by Minute Major

Created on: June 15, 2010

In our modern world, patriotism and country independence seems to be at its highest. With countries strengthening their borders and cultures becoming seemingly more and more diversified, the thought of global connection and agreement seems unlikely. Laws and regulations vary from country to country as every country, lost in their pride and nationalism, feel that they possess the most superior form of government. However, these radically different governments between nations cause conflicts regarding issues on a global scale. What may be illegal or regulated may be a common practice in other nations. Some of these practices are harmful to the collective society of the human race and pose a threat to millions of people. Yet, when one country is willing to take measures to prevent the problem, other countries remain less willing and conflicts arise. One on hand we have nations merely exercising their rights to be an individual nation of its own control, while on the other hand we have global crisis that require the cooperation of all nations. Is it reasonable for laws and regulations regarding the health and safety of a people to vary from nation to nation?

A large concern in the past years has been global warming. The sight of melting ice caps and dying of many cold-tolerant species is beginning to raise awareness of this global calamity. It is apparent that global warming is just that, global; it does not affect just one region but rather the entire world. In this aspect it is the duty of every nation, collectively, to prevent and solve this potentially life-threatening global condition. Environmental factors such as pollution, harmful chemical use, and overpopulation seem to give rise to these world-wide ecological horrors. Many movements have been made to reduce harmful emissions and reduce overall pollution; yet, for these movements to be successful, all nations must agree to their terms and make efforts to make progress.

A very harmful effect of pollution is destructive acid rain. Acid rain, as its name suggests, is acidic and can raise the pH of lakes and streams, having devastating effects on economically important wildlife. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), acid rain is composed of mostly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The majority of these chemicals are formed in the generation of electricity. Oxygen in the atmosphere reacts with these gases to yield sulfuric acid and nitric acid. It has also been shown that sunlight increases

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