general less healthy ecosystems. There is no question we have done things to the planet that we may not even be able to understand. Who really knows what will happen as a result of the huge island of trash that is floating around the Pacific, for example? Posted by lynn30k on Oct 30, 2009. |
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I think that the answer is yes to both questions. As others have pointed out, human activity does both make it a better place for humans to live, and there are some things we have done that harm the planet. I would argue, though that part of what we do is we learn about how ouractivities affect the animal life and the world around us in general. The more we learn, the more we can do to create a sustainable world, where humans live in comfort and we are eco-friendly. I think, like in most things, that there is a balance. I also think that we are getting closer to finding that balance, because our activities are not JUST limited to enhancing our own comfort. We are trying to study the world around us and learn about our effects on it. That being said, however, I think that human lives are worth more morally than animal lives. (I sure do like a nice hamburger every now and then!) We will probably never create a perfect Utopia where everyone lives in peace and we are not harming the environment in any way, but we can strive to do better. Posted by nofret on Oct 30, 2009. |

