Danke.
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The cartoon deals with the topic of global warming. In the cartoon there is a parking lot with many different types of cars displayed. One of the cars, which is shown in the center of the cartoon, is much bigger than the others. All of the cars bear flags as their license plates, so each car represents a certain country. The biggest car bears not only a flag but also the word “USA”. While all cars are very small and unsignificant this big one seems the more huge. It has blackened windows and gives off the most exhaust fumes. Also it is a special type of car, a typical American car called SUV, which means “Sports Ulility Vehicle”. These types of cars consume a lot of gas and pollute the environment, because of their high emission. In this way they contribute a lot to global warming. Nevertheless all the cars do not give off any exhaust fumes, they are parked and the motor is switched off in contrast to the American SUV.
In the cartoon’s background there is also a building, a sign at its frontside explains that this is the conference venue of the international conference on global warming.
With all of these facts the cartoonist’s intention is clearly to see. With this cartoon he critisizes the USAs environmental politics relating to the global warming. The USA plays an important role because of its polluting attitude and is, like it is shown here, one of the biggest environmental polluters in the world. The USA is now and then the only state that is not ready to consent to the conservation provisions. This again shows the people’s view of the importance of conservation. So it is highly probable that American people do not care that much about care of the environment. It seems like they are just interested in – to take up the idea of the SUV – status symbols, which show their wealth without wasting just one thought about the environment. Also the government disapproves of all conservation proposals. It seems that they want to show their power just by refusing all proposals which are not of their own.
After analyzing the cartoon I would say that the cartoonist disapproves of the American environmental politics, which is clearly shown by the way he portrays the USA as the biggest polluter at all. In my opinion the United States contribute to the global warming in a high way, but are not to blame for this all alone.
