Thursday, 10 December 2009

Blogprompt number five: Christmas




To be fair, cultural festivals such as christmas come once in a year. In such occasions families come together and have a prosperous day. Obviously during this festive season people rejoice. To express their happiness, they exchange gifts, cook best dishes and light fireworks to celebrate.

It would be harsh or unrealistic to say these festivals are not sustainable because it would be too much exaggaration when we say we would not do a thing to interfere with the climate. One day's event would not make the climate deteriorate. We would be far from reality when we say we will leave out all festivals in the name of sustainable living. I believe living happily and rejoicing once in a while is also sustainable living.

However, I do agree on the avoidance of embarassing self indulgence due to intoxicants for example alcohol not only in festivals, even in our day to day living as it brings 100% harm and 0% good. Festivals and our day to day lives are meant to make us happy and boost our spirits and to be safe as well and not to embarass us.

Blog number four: The newspapers and TV programmes


I would say the best selling UK newspapers cover stories to serious issues but sometimes they exaggerate. It is their role to cover issues because many people rely on them as we can see from the table given many people buy these papers so, it is their duty to put reliable information and not to exaggerate on matters of put double standards on issues. With The Sun, many times as I read the paper it talks in favour of the New Right ideas and when I read the Guardian most times it talks in favour of the Labour party atleast this is how I feel.

So, many papers have so much power and influence in this country because most people believe in whatever it is written in these papers and also they write what the society want to hear. The most watched television programmes in the United Kingdom mostly they act on daily social issues and some unrealistic matters things that we would fantasise for example happy endings in love stories or maybe too much violence and viewers really get influenced and imitate for example in soaps where there is a beautiful heroine or handsome hero everyone would want to be like them. Coming back to climate change; I think when they start mentioning it in programmes like Coronation street or Eastenders maybe people would be more interested and aware in the Go Green Plan for example if the best character does recycling or any other positive aspect in the name of preventing global warming such as walking or cycling instead of using cars it might be a great influence to the fans. Having said that a celebrity like Simon Cowel on of the judges in X-factor and Britain's got Talent starts cycling wouldn't it be a great impact on the society of the United Kingdom?!

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Blogpromt Number Three

One of the central themes underpinning sustainable development is equality and fairness. This is reflected in the concept of 'empowered citizenship- in that we can all make contribution to making our community a better place now and in the future.

As a citizen it is my duty to informed. I am informed but I do not think it is effective enough. The primary sources of these information obout climate change mainly is the TV or newspaper. It is not always that a person reads the paper or instead of watching documentaries and the news you can watch other channels which are no where near talking about sustainable development.

The distribution of leaflets in my opinion is an effective way to inform people about climate change or advertisements in all channels not only particular channels. The internet has information for sustainable development but one has to have interest to search for the information. The complicated issues issues such as scientific should be let to the expert to tackle them but for the common man we could always contribute by maybe walk instead of using cars in short distances to avoid emission of gases. Another way to contribute to sustainable development is be recycling. In politics and economy major issues are best let to the experts but as I said earlier I the common man can always contribute example when I walk instead of using my car I will avoid the emission of gas which pollutes the environment as well as save money on petrol.

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

"An inconvenient truth"




In my opinion Mr Al Gore deserved the Nobel prize for his dedication for the campaign of the awareness of climate change. Many would argue that al Gore is just a man of high profile who has done nothing new or something not effective to deserve the Nobel prize. Surely it is not about low or high of a profile a man is but is the dedication and sensitivity he possesses that counts.

Many people are not aware of the climate change or at least they know but they are less concerned about it. Some think they are far more important to think of or to spend to than to waste funds on the campaigning of global warming. One of the people who think climate change is not a project to be given priority is Danish Political scientist Bjorn Lomborg he claims that malnutrition and disease is to be given priority instead on focusing on climate change. However, Al Gore argues that; if global warming increases mainly out of pollution and emission of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide the land would be warm and too dry thus causing draught. Draught leads to malnutrition and can also lead to diseases through poor sanitation because of lack of water. In the tropical areas if the temperature rises, mosquitoes spread causing the disease malaria.

Al Gore claims out of his sensitivity that we should take things for granted that they remain the same but changes can occur and it can be damaging just like the example he gave us when his son had an accident.

To me, his documentary was very effective. It made me change my perspective on the climate change change and it would be very useful to educate people to reduce pollution and to preserve the nature of this beautiful planet.

Sunday, 4 October 2009

Learning for sustainable development

The actions I could undertake that would improve the sustainability of my lifestyle is that to improve on my diet; eat more healthy food and to avoid junk food. Increase my quality time with my family especially my children in order to bond with them and increase my academic knowledge so that in future I can get a job to support my family and to build my self esteem.

The things that might prevent me to improve the sustainability of lifestyle example more quality time would not be possible if I were to give my university assignments 100%. To get a good job means good qualifications and many people are out there seeking higher education for better qualifications: that means the competition is very high and I need to work extra hard to achieve good results.

To improvise on water consumption would also be helpful other than to waste it, for example; I have a habit to let the tap open when I wash dishes because I believe that I finish faster not realising that it is water wastage. These are habits that I can adjust and also use water sensibly.