*_mei ni_*

Professor Robert Winston of London's Imperial College and his collaborator, Dr Carol Readhead of the California Institute of Technology are currently involved in an ongoing research project on organ transplants from pigs into patients. Pigs are often identified as ideal for animal-to-human transplants, xenotransplantation and other research due to similarities in the psychological make-up as well as the infection of diseases. As human immune systems demonstrate fast responses to foreign bodies, the genetic make-up of pigs needs to be modified through a humanization process. The end result of the process would be a much reduced response provoked in the patient’s immune system. However, it would be necessary for patients who receive pig organs to take immune suppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, but at a smaller amount compared to those receiving organ transplants from other people. Professor Winston also commented that these transplantable organs will be available within two to three years if the research proceeded smoothly. The possibility of fully licensed and tested pig organs could be within a decade.

References

The Straits Times. (2008, Nov 8). Tech & Science: Pig Organs for Humans? Retrieved from November 8, 2008 from       http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Tech%2Band%2BScience/Story/STIStory_299887.html

According to Broome (2008), the issue of climate change relates back to the fundamentals – ethics. In his article, he demonstrated an opportunity for a more in-depth outlook over the global warming situation that cannot be simply subjected to scientific and economic analysis. More importantly, it takes the efforts of each individual to protect life from climatic changes. On a personal level, no doubt climatic changes only stabilize under the working hands of the government and its people; the ethics of each individual still plays a pivotal role in resolving the situation.

A large number of environmental problems including climate change revolved from many of the tiny cumulative impacts from personal activities that seem undamaging to the planet. According to the World Health Organization, it “estimates as long ago as 2000 the annual death toll from climate change had already reached more than 150,000” (Broome, 2008, para. 5). Just as many actions of the past ancestors affect the people of today, the behaviour of the existing generation will incur long-term consequences that cannot be perceived for now. Each individual may not have the ability to visualize the connection between daily life activities and forms of energy consumption. With the focus on human contributions to greenhouse effect, each individual need to recognize the role he or she has to play, that is by introducing changes to their daily practices. Therefore, the importance of ethics is being signified for one to introduce variations to one’s lifestyle in contributing to the welfare of the climate change.

As discussed by Broome (2008), common sense, rather than sophisticated philosophy is necessary in resolving of ethical questions. Besides common sense, one’s education also drives one’s ethical views. The positive attitude adopted from education will correspond to affirmative thinking, and thus promoting good ethical values. In addition, public education campaigns are being held to target the individuals in finding alternatives to their everyday activities. This further assists individualists in identifying his or her efforts to address the challenge. Hence, the significance of ethical values throughout lives can be agreed upon the education system.

With response to this world-wide climate challenge, individual efforts are definitely not sufficient in introducing major adjustments to the climate. More importantly, it requires the effort of a responsible government at all levels, be it national or global. As long as the parliament implements measures or policies alongside with ethical values, the citizens will be more than willing to participate in the activities. Thus, governments should always place ethical values with respect to introducing new concepts to its people.

In conclusion, a balanced integration of individual and government efforts’, interwoven with core ethical principles should lead humanity along a more sustainable path than now. The incorporation of good ethical values will ensure a more effective address not just to climate change, but a host of environmental problems.

References

Broome, J. (2008, May 19). The Ethics of Climate Change. Scientific American Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2008, from http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-ethics-of-climate-change&ec=b_at11

According to Stephens (2006), carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are feasible in dealing with the rising concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases. In her article, she demonstrates the viability of CCS technologies through various ongoing projects that are being carried out in countries such as the US, Canada and Norway. The discussion also covered the risks and uncertainties revolving around the issues of technologies, geological origins, leakages and public acceptance. However, she feels that the lack of regulatory mechanisms impedes the technologies from advancing further. In my opinion, technical, safety and monetary insecurities do complicate the feasibility of CCS technologies but they are still the most probable mitigation strategies towards a major reduction in carbon dioxide emissions for developed countries.

With a sudden spike in the recent oil and gas prices, the world starts to seek alternative energy sources, including coal. However, the burning of coal generates a large amount of carbon dioxide that is way above environmental limits. Thus, CCS technologies along with other climate change actions, are recognized as steps towards a cleaner environment.

Basically, CCS technologies incorporate three major components, whereby carbon is first captured by separating carbon dioxide from industrial sources, then transported to a storage site and finally, the storage location is monitored to ensure its suitability for storage.

 As discussed by Stephens (2006), the various carbon dioxide capture technologies all come in line under the objective of increasing the effectiveness in carbon dioxide absorption. However, these sophisticated capture techniques are quite costly. Moreover, Carl Bauer (2007, as cited in Bowling) who is the director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory commented that the research on these technologies has still not been demonstrated on a large scale. Yet, the strain of high costs does not deny the United States’ interest in CCS technologies which is evident from their recent investment of $1 billion in the FutureGen project to serve as climate-change mitigation. This demonstrates that developed countries are still keen on the CCS technologies as they feel that the costs are trifles compared to long term benefits, whereby the world is able to continue generating energy without worrying excessively over the greenhouse effect.

As for the transporting of carbon dioxide to storage locations, major pipelines and wells need to be built for effectiveness. This may pose challenges in terms of technology, safety and costs. However, according to Schiermeier (2006), the invaluable experiences in pipeline building as well as well-drilling have matured over the decades, and thus will only involve remarkably low running costs. Moreover, a plan for building a $1.5 billion pipeline has been initiated by both the federal and Alberta governments (Sheppard, 2008). The action taken by both governments clearly signifies the developed nations’ interests in CCS technologies.

The suitability of a storage site has been of utmost concern due to the risks involved in areas like leakages or sudden catastrophic releases of gases, and also the lack of research performed on the storage technology. According to Schiermeier (2006), a recent case of acidic brine eating into the surrounding rocks has been reported by scientists who were monitoring the Frio Brine Pilot Experiment in Texas. However, David Hawkins, the director of National Resources Defense Council’s Climate Center in Washington DC has argued on the uniqueness of the characteristics of each geological origin. More importantly, as long as the storage locations are carefully considered, safely operated as well as closely monitored under the safety limits, the above mentioned risks are still manageable.

In summary, there is no doubt that a degree of uncertainty in the CCS technology is present. Working demonstrations of the CCS technologies need to be deployed in developed countries, so as to act as learning models for developing nations. More importantly, the world needs to act on the deployment of the CCS technologies in order to reduce the impact on climatic change. Because if nothing is done about it now, the impact on the future would be unthinkable and we might end up paying a heavier price to save the Earth.

References

Bowling, B. (2007, May 10). Official: Storing CO2 a ways off. From The Pittsburg Tribune-Review. McClatchy-Tribune Regional News. 

Schiermeier, Q. (2006). Sequestration News Feature – Putting The Carbon Back. Nature Publishing Group.

Sheppard, R. (2007, March 9). In Depth: Kyoto and Beyond – Piping Carbon Back Into the Ground. Retrieved from September 21, 2008 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/kyoto/capturing-carbon.html

Stephens, J. C. (2006). Carbon capture and storage: Research is not enough. In The world energy book (pp. 15-18). London: World Energy Council.