Modernism And Climate Change

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Climate change has become parts of both the popular lexicon and the public discourse. Discussions of climate change often evoke passionate responses and fierce debate between adherents to different views of the threat posted. Many scientists had proven that climate change is actually happening due to the rise of sea level, the rise of global temperature, shrinking ice sheets, and the frequent occurrences of extreme weather. Despite many proven scientific evidences, some people are still skeptical about climate change. Is scientific research enough to persuade people that climate change is happening? Climate change denial is not just an opinion, it has become a mark of people’s identity. When people put their political ideology and social identity …show more content…
Modernity and climate change have been mutually constitutive as global phenomenon. Modernism is often attached to the idea of “creative destruction”. The innovations in technology, factories and farms had contributed to the deterioration of the environment. According to Professor Wellman, modernities includes individualism, equality and freedom; progress through science and technology; industrialization and market economy; urbanization and growth of cities; democracy, public education, and bureaucracies (Prof. Wellman, Lecture 05/15). In many societies “meatpacking plants, factories, power plants, and traffic jams mean development and paid employment. A fried chicken fast-food chain used to show videos of mechanized chicken-gutting operations inside its stores…represented cleanliness and modernity” (Marshall, pg. 131). Because people seen this as a development, they forget to think about the consequences. In a way, people from around the world share a commonality of wanting to have a luxurious life as well as individualism, freedom and equality. Individualism, freedom and equality have no effect on the environment; however, the process of achieving a luxurious life through the use of advanced technology and machines does have a negative impact on the environment. This kind of commonality does not do any goods to the environment. If every group is to unite and exchange their ideas about the consequences of all these innovations, they would be able to come to a realization that climate change is happening due to human activities. Being able to share their differences, people will eventually come to an agreement of how to solve the problem. Discussing the consequences, benefits, and how it can affect each individual will bring people

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