Global Issues of Climate and Human Rights in Society

Nowadays, the global climate problem is gaining momentum. Frank (2014) states that the basic scientific case that the planet’s climate is changing due to human activity has been settled for at least 25 years. There are also two sides to the Antarctic warming problem. Other than select ice shelves in one minuscule area soaking in water warmed by volcanic activity, Antarctica isn’t melting at all. However, Conway (2014) asserts that the continent is, in fact, losing mass at an increasing rate, according to the data. Nevertheless, no one can give an exact answer to this question. This problem will attract more of society’s attention. More research will be conducted until any side achieves success in proving its rightness. While people are competing for their opinions, the government cannot ignore them. Research on this problem will be conducted more often and will attract funding from both the government and private companies.

However, scientists may not always show the real results of their assignments. Firstly, they may be afraid of being rejected by society. In the video by SciShow (2012), the story of the Hungarian physician shows how people can reject innovations that are actually useful. He suggested washing hands before examining pregnant women to prevent the spread of any diseases, but he was rejected by society (SciShow, 2012). Secondly, Garry Gray, in the video Trust in research: The ethics of knowledge production (2014), says that scientists often do not finish their research in an appropriate way due to their funders. They are scared of losing potential commercialization because funders may not like the result. Approving this state, Bero (2016) writes that the paper’s authors suggest that many of today’s dietary recommendations may have been largely shaped by the sugar industry.

What is more, there may be a long debate about the harm of any drug to humans, which makes it unclear whether people may use such a drug. In these situations, we do face the difference in points of view, and this is the problem that creates a fear of a lack of knowledge. McGinley illustrates a long session of negotiations on whether it is possible to release the drug. Accelerated approvals were initiated decades ago to speed access to AIDS drugs, whose ultimate benefits were uncertain (McGinley, 2021). To conclude, there are many aspects that may influence the scientists’ research results for the worse, and this fact negatively affects the information the masses receive.

References

Frank A. (2014). A problem like no other: Science and politics. NPR.

Bero, L. (2016). Essays on health: how food companies can sneak bias into scientific research. The Conversation.

Conway, E. (2014). Antarctica is melting. Can glaciers and ice melt be reversed? Viewpoint essay. Gale: Cengage.

Marc, S. (2014). Antarctica is not melting. Can glaciers and ice melt be reversed? Viewpoint essay. Gale: Cengage.

McGinley, L. (2021). The controversial approval of an Alzheimer’s drug reignites the battle over the underlying cause of the disease. The Washington Post.

TEDx Talks. (2014). Trust in research the ethics of knowledge production (SCI-100, IDS-400, 401, 402, 403) (CC). (2021). [Video]. YouTube.

SciShow. (2012). Taboos of science. [Video]. YouTube.