An important concept that is apparent from the reading is the need for the developed countries to take more responsibilities towards preservation of environment by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases to curb global warming. The importance of curbing global warming is to avoid its detrimental effect to the environment and ultimately to humankind. The developed nations must take the lead role in combating global warming is because are the major contributors of carbon emissions that are responsible for global warming. Since the vast majority of the industries that emit the carbon and other greenhouse gasses in the environment are in the developed nations, such nations have the ability to restrict and even stop such emissions. During the period of industrialization, the developed nations established many industries that made the use of fossil fuels as their energy sources. This development has continued to date and although developing nations have adopted this trend in recent years, the developed nations remain the biggest contributors of the greenhouse gases in the environment. As such, the developed nations have a bigger responsibility combat global warming.
Global warming has affected every single aspect of life. The effects of global warming are detrimental to every person. Individuals and communities suffer due to the effects of climate change. For instance, the New Orleans hurricanes have been a consequence of climate change due to global warming. Such occurrences often disrupt people’s ways of life. As such, every individual has to contribute towards curbing global warming. Individual contributions include using biodegradable fuels at homes, pioneering recycling programs at workplaces, within communities, at schools, and use of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. The questions that arise from the reading is whether there is commitment from the developed countries are only engaging in empty rhetoric and whether they are ready to take deliberate steps to curb global warming.
The assumptions, values, and beliefs that readers must hold to find the reading persuasive include the belief that global warming exists, that each person contributes to carbon emissions responsible for causing global warming, that everyone has the responsibility to reduce global warming, and failure to participate actively towards reducing carbon emissions would be disastrous to humankind. Such beliefs, assumptions, and values would make readers find the central argument persuasive. Consequently, the writer is trying to the views of readers while also attempting to call readers to action. The reader addresses the persuasiveness of his argument by providing examples of Alaskan villages and the New Orleans hurricanes (Kristof, 2007). He also uses factual data to show just how much the human species is dependent on farming for sustenance and how much people cannot afford to ignore global warming. The features or the argument that contribute most to make the argument persuasive is the writer’s introduction that attracts the attention of the reader. The fact that he is a two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist ensures that a reader is keen to know the informed views of the writer. The writer uses real examples to show the catastrophic effects of global warming. Accordingly, the title of the article appeals to readers to take initiatives to remedy the situation since the title is an expression that illustrates how personal actions are affecting millions of people around the world.
References
Kristof, N. (2007) Our Gas Guzzlers, Their Lives. Accessed from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/opinion/28kristof.html?_r=0
