Combat global warming

An increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases made the earth's temperature rise rapidly. Global warming could have several disastrous effects such as climatic changes and a rise in sea levels. The scientists conclude that the earth could probably be about 1 degree centigrade warmer by 2025 and 3 degrees centigrade warmer by 2100.
In order to alleviate this phenomenon, both governmental and personal effort is needed.
Firstly, the populace should make more personal efforts to cut emissions of CO2. There are lots of ways we can achieve this, such as walking more, biking to work, carpooling or using public transit. For this, the government needs to try to inform the public about environmental issues. There are many ways to reduce CO2 emissions in daily life; however most citizens do not know what they can do.
Secondly, more active governmental participation is necessary. The government needs to support companies so they can develop alternative energies. For example, it could consider offering benefits such as tax favors to encourage companies to develop renewable and CO2-free energy. Also, the government needs to actively enlist global cooperation like the Kyoto Protocol to prevent acceleration of global warming. Global warming is not just a certain country's problem, but a global one.
To conclude, in order to cut the CO2 emission rate, the government and people should both put more efforts in their own ways. People should try to live eco-friendly in their daily lives, and the government should encourage people and companies to live green.

Book report

Title : Building Green
Author: Chang Seung Lee
Pulisher & Year : Neung reaul English & 2009
Vocabularies : Solar cell - a device that produces electricity from the sun's rays.
Summary : In order to protect the nature, architects and builders look for greener buildings nowadays. They design in a way that can save more energy and water, and utilise the materials that do not harm the environment.
Sunlight is a very useful resources in terms of green design. One good example is the big windows. At Clackamas Highschool in Oregon, big windows allow lots of sunshine to come in and help the school reduce the use of electricity. The sunshine can supply natural heat as well as natural light. The sun's warmth not only keeps you warm in winter, but also it can be used to generate electricity, converted by solar cells.
Another interesting eco-friendly idea is found at Calhoun School in New York. The building's rooftop is filled with grass and flowers, forming a rooftop garden. This keeps the building cooler in summer, warmer in winter.
Furthermore, a new library in Santa Monica makes use of rainwater in drainage system to save water, and many buildings use fast-growing bamboo for floors instead of wood in order to save the trees. Many other green materials such as recycled substances are used to protect the environment.
The eco-friendly tendency is spreading out rapidly thesedays, with the global encouragement. The buildings are certainly becoming healthier and greener every day.

Is it art?

John Cage is famous for his performance "4 min. 33sec." in which he walked into the stage and decorated it with absolute silence for 4 minute and 33 seconds. The piece is seen as challenging the very definition of music. The definition of art, however, is the process of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses of emotions(according to the Wikipedia). And from my point of view, John Cage's "4min. 33sec" is definitely a piece of art.Even though the piece has no particular rhythm or melody, and it cannot be precisely defined as music, it was a performance that consisted of the artist's intention to make the audience feel something through listening to the trifle noises.John Cage says that he spent many hours conducting performances of his silent pieces, and I strongly believe that his effort to appeal to the audience itself is a great work.Also, I believe that sometimes an accidental thing can end up as a beautiful artpiece. There are many examples that show the beauty of improvisation in art, including Action painting, and Chance music and so on. Therefore, although the durations were filled with unpredictable noises that came from the audience, "4min 33 sec" should be regarded as an artpiece.Cage wished the audience to listen to the sounds of themselves, and get fresh feelings from it. I'm sure he succeeded in doing so in the form of art. Thus, I believe his novel creativity should be acknowledged its artistic price.