How to Fight Global Warming

Global warming is a serious phenomenon that is characterized by the increase in the temperature of the Earth’s air. The effects of climate change are disastrous. The BBC reported that experts believe that a drastic rise in temperature can have severe repercussions on future climate and weather patterns. Droughts are to be expected and floods are commonplace. Severe weather phenomena like hale and thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other natural disasters have been blamed on this phenomenon. Several species of animals may find it difficult to adapt to the changes in temperature, effectively wiping them out. Vegetation will die of heat as they will not be able to migrate fast enough to find new habitats.

But there are steps that would fight climate change. One of the more popular concepts in fighting global warming is carbon offset, the process by which a person, business or organization reduces carbon emissions into the air. Carbon offset aims to reduce the disastrous effects of global warming by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air through ways like planting trees, conserving energy or using renewable energy like natural gases, wind power and other forms of alternative fuels, among others.

Of all these, planting trees have been proven as the most effective and most simple way to reduce carbon footprints. It has been found by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that deforestation has been one of the factors that brought about an increase in the Earth’s temperature. So naturally, a good way to fight global warming is to reverse the process by planting more trees and protecting the ones we have now. Managing the land that we have to optimize its use is also another way to slow it.

The thing is each one of us can help. Your individual contribution—no matter how small they seem, like turning off the lights when not in use, or consciously saving on electricity—can go a long way in saving Mother Earth from global warming.

The Influx of Online Jobs

It used to be that you were employed, self-employed or unemployed. It was either you work in an office for someone else, or you had your own business as an entrepreneur, or you stay at home if you are jobless. The influx of online jobs has created another class of workers that does not really fall under these three traditional categories.

Enter the freelances, the telecommuters, the providers. No matter how they are called, people holding online jobs are increasing by the minute. A quick look at ODesk, one popular site for finding online jobs, would reveal that there are currently more than 350,000 providers signed up to the service, while more than 320,000 online jobs have been posted. The site also boasts of more than $96 million in earnings to date.

And why not? The benefits are seemingly endless. For businesses, they are able to get top talent for seasonal projects without having to worry about increasing their overhead cost, or rearranging their offices to make room for a new employee. They gain the expertise without the unnecessary expenses. For the online job holder, it means the flexibility and convenience of being able to work where they want, when they want. For some, having an online job means a higher monthly income than holding on to a regular job.

Online jobs have become quite popular that it is affecting the traditional office setups. For one, it gave rise to telecommuting or work at home as more and more employees are seeing the benefits of not traveling to and from the physical office yet getting their work done just as well. On a larger scale, it has given rise to the outsourcing phenomena, a set up wherein companies hire another company to provide employees for them.

All of these would not have been possible without the advent of technology. The Internet and other related technology has made communication easier. Whereas before, you needed to be at the office to deliver your work, you can easily e-mail your output in. Instead of using the office phone, you can use voice-over-IP. There are even applications available right now that allows one user to log in remotely into another computer, or perhaps collaborate online.

Whereas it has been quite impossible to get a team from another state or another country to work for you, it is now very easy and convenient to get the best people on your team, no matter where they are situated. You can easily have a marketing guy in India, a sales guy in the Philippines, or a manufacturing facility in Mexico, and it would still feel like everybody is in the headquarters in New York.

What is more, the advances in online security have made it possible to send payments or salaries securely over the Web. Add to the fact that the global banking system is much more efficient and faster now than ever before, it means that people can expect to get paid on time for the job they performed.

Most Common Addictions

The term "addiction" may vary in context. It may refer to an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence. In medical terminology, “addiction is defined as a chronic neurobiological disorder with psychosocial, environmental and genetic dimensions”.

In no particular order, the most common types of addiction that people deal with are the following:

1. Alcohol Addiction

Considered a legal substance for adults and readily available, alcohol intake can be excessive or prolonged and lead to an addiction. More often than not, people may get addicted to alcohol as they consider intake of it as a way a way to self-medicate. Approximately 50% of accidents and crimes may be attributed to excessive alcohol drinking. Alcohol addiction is also a major factor to getting health problems such as liver or heart diseases, brain damage and cancer.

2. Smoking

Technically speaking, the act of smoking is not making people addicted to it, but it is the nicotine contained in cigarettes that smokers struggle to fight against. Nicotine is a substance that is naturally highly-addictive, which makes it difficult for most to quit smoking. To aid in the quest to end this addiction, modern society has become less tolerant of smokers by designating non-smoking areas. There are prescribed and over-the-counter drugs that help smokers control nicotine addiction. Also, several support groups have also been formed to help smokers quit.

