In “Viewpoint: Air-Conditioning will be the end of us”, author Erick Klinenberg argues that American society is over-reliant on the use of air-conditioning and drastic efforts need to be implemented to prevent its detrimental effects in the future. In order to persuade his audience, Klinenberg considers other perspectives, utilizes an exasperated tone, and presents drastic examples to expose America’s over-reliance on air-conditioning. In his article, Klinenberg incorporates two different sets of perspectives into two of his paragraphs. This allows for him to seem very reasonable and not one-sided to his audience. Also, the positions those two “different perspectives” are presented in[2nd & 3rd paragraph] indicates that Klinenberg wants …show more content…
Additionally, his selected word choice of “dumb” depicts his annoyance with American society, to the point where he decides to not even replace “dumb” with a more formal version. For “wisely”, Klinenberg mocks the meaningless and ineffective methods that are utilized by energy providers to prevent an overuse of the air conditioner; and with “suicidal fashion”, he depicts the reckless way Americans use their air conditioners. With these 3 examples, the audience is able to observe that he is grave about the topic of “air-conditioning in the United States.” Furthermore, he is invested to the point where he even reluctantly proposes a “ban...might well be necessary if we can’t turn the dial on our own.” His reluctant solution portrays him as an author who wants to end America’s AC problem; but also as an author that many of the audience can agree behind. His exasperation, effort, and seriousness compels the audience to be more inclined to support him in his efforts to lessen America’s dependence on air-conditioning. Throughout the passage, Klinenberg presents drastic examples to showcase the severity of America’s reliance on air-conditioning. Examples such as “fastest-growing U.S cities...have effectively been built on air-conditioning” and “our[America’s] habit of converting houses, offices, and massive commercial outlets into igloos” present the dire situation America is in. For “America’s fastest-growing cities” to all rely or moreover “been built on” air
Out of the frying pan and into the fire as they say. Eric Klinenberg creates an argument saying, Americans need to reduce their use of air conditioning. While it might be helpful on a hot summer day, AC is dangerous to the environment. In his essay "Viewpoint Air Conditioning Will Be the End of Us," Klinenberg uses logos and word choice to present his argument and persuade the reader.
He begins with comparing the scenario that “ there is nothing to be done when the temperature outside is 85 degrees, and indoors the air conditioner has broken down; obviously when that happens there is nothing to do, except perhaps curse the day when one was born.” With the polar opposite of “ But when the temperature outdoors is below freezing, it takes a positive act of will on somebody’s part to set the temperature indoors at 85 degrees” (3). The usage of these sarcastic remarks shines light of the issue that society could be in control of the very factor that is oppressing them, yet choose to relay silence in fear of creating a bigger affair then
In paragraph two, Thoreau uses a depressing, problematic and facetious tone to get his message across. Thoreau explains how he is strongly against the United States government, and also points out problems of the government. Thoreau uses depressing diction when describing the problems of the government in order to make people feel hatred toward the government and realize how problematic it actually is. Thoreau uses Power of Three to exemplify the problems of the government, and further connects with the audience on an emotional level by pointing out how the citizens help lead to the countries’ problematic state. Thoreau’s use of inappropriate humor when he explains trade makes the United States government seem trivial and almost as a lost cause due to the problems caused by the leaders. His relation of such a serious topic to a comical reference makes it an easier to understand situation. The use of this specific tone creates a more impactful rhetorical effect that is relayed in the paragraph.
One thing he does well in persuading the reader in this passage is certain word he uses such as artificial and pollution. These words are often used in negative situations. When you hear artificial sweetener that's not going to make you want to by it, or when you her pollution, you most likely think of air or water pollution. So, when he uses these word while talking about what he is opposing people most of the time are going to feel negative about it when they
Greenhouse gases coupled with chemicals in human-made products increases the rate at which global warming affects us. Burning more fossil fuels increases greenhouse gases’ potential to cause natural disasters that devastate regular lives. The illustration shows a Honduran child searching for his family amidst the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. (Doc 4) Any natural disaster can be especially harmful to LDCs, since they especially lack the provision of basic necessities and funds to rebuild infrastructure. The fact that a Honduran child suffers as a result of industrialization from distant core regions shows the growing scale at which the negative environmental effects of industrialization encompass. Refrigerants and aerosols release these CFCs that destroy the ozone, and modifications have been made to hinder their damage. Greenfreeze, conceptualized and launched in 1992, is a substance that replaces the classic refrigerant for propane and isobutene, both safer alternatives. Argentina, Turkey, and Russia produce Greenfreeze, while LDCs express interest in investment of the product. (Doc 7) Likewise with refrigerants, propellant sprays now comprise of pentane and butane as substitutes. In Sweden and the Netherlands, over 60% of asthma sufferers have converted to dry-powder inhalers. (Doc 7) The diffusion of alternatives of traditional CFC-releasing products helps the industries spread their innovations, and lead towards eliminating use of harmful chemicals in the
the Climate,” where she addresses the relationship between human activities and the climate change. Throughout the article Klein argues that people and carbon fuels do not cause climate problems. In her opinion, the issue is due to an arrangement between the people and the materials that pollute the earth. Klein argues that capitalism leads to finding resources and exploit them, which lead to climate change. Klein believes that this capitalist agenda is a habit that now we are used to, but she thinks that we can change if we decide to take the following steps: 1- reviving and reinventing the public sphere, 2- Remembering how to plan, 3- Reigning in corporations, 4- relocalizing production, 5- Ending the cult of shopping, and 6- Taxing the rich and Filthy. In the end, Klein claim that responding to climate change would necessitate us from to break a number of capitalist rules, which need to be done urgently (Klein, para
