After watching Heat, it is easy to realize the effects of global warming caused largely by what humanity calls progress and by " the acceleration of human consumption” (Smith). More than ever, people are taking a proactive, almost cult-like approach to saving planet Earth. But who is behind this crusade to “save the planet”? Who determines what needs to change to protect the earth and its natural resources, and indeed, sustain life itself? Concerned individuals and those nicknamed “environmentalists” are behind this effort. According to dictionary.com, an environmentalist is 1) an expert on environmental issues and 2) anyone who advocates or works to protect air, water, animals, plants, and other natural resources from pollution or its effects (dictionary.com). In Heat, these experts and defenders express themselves, particularly on global warming and its effects on the Earth and on the future of humanity. It is undeniable that everything today, whether manipulated by humans, such as fuels and waste, or by nature, such as methane emissions from cows, has profoundly accelerated global warming. Others, like Joseph Romm, author of Hell and High Water, take a more cautious approach: “…What global warming does is just makes certain things more likely. Then you cross a threshold and you get a collapse” (Smith). We have crossed the threshold and going back is an impossibility. The Impossibility It is difficult to imagine that the snow-capped peaks of Everest and the Himalayas are gradually disappearing. From 1921 to the present, 40% of the snow that covered these majestic mountains has melted. (Black-smith). At this rate, it would seem that in 100 years, 80% of the snow will have disappeared. Many, experts or not, are quick to say...... middle of paper ......h © corbis, all rights reserved website copyright 1995-2011 WGBHStrickland Educational Foundation, N. (2001). A History of Cotton Mills and the Industrial Revolutionhttp://narvellstrickland1.tripod.com/cottonmillhistory2/index1.htmlYou Tube (2009). Intervention by Sunita Narain during the joint annual Energie-Cités / Alliance Climat meeting in Brussels in April 2009. Sunita gives her opinion on the conference and underlines the importance of the action of the two networks in Europe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzXAYFQjWb4http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=qhlEf_J0kPshttp://jeff-goodell.com/bio.htmlThis web page has been created by Kristin Boekhoff (email: [email protected]) for his final project for Peter Schwartz's TXA 337: Structural Fabric Design course at Cornell University on 4/27/96. http://schwartz.eng.auburn.edu/polyester/manufacturing.html