3. Drug Addiction

Drug addiction does not pertain only to craving and abuse of illegal narcotics but also legal drugs. Contrary to the widely accepted perception, spotting a drug addict may not be easy due to different physical or behavioral drug symptoms. A good example is cocaine abuse which may be evident in persistent nasal problems, but may not affect others in the same way. Addiction to the marijuana substance may cause addicts chronic cough or memory loss, while others suffer no apparent ill effects.

4. Gambling

Games of chance have always amused people. In hopes to win money or bag other forms of prize, people find it hard to resist a compulsive want try their luck in the casino or in other gaming spots. Some individuals, however, are literally unable to quit, even as gambling is creating problems in terms of finances, or affecting their way of life.

5. Food Addiction

Unlike the average eater, the compulsive overeater does not find eating essentially enjoyable. Characterized by an inability to control eating — in certain cases as a way to fight sadness, anxiety or depression — food addicts gain weight and compound their problems with feelings of a diminished self-esteem or a negative body image. It does not stop there; the food problem creates complications in an overeater’s well-being. Overeaters tend to reverse the bad habit, and are more likely to develop food disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.

6. Video Games

Video games are a good form of enjoyment, and immortally a favorite pastime. In the case of young and old video game addicts, however, spending at least 10 hours playing games is ordinary. Game addicts also structure their way of life around their favorite games and often neglect their responsibilities or relationships.

7. Internet Addiction

The Internet makes an excellent source of information, and a great way to do seamless transactions or communicate with others. Internet use becomes Internet addiction when an individual is unable to control the urge to use the Internet at all times and feel upset or anxious otherwise. A more common factor to Internet addiction is the social connections that are developed online through forums or chats.

8. Sex Addiction

Experts reveal that sex addiction does not have anything to do with a person’s "sex drive" or the lack of it. A person with sex addiction is likely to engage in risky sexual behavior to fill the need to satisfy their urges, and as a result, loses healthy interest in sexual activities. Sex addicts may manifest their addiction by, among others, keeping several affairs or picking up prostitutes or strangers.

9. Shopping

As all women attest, shopping is enjoyably satisfying. However, when shopping becomes a way to deal with personal problems, or to simply fill an urge to own items or spend money, issues arise. The more attached to shopping a person is, the more likely that this activity will lead to financial problems, or relationship problems with family and friends who express disapproval.

10. Work Addiction

Dedication to work is worth-keeping, but it all goes down the drain when love for work turns into an obsession. Uninformed employers or companies unknowingly encourage work addiction by rewarding those who excel in their jobs. Some workers, however, are unable to strike a work-life balance and tend to neglect the concept of enjoyment or strain their relationships. As a result, they often suffer from excess stress, low morale or substance abuse.

Simple Thieves

A classmate and I were forced to take a cab to get to the nearest FX terminal because it was already late. When we asked the driver how much the fare was, he said it was 60. Experience would tell you that it’s more than what it should have been. So I looked at the meter, it wasn’t on! I confronted him about it, “Manong, sira ata yung metro niyo.” That smartass said, “Hindi yan sira, mahina lang ang ilaw.” I said, “Manong naman, nakapatay oh. Tingnan mo.” Well, there wasn’t even a hint of light, and I couldn’t imagine how he read the amount from a dead meter. I should have checked that out when we got in, but I hadn’t expected drivers do that nowadays. But because my classmate was uncomfortable with the confrontation, he gave the driver a 100-peso bill. The driver said, still uncontented with his machinations, said, “Pano ba to? Wala akong pang-sukli e.” That was a difference of 40 pesos! That’s already a rice meal for us students, or 80 pages or more of photocopied papers, or some other more important use than just giving it away to him. I just couldn’t believe the audacity of that man. My usually submissive classmate also couldn’t take the guts of that man. He asked (more like insisted) for the 100-peso bill back, with the driver hesitating, and gave him 60 pesos composed of a 20-peso bill and numerous coins. I got out, and closed the door with the loudest bang that I can.

The following day, while walking alone in a street in Manila, a woman approached me. “Miss, pwedeng magtanong?” (I hoped it would not be a salestalk for wholesaleinsurance.net) So I paused and waited for her question. She was wearing a decent slacks and blouse. Initially, it seemed that she got lost and needed directions. She explained that someone told her that the terminal to Batangas was in that street and that she came from the province (she didn’t mention what). Before I can tell her that I do not know a bus terminal in the area, she went on and on until she finally said, “hindi ako pulubi, pero kung pwedeng bigyan mo naman ako ng pamasahe.” So dismayed, I just shook my head and walked ahead.