When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
--- W. B. Yeats
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Three Main Catalysts for Climate Change in China
Essay Prompt: What are some of the main catalysts for climate change in your home country?
Climate change has already influenced China in agriculture, industry, ecosystems and many other sectors. For instance, according to an article in People’s Daily Online (2004), 2-to-4 day of spring phenophase has advanced in China since 1980’s. Currently, the impact is becoming more obvious with terrible consequences. According to the Geological Exploration News (2008), the snow disaster that lately happened in south China has already induced a direct economic loss of 111.1 billion yuan by the end of 12 February 2008. These cases are warning us to think about what causes the climate change in China. In my opinion, there are three main catalysts contributing to that.
First is the problem brought by the changing economic system in China. China is at the stage of changing the economic system from a traditional planned economy to a market economy. As a result, all environmental problems are growing more serious than usual because in the system of market economy people pursue to achieve profit margin as high as possible but at the expense of the environment. Some cities would rather tolerate the pollution in air, water, and land produced by some so-called mainstay businesses just for the sake of the high margin in profits they bring. For example, in Jilin province, the chemical engineering is highly developed, so that chemical factories to the local people there are as familiar as Fairprice to the people in Singapore. Not only are the local cities in Jilin province always dusty and shaded by a fog screen, but also the rivers running through the province, such as Songhua River, are badly polluted, which affects the other provinces on the rivers, like Heilongjiang province. Conclusively speaking, the development of economy is at the price of the damaging in environment.
Second is the stress that China is supporting the largest natural population. The more people there are, the more resources are needed. Farmland, freshwater, and mineral resources are all being reduced, which is due to uncontrolled and exorbitant exploration and utilization. In some poor villages in China, farmlands, especially rich farmlands, are in severe shortage. In order to expand their farmland, some farmers ruin the original forests, and sometimes the precious wood is burnt meaninglessly. Thus, damage and waste of forests and pollution in air are induced simultaneously. Similarly, freshwater and mineral resources are also improperly exploited and over used. Hence, the large population has been a main reason of the climate change in China.
Finally, the majority of people in China are not quite aware of the commitment for protecting the environment. It is because those people do not have enough knowledge of the environment, which leads to their awareness of the environmental protection not being clear enough. There are 1.4 billion people in China and nearly 60 percent of the people are low educated farmers and workers. Most of them are illiterate and live a poor life. What they are only concerned about is how to earn a living and how to support their families, and they never think that the environment may have any business with them. The country belongs to everyone living in it. If the awareness of environmental protection cannot be prevalent, the obstacle of solving the environmental problem will not be cleared away.
In conclusion, as stated above, the three main catalysts for climate change in China are economic system changing, large population, and awareness of environmental protection. Only with powerful and effective measures and policies, will the climate be improved. For example, Collier (1997), an environment researcher, mentioned the UK Climate Change Program (CCP) in his book, which was published in January 1994. This program contained a strong emphasis on voluntary measures, includes several plans, such as Energy Saving Trust, for an overall saving of 10 Mt of CO by the year of 2000. If China can carry out some measures and policies, such as CCP, pinpointing the causes of environmental problems, the whole situation of the environment will be improved efficiently.
People’s Daily Online. (2004, June 4). Backgrounder: Impact of climate change on China. Retrieved March 11, 2008, from
http://englisg.peopledaily.com.cn/200706/04/eng20070604_380754.html
Geological Exploration News. (2008, February 27). Data related to snow disaster in China in 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2008, from
http://www.cgp.gov.cn/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=14150
Collier, U. (1997). ‘Windfall’ emission reductions in the UK. In Collier, U. ,& Lofstedt, R.E.(Eds), Cases in climate change policy (1st ed.,p.91). London: Earthscan.
Climate change has already influenced China in agriculture, industry, ecosystems and many other sectors. For instance, according to an article in People’s Daily Online (2004), 2-to-4 day of spring phenophase has advanced in China since 1980’s. Currently, the impact is becoming more obvious with terrible consequences. According to the Geological Exploration News (2008), the snow disaster that lately happened in south China has already induced a direct economic loss of 111.1 billion yuan by the end of 12 February 2008. These cases are warning us to think about what causes the climate change in China. In my opinion, there are three main catalysts contributing to that.
