Environmentalism is a sound belief

1. Global Warming Since the early 20th century, Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 degrees C with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These findings are recognized by the national science academies of all major industrialized nations. Climate model projections were summarized in the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They indicated that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 2.9 degrees C for their lowest emissions scenario and 2.4 to 6.4 degrees C for their highest. The ranges of these estimates arise from the use of models with differing sensitivity to greenhouse gas concentrations. Humans have been responsible for global warming because they are the main cause of greenhouse gas concentration increases, which are the main cause of the recent warming. Environmentalism says that the only way to combat global warming is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which, by the above standard, will reduce global warming. Therefore, environmentalism makes a verified prediction here.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 2. Genetically Modified Organisms The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems. Genes inserted into GM soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us, and that the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses. Numerous health problems increased after GMOs were introduced in 1996. The percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses jumped from 7% to 13% in just 9 years; food allergies skyrocketed, and disorders such as autism, reproductive disorders, digestive problems, and others are on the rise. Although there is not sufficient research to confirm that GMOs are a contributing factor, doctors groups such as the AAEM tell us not to wait before we start protecting ourselves, and especially our children who are most at risk. The American Public Health Association and American Nurses Association are among many medical groups that condemn the use of GM bovine growth hormone, because the milk from treated cows has more of the hormone IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1)R13;which is linked to cancer. Environmentalism predicts that GMOs are bad for the body, and the above information verifies this prediction. Therefore, environmentalism makes a verified prediction here.6 3. Keystone XL Pipeline The Canadian tar sands oil pits lie under an enormous boreal forest, which sequesters a huge amount of carbon dioxide, and is the only habitat for some of the largest populations of woodland caribou left in the world; in addition, 30 percent of North America's songbirds and 40% of its waterfowl rely on the wetlands and waterways of the boreal forest. Getting the tar sands requires clear-cutting thousands of acres of the boreal forests, diverting rivers, and strip-mining. Destroying that forest will certainly make those species of songbirds go extinct, and significantly increase global warming. The tar sands are sticky and dirty. There are additional negative systemic effects. Heat is not enough to get tar to flow. To get tar out of the ground, you have to pump in a huge amount of water and toxic chemicals. The water used to go underneath the sticky oil and pushing it up is so polluted by the toxic chemicals that it is rendered unfit to drink. The oil companies do not pay for the water; they simply drain the aquifer it comes from while letting much of the poisoned water stay in the ground. The Keystone XL pipeline would cross the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides 30% of America's ground water, and over 1.5 million people rely on. So, you get a destruction of forests and several species as well as increasing global warming, and polluting vast sums of water which all results into a dirty environment. And, since the TransCanada would not register spills under 800,000 gallons, many areas that had spills (the first section spilled 12 times in the first year), would be allowed to splurge and flood our wildlands with hot toxic water. Environmentalism predicts that the KXL will be dangerous to the environment, and this has been confirmed. Therefore, environmentalism makes a verified prediction here.7, 8 Because environmentalism has made several verified predictions, it is sound. Works Cited: 1 http://www.nap.edu... 2 http://www.ipcc.ch... 3 http://nationalacademies.org... 4 http://www.ipcc.ch... 5 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu... 6 http://www.care2.com... 7 Lakoff, George. The Little Blue Book (2012): pp. 98-100 8 http://www.esquire.com...