Essay description: What are the challenges facing the Arctic? Evaluate possible solutions to these issues.
Out in the snowy wind, in the inhospitable coastal parts of the land of the Arctic, a culture thrived in its own, tough way: The Inuit. The Inuit have long depended their lives on the tradition of hunts, surviving with their adamant wills to live. Their lives were harsh, but now, a more ominous future awaits them.
The Inuit rely dearly on their hunts as much as the fish need water. The imported food isn’t capable of sustaining their livings with the lack of fresh nutrients; the coats made with synthetic materials can’t ward off the year-round biting winds as efficient as polar bear hides or seal skins do. Nowadays, with the infamous global warming lurking in the deadly sun rays, the ice melts and brings about a more adverse hunting environment. To add some salt to the wounds, environmental advocates are calling out to ban the hunting of polar bears and narwhals, for they have become endangered species due to the commercial hunting and the melting ice.
In regard to this issue, I believe this is just like the trolley problem, where either side of the libra of ethics weighs evenly. If the Inuit were forced to stop hunting the animals, they would starve and would be forced to go and look for a fulltime job. While it sounds like a feasible idea, it was essentially stripping them of the rights of living the ways of an Inuk, and hence losing the connections with their ancestors; However, if the endangered species become extinct, it can also mean the collapse of the food chain and more negative effects can occur. Alike with all the endangered creatures around the world, the existence of a culture also deserves the same amount of attention, and therefore, the welfare of both sides should be evaluated tentatively.
This is not the only problem the Inuit are facing now, though. With the melting ice and glaciers, the unexplored mines are uncovered; being driven by greed, a lot of businesspeople have seen this as an opportunity and have sent explorers over and meet massive success. However, all their movements have caused another series of inconvenience to the native people. It did bring wealth, but at what cost? It was a once tranquil nation, with a beauty only you can only marvel at by paying a visit in person. The harmony of the country has already being disrupted by the by-product of technological developments, would it be right to let it get furtherly harmed by greed?
As for solutions, I believe, would not be a good idea if you take sides. First, it is true that in such times of animal endangerment, restrictions have to be set for the hunters, but in terms of compensation, they should as well dish out a more convincing system of assistance. Also, regulations should be designed particularly for the mining companies. As an example, the government can request them to properly file an appeal for permission to mine, along with a scientific research to evaluate the impact of mining to the environment, or to set a limit for the equipment or explosives used in the process of mining.
To sum up, the issues in the Arctic are not just the problems for the residents or the businesses around that place; it is an international problem since global warming is involved, and it spells responsibility for all mankind. Therefore, instead of simply sitting before your computer and criticizing across the screens, think of what you can do for the sake of our future, for the sake of our world.
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