First is the problem brought by the changing economic system in China. China is at the stage of changing the economic system from a traditional planned economy to a market economy. As a result, all environmental problems are growing more serious than usual because in the system of market economy people pursue to achieve profit margin as high as possible but at the expense of the environment. Some cities would rather tolerate the pollution in air, water, and land produced by some so-called mainstay businesses just for the sake of the high margin in profits they bring. For example, in Jilin province, the chemical engineering is highly developed, so that chemical factories to the local people there are as familiar as Fairprice to the people in Singapore. Not only are the local cities in Jilin province always dusty and shaded by a fog screen, but also the rivers running through the province, such as Songhua River, are badly polluted, which affects the other provinces on the rivers, like Heilongjiang province. Conclusively speaking, the development of economy is at the price of the damaging in environment.
Second is the stress that China is supporting the largest natural population. The more people there are, the more resources are needed. Farmland, freshwater, and mineral resources are all being reduced, which is due to uncontrolled and exorbitant exploration and utilization. In some poor villages in China, farmlands, especially rich farmlands, are in severe shortage. In order to expand their farmland, some farmers ruin the original forests, and sometimes the precious wood is burnt meaninglessly. Thus, damage and waste of forests and pollution in air are induced simultaneously. Similarly, freshwater and mineral resources are also improperly exploited and over used. Hence, the large population has been a main reason of the climate change in China.
Finally, the majority of people in China are not quite aware of the commitment for protecting the environment. It is because those people do not have enough knowledge of the environment, which leads to their awareness of the environmental protection not being clear enough. There are 1.4 billion people in China and nearly 60 percent of the people are low educated farmers and workers. Most of them are illiterate and live a poor life. What they are only concerned about is how to earn a living and how to support their families, and they never think that the environment may have any business with them. The country belongs to everyone living in it. If the awareness of environmental protection cannot be prevalent, the obstacle of solving the environmental problem will not be cleared away.
In conclusion, as stated above, the three main catalysts for climate change in China are economic system changing, large population, and awareness of environmental protection. Only with powerful and effective measures and policies, will the climate be improved. For example, Collier (1997), an environment researcher, mentioned the UK Climate Change Program (CCP) in his book, which was published in January 1994. This program contained a strong emphasis on voluntary measures, includes several plans, such as Energy Saving Trust, for an overall saving of 10 Mt of CO by the year of 2000. If China can carry out some measures and policies, such as CCP, pinpointing the causes of environmental problems, the whole situation of the environment will be improved efficiently.
References
People’s Daily Online. (2004, June 4). Backgrounder: Impact of climate change on China. Retrieved March 11, 2008, from
http://englisg.peopledaily.com.cn/200706/04/eng20070604_380754.html
Geological Exploration News. (2008, February 27). Data related to snow disaster in China in 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2008, from
http://www.cgp.gov.cn/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=14150
Collier, U. (1997). ‘Windfall’ emission reductions in the UK. In Collier, U. ,& Lofstedt, R.E.(Eds), Cases in climate change policy (1st ed.,p.91). London: Earthscan.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Zero Waste vs. Using Incinerators
As more environmental problems have surfaced, carrying out measures which can work effectively in solving these problems should be a first priority. A new system called zero waste appears and is preferred by many authorities. According to Collins (2002), an environmentalist, “Zero waste emphasizes that everything we buy is, or eventually will be, made from materials that can be repaired, reused or recycled.” Conclusively speaking, zero waste holds a spirit of recycling and blocks anything against the spirit out of the system. The other usual way dealing with wastes, using incinerators, is just burning everything deemed useless. In China, burning is still the most common way to dispose with rubbish. In fact, quite a lot of advantages of zero waste are indicated by comparing it with using incinerators.
First, zero waste does better than using incinerators in saving resources. Resources, which are considered as non- renewable energy, are limited on the earth and many resources need millions or even billions of years to regenerate. As a result, if we just burn anything used that seems useless, all the materials and resources are gone with the fire. In contrast, zero waste considers more about the future and contributes more to the sustainable development. China, which is the biggest developing country in the world and supports the largest national population, 1.4 billion people, especially needs to think about the problem of maintaining natural resources. The average amount of resources of each person in China is fairly small due to the large number of population. In addition, sustainable development has been a main policy to solve environmental problems in China. Thus, zero waste is a good choice to realize the goal more effectively.
Second, using incinerators not only wastes resources but also pollutes the air at the same time, because many man-made materials and organic materials release some poisonous gases which are harmful to human beings. Zero waste does not create such problems. For China, whose environment is suffering serious pollutions, it is better to alleviate the current situation but not to make it more difficult. Obviously, using incinerators is making the environmental problems more serious while zero waste helps to improve. Why not choose a measure helps efficiently like zero waste instead of using incinerators?
In conclusion, zero waste is more suitable for China to take in solving environmental problems.
