The consequences of global warming on Africa are worse than on the Arctic. Africa is already among the poorest continents in the world. Out of 55 countries, two-thirds of these countries are among the poorest 50 countries in 2007. Many African countries already have outstanding debt which needs to be cleared so that the countries can come out of poverty. Africa’s average income per capita was $0.72. Also, 34% of the population aged 15-24 is illiterate. This shows that further drawbacks due to the impacts from global warming would be critical.As scarcity increases, the dependence on poor quality sources also increases. This leads to increased water-borne diseases such as cholera. Consequently, this puts increased pressure on health care systems which then decrease government budgets. Global warming affects Africa worse because Africa is a continent which desperately needs money to clear debt and for development.The impact of global warming on Africa is more physical and human. Africa contains about 20% of all known species of plants, mammals and birds, as well as 17% of amphibians and reptiles. There is much more at risk compared to the effects of global warming on the Arctic. As global warming increases, fragile habitats may not survive and between 20-50% of species in Africa could face extinction.On the other hand, the impacts of global warming on the Arctic are much less serious. For example, due to global warming, ice caps melt and the ice bergs impose a potential threat to the ships that cross the Atlantic and Pacific ocean. When comparing this to a potential impact in Africa such as the increased risk to flooding which now occurs in areas that were previously not at risk, the effects are much more severe.When analysing the positive and negative impacts on both regions, it is clear that Africa has very few positive impacts from global warming. In the Arctic, reduced ice cover can lead to discovery of new sites for resources such as oil. This can benefit the region economically, providing jobs and income. There will be new areas for trees to grow which could decrease carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Also, new industries can move in and new shipping routes may be available.Moreover, the population of Africa is 1.033 billion (2011) compared to the population of 4 million in the Arctic. The impacts of global warming would be far greater widespread in Africa, effecting many of them as they are vulnerable due to existing poverty. One negative impact on Arctic is that it will alter the lifestyle of the native people. Although this is bad, it is insignificant compared to the effects on Africa.Also, the impact of global warming on the Arctic could be felt all over the world as sea levels would rise causing flooding. I believe that this is still out-weighed by the impacts on Africa as one of the few ways in which African countries can reduce their debt burden is through the production of cash crops (the crops sold for income rather than to supply themselves with food). As a result, forest clearance has taken place in order to allow commercial farming.Impacts of global warming such as drought in Africa would expose soil to erosion by wind. This will put increased pressure on existing land to grow crops which is likely to cause desertification. Famine and malnutrition is likely to increase, placing Africa’s food security under threat. African farmers are trapped into poverty because they are dependent on successful crop harvests. Crops can be heavily influenced by the impacts from global warming. Therefore, people cannot feed themselves or make money and will be trapped in poverty as they cannot reduce the effects of climate change themselves.In conclusion, the future of Africa is heavily dependent on climate change. They do not have the wealth to use adaptation policies to reduce the impact of global warming such as protection against flooding and coastal erosion. The Arctic region itself will have negative impacts but there will also be positive impacts which make the situation less serious.
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Difference between poems Essay Both poems are a response to other peoples idea of the poets cultural identities. The poems are written as though the poet is replying to some one directly. Half-Cast is about a multi cultural person who is standing up against racism and against people look down upon them because of their ethnicity. John Agard is arguing with the person who is being racist to him by questioning if Half-Cast means he is half a man. Still I rise is about a woman, Maya Angelou who has had a traumatic personal and cultural history but still she rises above it. She has had to face racial and sexual prejudice, but she still stands strong. In Half-Cast John Agard opens the poem with a polite but angry request. This opening is only an angry one because of the following lines. Excuse me; standing on one leg, I am half-cast This sarcasm is showing that he is trying to be nice but is annoyed about it. The first line is very polite but immediately after the poet is acquiring the reader of suggesting he is half a man by using the words half-caste. He uses informal language throughout the poem, the language is also written in john Agards dialect. It makes you say the words how it sounds. This could be the poet celebrating his culture. Explain yuself, Wha yu mean This also makes you as the reader feel the anger, annoyance and sadness through the Agards tone. The structure of the poem is simple but effective by using a three line opening two quite large stanzas then closes with three lines. One poetic technique he uses in each stanza is repetition of his points. Explain yuself, Wha yu mean This is repeated also so that Agard could give his reasons for being insulted and emphasises his argument. In each stanza he uses comparisons; When yu say half-caste, Yu mean Tchaikovsky, Sit down at dah piano, an mix a black key Wid a white key, Is a half-caste symphony. This is questioning it Tchaikovskys music should be seen as inferior because he mixed black and white notes. The poem is well structured and the language is perfectly composed. I have keep using this quote as it very strong and uses a lot of poetic techniques. Explain yu self, Wha yu mean. The comparisons are very good because you can understand and relate to his point as he compares his situation using metaphors. Still I rise, it is set out in 8 stanzas, and in which 7 out of 8 are all the same lengths except the eighth as it is the last stanza and is the climax of the poem. The language she uses is mostly formal but it very up beat. You may kill me, but she is not bothered. In some stanzas it seems as she is mocking the person/people who are putting her down; like they are pathetic. Does my sexiness upset you the word sexiness in this context does not only imply that she is beautiful and believes that she is, but that she feels proud of her culture, which makes her confident. Maya uses many techniques in her writing such as through out the poem she uses rhetorical questions. Did you want to see me broken? These questions force the reader to think and imagine about there own views on racism and what it would be like to be in her shoes. She also uses personification; You may kill me with your hatefulness. This is effective because kill me is a very strong phrase and keeps creating the image of her arriving back at her town after the sager. Throughout the poem she has used a rhyming pattern of every first and last lines this is successful as it builds a flowing structure to the poem. The poet uses repetition to emphasise her point Out of the hut of historys shame I rise Up from a. I rise. This shows that once again she has risen above it. Historys shame this is a direct reference to the struggles faced by her ancestors in her cultural history. I think that Mayas technique clearly puts her point across and the last stanza finishes the poem with a strong phrase of I rise, I rise, I rise, I rise presenting that life is hard but what ever it throws at you, you shall rise above it. In each of the poems Maya Angelou and John Agard use repetition which emphasises their subliminal messages in the poem. John Agard gets quite defensive and angry, whereas Maya Angelou although angry and annoyed she stays calms and rises above it. I think the message of the two poems is that even when we are faced with prejudice and discrimination we can be the better people by not complying with it. I also believe the most effective techniques used to present their opinions of their cultures and peoples perception of them were repetition, similes and rhetorical questions; this created the tense moments that draw the reader in to go on and finish the poem.
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