"If this rise...it would increase the cost of homes , autos , appliances and other items for every American family" (lines 22-25). "…[I]t would increase the cost of machinery" (lines 25-27). "…[I]t would seriously handicap our efforts. (lines 27-31). This use of syllogistic reasoning and parallelism confronts any opposition that the rise will not affect the American people greatly. The parallelism also touches on pathos , heightening the audience's emotion of fear of all the terrible things the rise will
Naomi Kline and Bill Mckibben offer alternate conceptualizations and articulations of the impending climate crisis and possible strategies for resistance in This Changes Everything and Eaarth. There are some areas in which the two authors seem to align their views and others where they diverge significantly. Both narratives are placed in the context of climate crisis and both authors are frank their assessment of where we are currently and where are inevitably headed as a planet. Kline highlights ideology and economic structure as foundational factors and McKibben seems to tacitly if not explicitly agree. Throughout most of the book, Kline chooses to focus on neoliberalism, capitalism and the hierarchies and artificial divisions they create as the
Clayton Eshleman’s poem, “The Power Room”, in his book, Juniper Fuse, is a walking poem travelling in and out of nature, and in and out of the mind, suspending itself in a moment (a moment Eshleman discusses within the introduction of Juniper Fuse) of elevated consciousness or the act of becoming more self-conscious (xvii). The poem begins with acknowledging the “spiritum” of the path. This is a reference made to the spirits of those whom inhabited the land prior to the speaker’s arrival. In Gary Snyder’s essay, “The Place, The Region, And The Commons”, he wrote, “The sum of a field’s forces becomes what we call very loosely the “spirit of the place” (38). In Eshleman’s poem, these “forces” include, the sum of “the rockface” and the
Heat is an important resource. It helps us grow crops and other things. Using Greenhouse gasses will temper the climate change. This is a problem. If the united states makes laws it can probably limit greenhouse gasses. This is important because it points out when United States makes laws It can help us improve the environment by preventing greenhouse gasses. Providing more greenhouse gasses keep them trapped in our atmosphere. Providing laws will prevent this from happening. Providing laws will also help us reduce the use of electricity. We can make bills if there is an overuse of electricity you. This way it can make a HUGE impact on saving energy. This is important because it points out by saving electricity now we have one objective of our mind. Now you just need to find out a way to stop
While Thoreau continues to paint himself in a brilliant light, he also rejects the opinions of the outside world with specific allusions and similes. He manages to put himself and decisions on an implicit pedestal, disguising it as man’s desire for material possession and complexity. By referencing the “German Confederacy, made of up petty states” (Paragraph 2), Thoreau intertwines both connotation and a relevant allusion to current events at the time. This gives Thoreau’s readers a chance to connect with his writing and believe that they are the problem for not dropping their belongings and bounding into the nearest forest to live a life of modesty. He also uses colloquialism to simultaneously draw his readers in while alienating himself from the common issues of man, “The nation itself, with all its so-called internal improvements, which, by the way are all external and superficial, is just such an unwieldy and overgrown establishment, cluttered with furniture and tripped up by its own traps,” (Paragraph 2). The famous author’s special attention to colloquialisms, including “so-called”, create an atmosphere familiar to his readers. However, his decision to mention furniture and traps conflict with Thoreau's own ideas of a materialist lifestyle. Even as simply uses hyperboles to get a point across, “Men say that
As human beings, we need to respect the environment in which we live. This is important to greater our future and that of others to follow. Very few people realize that their daily behaviors have a direct impact on the environment, the atmosphere in particular. By emitting harmful gasses into the air on a daily basis is one of the main reasons of such climate changes. People notice such changes and yet don't do anything to help the situation. Wee don't realize the risks that such changes in temperature pose. Rather than trying to conserve gas or taking cold showers, we still go on through our daily activities reluctant to change that will in time benefit the earth. By conserving gas
Modernism represents an optimistic view of human impact on the environment that has been the dominant viewpoint for the last 200 years. The knowledge that mankind holds the ability to control the environment heavily stresses why climate change is not such a problem to worry about. One of the core beliefs of the modernistic perspective is that people have no need to fear future environmental disaster because the next technological advancement that will prevent it is right around the corner. Furthermore, those who share this view do not include themselves in their image of the ecosystem, believing they are detached from it. Lastly, a laissez-faire approach is taken to environmental problems, focusing on progression through technology, stressing that as long as progress is made in this area all problems will be fixed. For a modernist, climate change is nothing to worry about. This may be a real situation, but it will be solved with advancements in technology before one’s way of life is changed. What people should be worrying about is ensuring a laissez faire approach to the market with sponsorship to new technologies. As a result of reusable energy technology already existing, modernists believe that the problem of climate change has been solved and without disrupting free market system these technologies will be further implemented. As long as there are people given the opportunity to innovate, some will focus on and ultimately solve the concern of climate change. The issue of
Secondly, Keller makes excellent use of emotional language and rhetoric to illustrate a picture of unjust treatment of American citizens. In the third paragraph, Keller states, "Our flourishing industry in
People are likely to deny all the information, which they do not want to hear and to believe that it can concern anybody else but not him or her directly. The problem of climate change is not the issue that can affect the humanity in one moment in the same way smoking does not kill the smoker from the first day of addiction. However, the fact of the existence of the phenomenon remains undeniable, and every human makes his or her contribution to the development of the issue, which can be both adverse and beneficial. Although it is reasonably believed that climate change is affected by the use of cars, emissions from factories and the growing amount of garbage, there are hidden factors that encourage pollution and hurt the planet, including people’s growing passion for traveling, and even their diets on a par with the way of life.