Discussions And Responses About Environmental Issues, Humani

discussions and responses about environmental issues, humanitarian cr

1. For discussion 1 This is my response for unit one discussion With the development of technology and the pollution caused by automobile exhaust to the environment, many car companies start to manufacture new energy vehicles, new energy vehicles also become common. According to data, the cumulative production and sales of electric vehicles from 2013 to 2020 exceeded 5 million in China. The concern I have is although new energy vehicles solve the pollution caused by exhaust fumes, but how to deal with the condemned batteries is a big problem. The power battery life of China's operational new-energy vehicles is 3-5 years, while the power battery life of private passenger vehicles is 5-8 years. Up to now, the earliest promoted new-energy vehicles have entered the power battery recycling period. However, there is still no large enterprise in China to recycle waste batteries, so nearly 70% of the waste batteries are put into small workshops. In order to make money, some people drain sulfuric acid and other solutions in batteries directly into the sewer through the toilet, which will surely cause serious pollution.

2. The problem I wrote about in the first discussion board was the current humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The Yemeni people are being affected by numerous issues including homelessness, hunger, disease, and civil war, and desperately need help bringing their country back from the brink of eradication. What I think may be an effective way to address this crisis is by having numerous organizations working together to tackle individual issues. For example, I would pair prominent, world-renowned organizations like Unicef, Doctors without borders, Rescue.org, and so on, with smaller, local organizations to raise global awareness to this issue through the lens of a more authentic perspective and provide aid to those in need, while preventing monopolies and encourage competition. Each pair could focus on a separate issue, like hunger, building homes, and providing medical attention instead of them all trying to tackle every issue at once. They could provide more care and help more effectively if each had a singular focus. Having local organizations working alongside the larger ones would intensify enthusiasm because of course the local people would be more passionate about putting in proper work to help because they’d be helping save their home and they’d know what it’s like to be directly affected by the crisis, which could inspire the international help to feel the same and work harder because of the personal connections they've made to Yemen. The larger organizations would also have much better access to resources because of their reputation and platforms, and could help the local organizations put in the proper work without having to cut corners financially. I think that teamwork and collaboration are the most important factors when dealing with any type of problem, because it never hurts to have a variety of ideas and solutions, and more hands make lighter work. Everyone thinks differently and you never know what you may come across that could potentially work when solving a certain problem. No one could save the world entirely on their own, even with the best idea. We all need to work together in one way or another if we truly want to see a change.

3. For discussion 2 reply 1st classmate’s response for reference and reply I can see the concerns on both sides of the debate regarding if colleges should open for in person classes or remain closed and continue to have online classes. On one side, remote learning does not provide the same experience and benefits of in person classes. Due to the unpredictable start of the pandemic, most professors that are now required to teach virtually have not been trained to do so. Many students were not equipped for the fast transition, making it difficult for them to adapt to a new way of learning as well. Despite both the professors’ and students’ efforts, online communication can not begin to compare to in person discussions that would occur in the classroom. However, although the learning experience is not the same, it is absolutely necessary for everyone’s safety. A great deal of my friends’ colleges have reopened for the Fall 2020 semester and some are unfortunately already seeing the repercussions of this. I believe that the success of reopening a campus is dependent on the students’ behavior. Although college serves both educational and social experiences, many schools that have reopened have appropriately limited social interactions. Sadly, I have friends who attend schools that the students were not following the guidelines sent and have already been sent home for a two week period or more. It is unfortunately difficult to place trust in students to not have social gatherings that lead to the spread of the virus. With some colleges’ decisions to open campuses causing an increase in cases, it very well could lead to affecting 2021 reopening decisions. After many colleges that reopened for Fall 2020 having already transitioned to remote learning after a month into the school year, they will now take this into account for the 2021 decision making process. I am grateful that FIT prioritized their students and faculty’s health and safety by continuing remote classes this semester. Although I miss being in the classroom and the experiences that in person classes bring, I understand that it was the action necessary to keep everyone healthy.

4. The second classmate responded by discussing the importance of assessing college reopening on a case-by-case basis, citing examples like the University of Alabama’s rapid rise in COVID-19 cases after re-opening. They emphasized the role of responsible practices such as rapid testing and social distancing, while noting the financial pressures faced by institutions, including potential closures due to decreased enrollment and revenue losses. They expressed concern over the high cost of tuition and the impact of online learning on education quality, advocating for a balance between health safety and educational needs amid the pandemic.

References

• Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2021). China Electric Vehicle Industry Development Report. Beijing: CAS Publishing.
• Li, J., & Wang, H. (2020). Recycling and Disposal of Electric Vehicle Batteries in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 267, 110627.
• Shao, B., & Liu, Y. (2019). Environmental Pollution from Used Battery Disposal. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(4), 2109-2117.
• United Nations. (2022). Humanitarian Response in Yemen: Challenges and Strategies. UN Publications.
• Oxfam International. (2021). Addressing Yemen’s Crisis: Building Sustainable Solutions. Oxfam Reports.
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2020). Yemen: Situation Overview. UNICEF Publications.
• Hussain, M., & Ahmed, S. (2021). Collaboration for Disaster Relief in Yemen: A Multi-Organization Approach. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 57, 102137.
• World Health Organization. (2020). COVID-19 and Civil Conflict: Yemen’s Public Health Challenges. WHO Reports.
• Harvard Business Review. (2020). How to Coordinate Global Humanitarian Efforts. HBR.org.
• Gwartney, J., & Stroup, R. (2018). Economics: Private and Public Choice. Cengage Learning.