Just An Average Joe: Temperatures Rising

There has been a great debate this century about Global Warming, the causes and what needs to be done to reverse this trend. Let us first take a look at the basic definition of Global Warming; http://zfacts.com/p/49.html
Definition of Global Warming: Gradual increase in the earth's surface temperature.

While researching this topic I have found most evidence pointing to greenhouse gases being produced by mankind. Even though, I believe this is a prudent observation, the planet earth has gone from warming to chilling trends since it was created millions of years ago. However, the production of greenhouse gases must be recognized as a catalyst to climate change at a much higher rate than Mother Nature would unfold. The following I submit to support my belief;
http://www.greenfacts.org/climate-change/global-warming/global-warming.htm
Natural reasons will always affect global warming. However, human activities are increasing significantly the concentrations of greenhouse gases, mainly CO2) in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming. Although more research is needed, understanding of global warming processes and computer models have improved. global warming models conclude that most of the warming over the last 50 years is likely to have been due to man-made activities. Scenarios are developed to predict what global warming are expected for the future and what the likely consequences will be.
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/climate-change-ar4/index.htm#5
The Earth’s climate is influenced by many factors, mainly by the amount of energy coming from the sun, but also by factors such as the amount of greenhouse gases and aerosols in the atmosphere, and the properties of the Earth’s surface, which determine how much of this solar energy is retained or reflected back to space.
The atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have significantly increased since the beginning of the industrial revolution. This is mainly due to human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, land use change, and agriculture. For instance, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is now far higher than in the last 650 000 years and has been growing faster in the last ten years than it has been since the beginning of continuous measurements around 1960.

Now, regardless of whether you believe mankind is totally responsible or not, there are advantages and disadvantages to the future involving global warming. The following is the good and the not so good; http://hamariweb.com/article.aspx?id=285
Disadvantages of Global Warming• Ocean circulation disrupted, disrupting and having unknown effects on world climate. • Higher sea level leading to flooding of low-lying lands and deaths and disease from flood and evacuation. • Deserts get drier leaving to increased desertification. • Changes to agricultural production that can lead to food shortages. • Water shortages in already water-scarce areas. • Starvation, malnutrition, and increased deaths due to food and crop shortages. • More extreme weather and an increased frequency of severe and catastrophic storms. • Increased disease in humans and animals. • Increased deaths from heat waves. • Extinction of additional species of animals and plants. • Loss of animal and plant habitats. • Increased emigration of those from poorer or low-lying countries to wealthier or higher countries seeking better (or non-deadly) conditions. • Additional use of energy resources for cooling needs. • Increased air pollution. • Increased allergy and asthma rates due to earlier blooming of plants. • Melt of permafrost leads to destruction of structures, landslides, and avalanches. • Permanent loss of glaciers and ice sheets. • Cultural or heritage sites destroyed faster due to increased extremes. • Increased acidity of rainfall. • Earlier drying of forests leading to increased forest fires in size and intensity. • Increased cost of insurance as insurers pay out more claims resulting from increasingly large disasters.

Advantages of Global Warming• Arctic, Antarctic, Siberia, and other frozen regions of earth may experience more plant growth and milder climates. • Northwest Passage through Canada's formerly-icy north opens up to sea transportation. • Less need for energy consumption to warm cold places. • Fewer deaths or injuries due to cold weather. • Longer growing seasons could mean increased agricultural production in some local areas. • Mountains increase in height due to melting glaciers, becoming higher as they rebound against the missing weight of the ice.