First, zero waste does better than using incinerators in saving resources. Resources, which are considered as non- renewable energy, are limited on the earth and many resources need millions or even billions of years to regenerate. As a result, if we just burn anything used that seems useless, all the materials and resources are gone with the fire. In contrast, zero waste considers more about the future and contributes more to the sustainable development. China, which is the biggest developing country in the world and supports the largest national population, 1.4 billion people, especially needs to think about the problem of maintaining natural resources. The average amount of resources of each person in China is fairly small due to the large number of population. In addition, sustainable development has been a main policy to solve environmental problems in China. Thus, zero waste is a good choice to realize the goal more effectively.
Second, using incinerators not only wastes resources but also pollutes the air at the same time, because many man-made materials and organic materials release some poisonous gases which are harmful to human beings. Zero waste does not create such problems. For China, whose environment is suffering serious pollutions, it is better to alleviate the current situation but not to make it more difficult. Obviously, using incinerators is making the environmental problems more serious while zero waste helps to improve. Why not choose a measure helps efficiently like zero waste instead of using incinerators?
In conclusion, zero waste is more suitable for China to take in solving environmental problems.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Comparison and Contrast Paragraph
Question: A term often used for people who are deeply concerned with the environment is "green". Compare a "green" person's attitude toward consumption with that of a person who is not "green".
As the exacerbation of environment is realized by more people, "green" has been a hot word. Green food, green material and green travelling have become quite popular. Nevertheless, not all the people who say "green" really have "green mind". Here, I just compare a "green" person's attitude toward consumption with that of a person who is not "green" to show their difference. A "green" person will choose the merchandise which can help protect environment but not just buy anything natural. The pretended "green" person is the one who is saying that he or she never eat anything not green while chewing rare species animals which are purely wild. A person who holds real "green mind" will deal the offal during consumption properly to prevent polluting. Those who litter about never consider how environment affected negatively if they do so. What they only care is how to keep themselves "green". Saving resources and energy as much as possible and sparing realizing the sustainable consumption is set as goal by "green" persons. However, wasting will not be considered as a behavior guilty. Conclusively, a "green" is consuming greenly while a person who is not green is consuming the "green" environment.
As the exacerbation of environment is realized by more people, "green" has been a hot word. Green food, green material and green travelling have become quite popular. Nevertheless, not all the people who say "green" really have "green mind". Here, I just compare a "green" person's attitude toward consumption with that of a person who is not "green" to show their difference. A "green" person will choose the merchandise which can help protect environment but not just buy anything natural. The pretended "green" person is the one who is saying that he or she never eat anything not green while chewing rare species animals which are purely wild. A person who holds real "green mind" will deal the offal during consumption properly to prevent polluting. Those who litter about never consider how environment affected negatively if they do so. What they only care is how to keep themselves "green". Saving resources and energy as much as possible and sparing realizing the sustainable consumption is set as goal by "green" persons. However, wasting will not be considered as a behavior guilty. Conclusively, a "green" is consuming greenly while a person who is not green is consuming the "green" environment.
Cause – Effect Paragraph
Question: What are some of the main catalysts for climate change in your home country?
Review buddy: Li Hui
Recently, the climate change in China is more obvious and execrable. For instance, according to the report, the loss in the snow disaster burst out in south of China lately has preponderated over five hundred billion; while the people in south are fighting against the unexpected snow, the north is suffering from diseases caused by pathogen due to the abnormal warm weather. There are three main causations contributing to the exacerbation of climate. The factor of economics comes first. China is at the stage of changing the economic system from traditional planned economy to market economy, when environment problems are growing more serious than usual, because that market economy pursues to achieve margin as high as possible but ignores the much higher expense paid by the environment. Exempli gratia, some cities would rather tolerate all the pollution in air, water and land by some factories just for the sake of the high margin in economy they bring. Next is the large population China supports. The more people there are, the more resources are needed. Farmland, freshwater, and mineral resources are all presenting a predicament of shortage, which leads to uncontrolled and exorbitant exploitation and utilization. In addition, the consciousness of protecting environment in people’s mind is not clear enough, which means the people lack understanding of the environment problems. If China can carry out some measures and policies considering the causes of environment problems above, the climate, even the whole situation of environment will be proved a lot.
