CW6: 3579

From Environmental Technology

PHS 101

CW6

a) Click on the article, "Hurricanes vs. Homes: Should Building on U.S. Coasts Be Stopped?" Discuss the article's point of view, and how it pertains to population, environment, and ethics. (10 points)

OK

The article brings up some very interesting points; however, it does not seem to be biased toward one idea. Snce people will always be rebuilding along the coast, I think the idea of enforcing stronger building codes is a very good one. Despite the risks, people will always want to live where they can see the water. In 1960 about 80 million people in the U.S. lived in coastal areas, including the Great Lakes. Thirty years later population in those areas was about 110 million. By 2010 the figure is predicted to be 127 million. It's easy for someone like me to say they shouldn't be allowed to rebuild at all, but the problem of who pays for the land these people all ready own comes up. I say, what about the cost of the taxpayers who continually rebuild these ares over and over?

b) Click on the article, "China Makes Stable Energy Supplies Top Priority for Economic Planning" Discuss the article's point of view, and how it pertains to population, environment, and ethics. (10 points)

OK

"Ma and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs signed an agreement Monday on developing techniques to capture carbon dioxide from coal burning power plants, which supply more than two-thirds of China's electricity, and store it underground to prevent it from polluting the air. Emissions from those plants are viewed as a growing risk for global warming." I would say so! Maybe that is better on the air, but what might it be causing underground? China's need for more oil and gas exploration and development is bound to continue as the country diversifies its sources of oil and gas. Currently, China imports 95 percent of its oil by sea and hopes to build up land-based supply systems as well.