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Gloria Martin
Professor Downing
Intermediate Composition 067
28 September 2014
The Defining Crisis of This Century
President Obama addressed the U.N. Climate Summit recently and stated, For all the
immediate challenges that we gather to address this week terrorism, instability, inequality,
disease theres one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than
any other, and that is the urgent and growing threat of a changing climate (1). Two central
questions arise from the Presidents speech. First, does his speech pass Toulmins test? Also, are
the Presidents fears about the climate validated? Answers to these questions are imperative for
the reason that the Presidents views on climate change and Isis will directly impact the United
States and the world.
The central claim of the President was that climate change is the most imminent threat
facing mankind. Also, only a world-wide coalition could reverse the disastrous effects of
extreme weather. In order to back up his claims, President Obama pointed out the weather
extremes in the United States which included: floods, drought, and rising temperatures. Also, he
mentioned that throughout the world, conditions were becoming worse because of rising carbon
emissions. President Obamas warrant was that climate change will worsen if nothing is done.
Likewise, his backing was the solution of a united group of nations, which work together to
combat global weather extremes. Accordingly, President Obama declared, And we have to
work together as a global community to tackle this global threat before it is too late (1).
The reservation the President used was that some nations and people do not want to take
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action against climate change. Also the President acknowledged how some countries will act and
others will not, which could cause an economic disadvantage among certain nations. As a strike
against non-conformists, President Obama urged the United Nations to take a stand and lead the
world in the fight against climate disaster. In order to not overstate himself, President Obamas
qualifiers was his usage of the verbiage some nations or some populations when referring to
how other nations will impacted by climate change (1-2). While ending his speech, the President
referred to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. there is such a thing as being too late (3),
which gave his speech a religious God wills it feeling.
Indeed, President Obamas speech was overall consistent with Toulmins model. The
problems begin to accumulate when the data is fact-checked. Concerning his statistics about
rising temperatures, the President inferred that 2014 was the hottest year recorded in U.S.
history. In reality, one of the central reasons for rising temperatures it attributed to the start date
of recorded temperatures. Beginning in the year 1880 A.D. temperatures were first recorded. In
the year 1880 an event known as the Little Ice Age was also taking place (Wikipedia 2). Thus, it
is logical to think that if the temperature is already down, it is then going to keep going up or go
down. In reality the temperature did both and recently global warming has paused.
In an interview with Mark Robinson, Nana Nuccitelli who is a scientist noted that
Surface air temperatures have not warmed very much because more heat has been
transferred into the oceans during this time frame (Robinson 2). As a response to the oceans
warming slightly, many people are afraid for the Artic polar bears and melting ice. Wrong again,
the polar bear populations have dramatically increased by 2,6500-5,700 since 2001
(Polarbearscience 1). Nevertheless, the President is still worried about extreme weather
conditions. He cites the rise in forest fires as a result of global warming. Actually, the year 2013
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was among the lowest in history for the amount of forest fires. Instead, some of the peak years
were in the 1960s and 1970s which also coincided with a period of global cooling (Taylor 1).
The President was accurate when he stated that the climate changes, but he used
misleading fear tactics to blame human activity for climate disasters. In truth, the earth changes
naturally and goes through seasons of warming, cooling, and weather extremes. The fact that the
ocean collects most of the earths heat exemplifies how the earth naturally balances itself.
Likewise, forest fires clean out underbrush and allows new trees to grow. Therefore, President
Obamas speech fails Toulmins test because of his usage of misleading data.
Even though President Obamas deep consideration for the planets welfare seems
commendable, he loses focus of the earths true threat: ISIS. Only a few days after the
Presidents speech, an Oklahoma native brutally beheaded a coworker (Howerton). Why?
Because this act of workplace violence as termed by MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, in
reality was jihad against an infidel. The murderer was a self-proclaimed Muslim who associated
himself with the terrorist organization ISIS. The Presidents ideology of putting climate issues
before a legitimate threat to the United States places every American citizen in danger.
In conclusion, President Obamas address to the United Nations consisted of his initiative
for combating climate change. Also, the President placed climate change at the top of the threats
facing the United States and the world. Despite the fact that President Obamas speech appeared
to coincide with Toulmins model, his data was flawed and misleading. The central problem
facing the United States and the free world is the terrorist group ISIS. For the reason of the
President prioritizing climate change over ISIS and ignoring Muslim extremism in the U.S., he
places the safety of Americans and her allies at risk.

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Works Cited
"Global Population of Polar Bears Has Increased by 2,650-5,700 since 2001." Polarbearscience.
N.p., 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Howerton, Jason. "See the Reported Facebook Page of Alleged Muslim Convert Arrested in
Brutal Oklahoma Beheading: SHARIA LAW IS COMING!!!!." The Blaze. N.p., 26
Sept. 2014. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
"Instrumental Temperature Record." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Sept. 2014. Web. 28
Sept. 2014.
Kennedy, Caitlyn. "News & Features | NOAA Climate.gov." News & Features | NOAA
Climate.gov. N.p., 8 Nov. 2013. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Obama, Barack H. "Remarks by the President at U.N. Climate Change Summit." The White
House. The White House, 23 Sept. 2014. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Robinson, Mark. "Has the Earth Not Warmed in past Decade?" Fact Checker. RGJ.com, 20 July
2013. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Taylor, James M. "Fire Statistics Debunk Asserted Link to Global Warming." Heartlander
Magazine. N.p., 28 May 2014. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Urbanski, Dave. "MSNBC Host Calls Muslim Converts Beheading of Woman in Oklahoma
Food Plant Workplace Violence." The Blaze. N.p., 29 Sept. 2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.