Melissa Betancourt Blog 2

                                                                 Climate change 

Climate change is one of the most discussed topics. We worry that our home will one day get destroyed by this ongoing problem, and there are many causes to this. 

Air Pollution  

Air pollution is caused by the release of gases and particles into the atmosphere because of various human activities such as inefficient fuel combustion, agriculture, and farming. There are also natural sources that contribute to air pollution, including soil dust particles and salt in marine aerosols. 

Most air pollution comes from human activities. When we burn fossil fuels to produce energy, they produce greenhouse gases into the air. 

Agriculture 

Agriculture is the main source of methane – hydrocarbon, which is one of the components in the formation of ground-level ozone – smog. Methane is not only one of the drivers of climate change, but also a dangerous air pollutant that causes asthma and other respiratory diseases. 

Climate Change Finances 

Climate change finances is the practice of using financial resources to help combat the increasing threat climate change has on our environment. Many countries pour millions into environmental programs to help make the world a better place or rely heavily on their agricultural sector to get the stimulate economy. 

Green Infrastructure 

Green infrastructure is ecological engineering designed to reduce flooding and hold small ecosystems into big cities, thanks to the use of careful planning and natural materials by creating green spaces for the air to be absorbed and then released into the atmosphere, and to reduce the overall temperature of the city while also embellishing that look of the city. 

Polar Ice Caps Melting 

What causes the polar ice caps to melt is due to the major increase of temperature within the Earth’s atmosphere. Such occurring events of the increase within temperature are caused by global warming and climate change due to the massive production of human waste such as the burning of coal, oil, and gas. 

The melting of the polar ice caps is the main reason the sea level is rising. The rising sea level can affect lands around the world, causing places to go under water, completely killing any life form on land. 

Climate Change Adaptation 

Climate change adaptation is when people and animals are forced to change or adjust to the current or expected change in our weather and all the effects that may bring. One of the ways to adapt to climate change is a process known as mitigation. 

Mitigation 

Mitigation in climate change is the process in which humans start to change the way that they live or change certain things to certain climate changes such as global warming. 

Climate changes in our ocean 

The rising water level is caused primarily by melted water from the glaciers and ice caps, as well as thermal expansion of rising sea levels.  

As fresh water is added to the ocean by melting ice, the salinity of the seawater changes. Adjustments in salinity alter seawater density, that can also alter major ocean currents that transfer heat through the ocean, causing more climate change. 

Gender Inequality

Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment of individuals based on their gender. It stems from social and cultural norms that give preference to men over women. These stereotypical norms regard males as the strong and dominant gender while women are perceived as having a more subordinate role in society. 

Gender inequality has existed throughout the centuries, and it is still present in most countries around the world. It prevails in social, political, and economic systems, where men continue to enjoy preferential treatment while women are often deprived that personal, professional, and financial opportunities enjoyed by their male counterparts.  

Feminism 

Feminism is a socio-political movement and ideologies that aims for the equality of all sexes. Contrary to widespread belief, feminism is not the sole belief that women are equal to men. Yes, that is a belief that is valued in feminism but is not the sole purpose and belief of feminism. 

Waves of Feminism 

1. - Womens suffrage and women's right to vote. 

2. -Pay inequality, reproductive right, domestic violence, and female sexuality. 

3. -Sought to redefine femininity as well as to celebrate differences across race, class, and sexual orientation.  

4. -Fighting against sexual harassment, sexual assault and fighting against the women’s right regarding their body. 

Gender Wage Gap 

The wage gap refers to the salary difference between females and their male counterparts. A lot of factors are taken into consideration when trying to determine the reason for the distinct gap in pay. Examples such as an individual’s ethnicity, race, level of expertise and/or education are factors. 

- Education VS Gender Wage 

Women are more likely to graduate from college than men but are still paid less at every educational level. Women with advanced degrees still make less per hour than men with college degrees. Even women with a college degree make $4 less per hour than their male peers. 

- Age VS Gender Wage 

Gender wage gap is small for workers in their teens and early 20s. From age 35-55 men take the lead on wages by more than three dollars hourly. After around 40, women's wage growth plateaus and then drops off earlier than men. 

Violence Against Women 

The UN defines violent acts directed against or likely to hurt women physically, sexually, or psychologically as “acts of violence against women.” These acts of violence are committed against one’s relationship. Throughout their relationships over 27% of females aged 15 to 49 say they have experienced sexual or physical violence at the hands of their significant other. 