Review buddy: Li Hui
Recently, the climate change in China is more obvious and execrable. For instance, according to the report, the loss in the snow disaster burst out in south of China lately has preponderated over five hundred billion; while the people in south are fighting against the unexpected snow, the north is suffering from diseases caused by pathogen due to the abnormal warm weather. There are three main causations contributing to the exacerbation of climate. The factor of economics comes first. China is at the stage of changing the economic system from traditional planned economy to market economy, when environment problems are growing more serious than usual, because that market economy pursues to achieve margin as high as possible but ignores the much higher expense paid by the environment. Exempli gratia, some cities would rather tolerate all the pollution in air, water and land by some factories just for the sake of the high margin in economy they bring. Next is the large population China supports. The more people there are, the more resources are needed. Farmland, freshwater, and mineral resources are all presenting a predicament of shortage, which leads to uncontrolled and exorbitant exploitation and utilization. In addition, the consciousness of protecting environment in people’s mind is not clear enough, which means the people lack understanding of the environment problems. If China can carry out some measures and policies considering the causes of environment problems above, the climate, even the whole situation of environment will be proved a lot.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Problem- Solution Paragraph
Question: As forests in the world are being logged, many animals face extunction. Identify one such animal, for example, the tiger in India, and explain what measures might be adopted so that it could be saved from extinction.
Review buddy: Serene
Forests, which are main habitats of terrestrial animals, are being damaged more and more rapidly and execrably to meet the requests of logging, so that a number of animals are facing extinction due to losing habitats. Northeast tiger, living in the northeast part of China and being famous for their fur with extraordinary high commercial value, is one of those unfortunate species, remaining only 360 to 406 wild ones. To solve the problem, I think, the two measures following may work.
First, government can control the amount of logging with policies. Limiting lignum trade by raising tax, demarcating certain areas of logging, and encourage people to plant trees may all be feasible ways. With the guarantee of habitats, the situation of northeast tiger's survival may be ameliorated efficiently.In addition, protecting the other animals in the forests is also an important step. As the balance of the whole ecosystem is related to each element in it, every part cannot be ignored. All the creatures in a certain area build a close circle, food chain, where if one tach breaks, the whole cycle breaks down. Northeast tiger of course is within the food chain and needs the other animals’ support to live. Thus, protecting the other animals is though indirect but essential step that should be taken considering in the long term.
Review buddy: Serene
Forests, which are main habitats of terrestrial animals, are being damaged more and more rapidly and execrably to meet the requests of logging, so that a number of animals are facing extinction due to losing habitats. Northeast tiger, living in the northeast part of China and being famous for their fur with extraordinary high commercial value, is one of those unfortunate species, remaining only 360 to 406 wild ones. To solve the problem, I think, the two measures following may work.
First, government can control the amount of logging with policies. Limiting lignum trade by raising tax, demarcating certain areas of logging, and encourage people to plant trees may all be feasible ways. With the guarantee of habitats, the situation of northeast tiger's survival may be ameliorated efficiently.In addition, protecting the other animals in the forests is also an important step. As the balance of the whole ecosystem is related to each element in it, every part cannot be ignored. All the creatures in a certain area build a close circle, food chain, where if one tach breaks, the whole cycle breaks down. Northeast tiger of course is within the food chain and needs the other animals’ support to live. Thus, protecting the other animals is though indirect but essential step that should be taken considering in the long term.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again
Saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again
By Xu Zhimo
Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Quietly I wave good-bye
To the rosy clouds in the western sky.
The golden willows by the riverside
Are young brides in the setting sun;
Their reflections on the shimmering waves
Always linger in the depth of my heart.
The floatingheart growing in the sludge
Sways leisurely under the water;
In the gentle waves of Cambridge
I would be a water plant!
That pool under the shade of elm trees
Holds not water but the rainbow from the sky;
Shattered to pieces among the duckweeds
Is the sediment of a rainbow-like dream?
To seek a dream?
Just to pole a boat upstream
To where the green grass is more verdant;
Or to have the boat fully loaded with starlight
And sing aloud in the spleendour of starlight.
But I cannot sing aloud
Quietness is my farewell music;
Even summer insects keep silence for me
Silent is Cambridge tonight!
Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Gently I flick my sleeves
Not even a wisp of cloud will I bring away
By Xu Zhimo
Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Quietly I wave good-bye
To the rosy clouds in the western sky.
The golden willows by the riverside
Are young brides in the setting sun;
Their reflections on the shimmering waves
Always linger in the depth of my heart.
The floatingheart growing in the sludge
Sways leisurely under the water;
In the gentle waves of Cambridge
I would be a water plant!
That pool under the shade of elm trees
Holds not water but the rainbow from the sky;
Shattered to pieces among the duckweeds
Is the sediment of a rainbow-like dream?
To seek a dream?
Just to pole a boat upstream
To where the green grass is more verdant;
Or to have the boat fully loaded with starlight
And sing aloud in the spleendour of starlight.
But I cannot sing aloud
Quietness is my farewell music;
Even summer insects keep silence for me
Silent is Cambridge tonight!
Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Gently I flick my sleeves
Not even a wisp of cloud will I bring away
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