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Opinion

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Disrupting the natural atmosphere

By The Observer · Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

Unfortunately for Mr. Easley ("Global warming skeptic," Dec. 7), we already know that climate change has been sped up by humans. Wildfires, volcanoes and other natural phenomena that occur annually have been occurring for a long time. But the amount of carbon dioxide released every time they occur has not been enough to cause a significant long term climate change because nature has counter-mechanisms to remove it from the air. Yes, Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in the Philippines in 1991 did lower global temperatures for a few years. But over time, temperatures returned to levels similar to before the eruption as the greenhouse gases produced by the volcano were removed through the Earth's natural processes. Let me provide an example. When a wildfire occurs, an entire chunk of a forest could be burned down. What happens afterwards? First primary succession, involving the growth of bacteria, fungi and other photosynthetic microorganisms that extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, occurs. Otherwise, they would not be able to live on land lacking living organisms. Then photosynthetic mosses and lichens grow, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Subsequently, we get more higher-order plant growth and thus start a new circle of life. But starting a new cycle requires a huge carbon source, which most organisms get from the air to which large amounts of carbon dioxide had just been added. Thus, the accumulation of carbon dioxide emission is somewhat negated.

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Let's set some things straight

By The Observer · Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

 In light of the latest Viewpoints, the significance attached to the content of stolen e-mails from climatologists, the current Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and recent U.S. federal legislation, I think it would benefit and elevate the discussion if we straighten a few things out.

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A most notable defense

By The Observer · Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

Ah, the global warming debate: perhaps the most infamous and noble human struggle of the last century. It saddens me that so many people argue about the climate, using random facts which only jumble up any sense that can be made from such a pivotal, nay, transcendent issue. I personally would never subject myself to baseless, meaningless debate with other articles. Actually, never mind. Here goes:

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I'm a believer

By The Observer · Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

In response to Mark Easley's article, ("Global warming skeptic," Dec. 7), I find several points that he makes alarming. The effects of climate change are having a direct effect on human and ecological well-being. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sea levels rose six inches during the 20th century. The summer thickness of artic sea ice is half of what it was in 1950. Glaciers and permafrost are melting, flooding some areas and drying up ecosystems in others. These changes impact species on all continents. Seawater is more acidic because of increased carbon dioxide absorbed by water, affecting coral reefs and marine life. Human health is negatively impacted by outbreaks of infectious diseases. Seawater temperatures are warming, contributing to changing weather patterns that bring stronger storm systems to some areas, while causing droughts in others.

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What is the worst aspect of Foresight?

By The Observer · Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

That it started. Really? Really Mendoza? Really Notre Dame? This course was at best a joke in extremely poor taste. "Foresight" is the perfect excuse for a course with no substance and no direction. If I were to rank everything that I have learned in life by order of usefulness, all things from "Foresight" would fall somewhere below my memorization of the mating habits of the Burmese mole-rat.

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I'm still hungry

By The Observer · Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

I would like to take what Mitchell Myers said in his article Grab and Go system unfair one step further with this:

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Let's approach climate change

By The Observer · Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

 Peer-reviewed science continues to provide more and more evidence that climate change is happening and that it is caused by humans. The disagreement among climate scientists on those two points is all but non-existent. Despite what you may hear, there is a clear consensus on those issues. Don't trust everything the media tells you. Don't trust me either. Read the peer-reviewed science on these issues and make your own decision.

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The best from Europe and America

By The Observer · Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

This morning I read Mr. Easley's Climate Change letter ("Global warming skeptic," Dec. 7). I am a GreeND member studying in Notre Dame's Rome Architecture Program. His assertion about Europe's worry about climate change is correct; people here are indeed worried about global warming. It greatly saddens me that back at home this is not the case.

The Observer

Elevated discussion

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 7, 2009

 When I first read Mark Easley's letter to the Observer, I was tempted to write a witty reply pointing out inaccuracies and do my best to delegitimize his argument. But Easley's viewpoint is a snapshot of the larger debate raging among the leading thinkers in our world. Instead of firing rhetoric back and forth in The Observer, why don't we take this opportunity to elevate the discussion? Both sides, if you really think about it, want the same thing: a bright future for our nation and world. In that sense, we are all talking about sustainability here.

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Online abomination

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 7, 2009

 Online homework is an unnecessary hassle. Besides being frustrating due to technical difficulties, it takes up more time than regular, written homework, and thus is not a beneficial way to be taught. The majority of a student's time is spent trying to discover how to please the Web site by submitting answers in the format it likes. Another issue is juggling all the things necessary to complete online homework. It becomes problematic when one has to go from computer to book to notebook and back to computer for every single problem. It would be so much more time efficient if the computer were taken out of the equation; if this were done, all technological issues would be eliminated as well.

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Best band in the land

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 7, 2009

 I just wanted to take a brief moment to thank the Best D**n Band in the Land. We as players get most of the attention on Saturdays, but I can tell you, what you guys do for both us and the fans deserves to be commended. My favorite aspect of every home Saturday was walking up the tunnel before the game with all of you playing our fight song. Chills would shoot through my body each and every time. It brings a tear to my eye thinking I will never have the opportunity to do that with you guys again.

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Coaching search

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 7, 2009

 I have never felt compelled to write in or publicly express my feelings about our great University and its football dilemma until now. I have always respected the position of Notre Dame on academics and athletics and believe strongly that we can win and be a relevant force in the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) while maintaining academic standards. Having said this we have some to point in our programs history where we need a leader, a proven winner, someone who knows how to motivate and be motivated. I myself liked Charlie Weis but I believe that despite his great football mind he lacked that intangible that takes teams to a higher level. We have great players and they should settle for nothing less than greatness.

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Natural law

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 7, 2009

 "The crisis of … democracies," said Benedict XVI in accepting the credentials of American Ambassador Miguel Humberto Diaz, a Notre Dame alumnus, "calls for … policies respectful of human nature and human dignity," including "respect for the inalienable right to life from the moment of conception to natural death."  

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PE must be worth something

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009

As a freshman, there are many things you have to just get used to here at Notre Dame. Parietals are a big one that I imagine will never seem to make sense. The fact that the University can put such harsh regulations on the new freedom college is supposed to bring doesn't seem right. The amount of work that has to be done each day is also something that you just have to accept and push through during the first year. But one thing that a college freshman shouldn't have to accept is taking a class for a full year and not getting credit for it. There is no good reason physical education should be a zero-credit course at Notre Dame.

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Grab and Go system unfair

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009

Grab and Go is flawed because we are overcharged for what we can get and it limits our choice on what food and the quantity of that food we can eat.

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How to keep tradition alive

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009

Notre Dame is a special place. Perhaps more than any other university, it holds almost mythological importance to its faithful. To many the future of Notre Dame is the future of morality or Catholicism or tradition itself. As Notre Dame goes, so go the giant intangible constructs, as they say. When it comes to creating devotion, this is excellent. But I am sure it has already occurred to you (looking at you here, Fr. Jenkins) that this can be problematic when trying to make decisions. Because everyone's investment feels so large, everyone believes that what they want for the University must be accomplished, or we court disaster.

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Global warming skeptic

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009

There is a lot of research taking place these days that points to global warming as an imminent threat. The great leader, Barack Obama and his Congressional cronies are moving ahead with legislation and international meetings to begin limiting greenhouse gas emissions on a grand scale. Europe, in its infinite wisdom, is also pushing climate change legislation internationally. When the global economy is hurting so much already, they want to handicap our economic capacity with these kinds of regulations that likely won't yield any positive results.

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