Minority Groups Affected by Violence 

Minority groups such as poc, queer, and trans women tend to be affected by violence more often. Black women experience violence at a rate 2.5 times more than white women. 44% of lesbian women and 61% of bisexual women have experienced violence, as opposed to 35% of heterosexual women. Trans women are 7 times more likely to experience violence compared to cis people.  

Black women who have been abused are usually treated differently than a while survivor which causes people of color to lose trust and not speak up. Black trans women are among the highest group with the biggest risk of violence. In 2021 at least 47 trans people were killed.  

Rape Culture 

Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated using misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety. 

Rape Culture affects every woman. The rape of one woman is a degradation, terror, and limitation to all women. Most women and girls limit their behavior because of the existence of rape. Most women and girls live in fear of rape. Men, in general, do not. That is how rape functions as a powerful means by which the whole female population is held in a subordinate position to the whole male population, even though many men do not rape, and many women are never victims of rape. This cycle of fear is the legacy of Rape Culture. 

Infrastructure

Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. 

Cities 

A city is a place with a large population of people. Cities today are a melting pot of culture, knowledge, and beliefs.  

The first cities began appearing around 7500 BC. They were founded in fertile lands and around rivers. The agricultural revolution allowed people to settle. They were also functionally like modern cities. 

Until recently, cities only housed a small portion of the surrounding population. The 2nd industrial revolution led to urbanization, causing cities to grow and population.  

Currently, several cities have grown large enough to be considered megacities, cities with over 10 million people. This rapid growth leads to a multitude of issues. 

Waste Management 

Until recently, different societies lacked a proper system of collecting and managing waste. Nearing the late 1800s to the mid 1900s, this started to change: 

• New York developed the first thorough waste management system in the US (1885) 

• Incinerators became widespread throughout the Us and Canada (1914) 

• Clean air act is passed in Britain (1956) 

Electricity 

Powers many aspects of our infrastructure and society. A secondary energy source obtained through a multitude of different means: 

• Nuclear energy 

• Fossil fuels 

• Wind 

• Solar energy 

• Geothermal energy 

• Hydropower 

These sources are known as primary energy sources. 

Electricity grew in its use since the late 1800s, from light bulbs and telegraphs to smart phones and cars. Electricity applications can be seen in every aspect of our infrastructure and daily life. 

Communication 

The changes in our methods were heavily influenced by the discovery of electricity. Despite how digitized our communication is, it is still maintained by globally supported infrastructure, like service towers, the transatlantic cable, or the more private servers maintained by companies. 

Road Infrastructure  

In 1811, the first 10 miles of road were built. It is known as The National Road. This road connected Cumberland, Maryland, to the Ohio River. During this time, people got around on wagons and stagecoaches. In the 21st century, our cars are more advanced, our environment is constantly evolving yet, out upkeep of roads is backlogged. A total of 43% of our public roadways are in poor or mediocre conditions. Most roads in poor condition tend to be urban and rural collectors and non-interstate systems.  

Road Safety 

Road infrastructure plays a vital role in road safety. The design of roads can help to plan, design, and maintain the road infrastructure to facilitate a safe road environment. 

Transportation Infrastructure 

The underlying system of public works is designed to facilitate movement.  

People made simple boats out of logs, walked, rode animals, and eventually made wheeled vehicles. Ancient Egyptians built ports, dams, and canals. In the early 1800s, the US used steam locomotives (trains). 

Water infrastructure 

During the mid-19th century people learned that parasites in contaminated drinking water were the sources of diseases. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, clarification and infiltration improved water quality. During the 1800s cast iron pipes were introduced. 

After 1910, high volume water treatment facilities with advanced filtration and disinfection were built in London, Paris, New York, and Chicago. As of today, more than one million miles of drinking water pipes create a distribution web that stretches from coast to coast across the US. There are 800,000 miles of sewer pipes that handle our waste every day. 

American Perspective 

In America, most people share a common goal when it comes to infrastructure. Most Americans have quite simple goals, and the desired outcome has to do with 4 words: safe, reliable, convenient, and affordable.  

World Perspective 

Around the world, countries are realizing increasingly that infrastructure concerning the environment and the rapidly increasing population must be improved upon. For example, in Brazil, the new sanitation bill that was introduced promises to universalize drinking water distribution and sewage treatment, create national regulatory standards for sanitation services and break down state-owned companies providing sanitation services. This is among many different countries that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the largest worldwide changes of infrastructure was caused by the attacks on September 11th.