The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that the atmospheric volume of greenhouse gases that cause climate change has hit a new record in 2012. WMO’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin in Geneva revealed in early November that the level of carbon dioxide [dahy-OK-sahyd, -sid] (CO2), as well as heat-trapping gases like methane and nitrous oxide, has significantly increased. The WMO bulletin said the volume of CO2 grew faster in 2012 than in the previous decade. Being the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities, carbon dioxide reached 393.1 parts per million (ppm), a 141-percent increase from the pre-industrial period. The organization also highlighted how heat-trapping gases from human activities have upset the natural balance of the atmosphere. In fact, these gases are the major contributors to climate change. According to Dave Reay, a carbon management expert, CO2 has a ratchet effect, which means its level is expected to further increase over time. The WMO warned that the continuous upward and accelerating trend, which is driving climate change, will guarantee great effects in the future of the Earth. The global average temperatures may also reach 4.6 degrees higher by the end of the century than the pre-industrial era. This condition is expected to have devastating consequences to the planet for about 100 years. The weather will become more extreme, ice sheets and glaciers will melt, and sea levels will keep on rising. |
The streets of Dhaka have recently been chaotic because of protests from thousands of garment factory workers. In the streets of the Ashulia industrial district, angry protesters attacked the owners of garment factories and hurled stones at them. Within only two days, about 200 factories closed down and at least 50 people got hurt. In order to disperse the multitude of protesters, the responding riot police had to use tear gas shells and rubber bullets. The workers’ demand for wage increase brought about these recent protests. Presently, garment factory workers receive a minimum pay of 38 dollars per month. A panel appointed by the government, the Minimum Wage Board, has recommended a 75% hike, which would raise the monthly salary to $66. However, the workers of the garment industry were unwilling to accept the proposal and are now pushing for a salary hike of 100 dollars a month. One of them said that $66 could hardly meet their needs because of the high prices of goods in the market. The salary paid to workers in Bangladesh is just half of what is paid in Vietnam. This low wage is instrumental to the flourishing ready-to-wear industry. Today, Bangladesh’s garment industry is the second largest in the world, next to China. The wage hike would significantly increase the production cost; hence, the industry has not endorsed the government’s recommendation yet. Its big fear is that a salary hike would cause the industry’s competitive edge to be lost. |
