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A 10-year-old's reflections on global warming
Kids are talking about global warming — and here's what they're saying.
Wed, Dec 19 2012 at 2:00 PM
 7

Related Topics:

Activism, Global Warming, Green Kids

Photo: caltiva/sxc.hu

A few weeks ago, my daughter was assigned to write an essay for her fourth-grade class about an issue that she felt was worth speaking up about. The topic she chose was global warming. As the daughter of a greenie, this was not surprising to me. She has been hearing about environmental issues in general since the first time I read "The Lorax" to her as an infant. Still, contrary to what some might think, I try not to harp on eco-issues too much at home. My kids are taught to recycle and turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth. They know littering is a no-no. But we have never before sat down and had a frank conversation about global warming. So what did surprise me about her essay was her understanding of the issue and the importance of doing something about it.  
 
I promise you that these words are hers. And they reflect not just what my 10-year-old thinks about global warming, but what a lot of 10-year-olds are thinking. It's so spot-on and to the point that I asked her to let me share it here with you.    
 

Global warming is making big changes in our beautiful world. It’s caused much of the ice in global areas to melt away. Many animals are losing their homes and are becoming endangered. When something becomes endangered their numbers are dropping and there are becoming fewer of them. Some of these animals are tigers, elephants, the blue footed booby, and polar bears.

Global warming is caused by rising of the average temperature. Today it is already 1 degree warmer than one hundred years ago! That may not sound like  much, but already it is making huge changes in our beautiful Earth.

One place being effected by Global warming is the Arctic. Much of the ice there has melted and temperatures are rising rapidly. What used to be a frozen beauty is now a barren wasteland. Many animals there are adapted to the cold weather. They cannot live anywhere else.

Some things that can be done to stop Global warming are not using things that have carbon dioxide in them. You could also help by taking buses and try carpooling with friends. Riding your bike to school and other public places can also help. Even better, walk on your own two feet. God gave them to us for a reason!

I think it is important to stop Global warming because I want my grandchildren to be able to see a beautiful sparkling Iceland, not a barren wasteland. You may say “it doesn't’t matter, it doesn't’t harm us!”  But the thing is, it does harm us! Here are some of those things: 1. Global warming is melting permafrost, soil that is usually frozen.  2. It is making some places too dry. 3. It raises the sea level. 4. It changes the ocean chemistry and harms coral reefs and other sea life. 5. Warming causes stronger hurricanes and tornadoes, and more forest fires, and bigger blizzards. 6. It causes animals and plants to either die or move. 7. Strange weather hurts food crops.

Now that you know what I mean, think about it. We need our beautiful world. God gave us this beautiful place to share in peace and harmony. So we all need to work together to keep it a beautiful place full of wonder and beauty.

I am at once both proud of her understanding of global warming, and saddened that she is even faced with such an issue. I am hopeful for the next generation, and inspired to do what I can to ensure that her grandchildren do, in fact, get to see a beautiful sparkling Iceland rather than a barren wasteland.
 
Are your kids concerned about global warming?
 

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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Comments: 7
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Ivor Bigun Feb 23 2013 at 1:56 PM

Given that Rajendra Pachauri, chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has admitted that there has been no global warming for 17 years, why would a 10 year old be so concerned?

Surely, anything she has noticed cannot be global warming related.

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anonymous
Mike Stone Sr Jan 03 2013 at 8:22 PM

One thing that makes people with other opinions hate not only environmentalists, but radical progressives is their willingness to brainwash young chidren ! Progressives and radical islam have many similarities , tainting young minds instead of allowing the natural formation of opinions through personal experience and life!

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anonymous
Jon Dec 26 2012 at 4:41 PM
While the planet won't suddenly destroy due to CO2 and other gas emissions, saying that it's not catastrophic is incorrect. This year alone in the U.S there were examples of extreme weather changes that created problems to life. Like the intense summer drought caused significant damage to crop production and water shortages, and with storm Sandy causing damage to land, homes, and travel. Gas emissions worldwide are rising as developing nations become industrialized and developed, despite
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growing urge to decrease. A better way to make a child's view on the issue complete is to explain that there is information that might be incorrect due to error, lack of full knowledge on the issue, and some due provide false/exaggerated information to help there platform. Provide children with sources to the actual facts and research done so far. That way they have the facts as well as what people view and conclude the research to mean or not mean. An emphasis on what can be done politically, collectively, and individually is important as well. Including information on conservation and environmental work being done. That way children will know what they can do be it small or on a larger scale, and that it's not all terrible news and there are many working around the world to help combat pollution, habitat destruction, and endangered species.
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anonymous
philip hope Dec 21 2012 at 5:14 AM

I think you would be a better parent by correcting some of the misconceptions your daughter has and issue you with the undistorted facts on AGW.

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anonymous
Leigh Haugen Dec 20 2012 at 8:46 AM
If your daughter is reflecting on adult topics like AGW have her read the letter written by the NASA 49 and then have a conversation with her about climate change politics. http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-04-11/news/31322407_1_climate-c... What would make you more proud, raising an informed, inquisitive and logical daughter who can think for herself after researching facts and is not easily manipulated ... or raising an environmental activist? "...HOUSTON, TX – April 10, 2012. 49
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former NASA scientists and astronauts sent a letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden last week admonishing the agency for it’s role in advocating a high degree of certainty that man-made CO2 is a major cause of climate change while neglecting empirical evidence that calls the theory into question. The group, which includes seven Apollo astronauts and two former directors of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, are dismayed over the failure of NASA, and specifically the Goddard Institute For Space Studies (GISS), to make an objective assessment of all available scientific data on climate change. They charge that NASA is relying too heavily on complex climate models that have proven scientifically inadequate in predicting climate only one or two decades in advance. H. Leighton Steward, chairman of the non-profit Plants Need CO2, noted that many of the former NASA scientists harbored doubts about the significance of the C02-climate change theory and have concerns over NASA’s advocacy on the issue. While making presentations in late 2011 to many of the signatories of the letter, Steward realized that the NASA scientists should make their concerns known to NASA and the GISS. “These American heroes – the astronauts that took to space and the scientists and engineers that put them there – are simply stating their concern over NASA’s extreme advocacy for an unproven theory,” said Leighton Steward. “There’s a concern that if it turns out that CO2 is not a major cause of climate change, NASA will have put the reputation of NASA, NASA’s current and former employees, and even the very reputation of science itself at risk of public ridicule and distrust.”...continued
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anonymous
Mike Stone Sr Jan 03 2013 at 8:26 PM

Here, here, Leigh! Ideological brainwashing in our schools is in big part responsible for millions of demented radical progressives in America!

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anonymous
Leigh Haugen Dec 20 2012 at 8:30 AM
It is sad and abusive to let a 10-year old suffer through these kinds of catastrophic myths without correcting and reassuring her by explaining the politics driving this issue. You say you try not to harp on environmental issues at home and yet you do noting to correct your daughters misinformed perceptions of this issue. I am so thankful that my son's science teacher in school showed Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth in class on Tuesday and immediately followed it up with a Powerpoint show
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about all of the lies and exaggerations in the movie -- a BALANCED presentation and and awareness for the class on how unethical people are trying to use and hijacking the environmental movement for money and power. Anthropogenic Global Warming is a scam for money and power and these ghost stories about ruining our planet and our future are borderline criminal. The ridiculously microscopic heating of our atmosphere is not wiping out all of the ice or killing animals or any of the other garbage they spew into young easily influenced minds. A responsible parent would explain to their frightened daughter that environmentalism and conservation are good but the planet is not in any catastrophic danger from CO2. Shame on you.
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