Global Warming

We The Destroyers, Earth The Forgiver

Do we or are we responsible to give back some thing to the environment or is it that we take it for granted that GOD has made everything in this world for the consumption of human beings. For instance, when on stay in an apartment, rent is paid to the landlord. Taking the same analogy, [...]

Do we or are we responsible to give back some thing to the environment or is it that we take it for granted that GOD has made everything in this world for the consumption of human beings. For instance, when on stay in an apartment, rent is paid to the landlord. Taking the same analogy, are we entitled or responsible or obliged to pay something to the environment we live in. If so then what is the mechanism…? American author and Radio Announcer, Earl Nightingale has commented that, ‘Our Environment, the world in which we live and work is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations.’

In this fast developing world, the need for understanding one’s environment is a must. As it is for sure that we ourselves are responsible for the destruction caused. Archeologists now days are concerned on how to control the rising pollution and environmental issues so as to save the ancient monuments. Why have all this pollution occurred? Where have all these come from? The answer is either they are man-made or they occur natural. It is not possible for us to find a single major threat to the environment as new scientific information comes to light.

But some sources like pollution, global warming, and exploitation of resources all rank above any list of environmental issues. When I talk about pollution it includes everything that gets polluted either by us or by any source.

What I have witnessed is that, Pollution causes instability, disorder and discomfort to the physical systems of living organisms therein. Air pollution is often identified as the main source of pollution but the greatest source of emission of smoke is from automobiles and motor vehicles. Sources of air pollution refer to various locations, activities or factors, which release pollutants into the atmosphere. Marine vessels such as container ships or cruise ships also cause pollution. Burning of wood, fireplace, stoves, furnaces etc are various other sources. Oil refining and industrial activity, chemicals and dusts, waste deposits, nuclear weapons, toxic gases, rocketry etc all play a role in causing air pollution. And so it is proven that inhalation of this air can causer many respiratory diseases, asthma, pneumonia and even to the extent of death.

Water is the habitat of many organisms, creatures, animals, fishes etc. and plays a key role in the growth of plants and trees. And they themselves play an important role in our life by providing us with sufficient amount of oxygen. But for years, water pollution, just like air, has been a much talked about. The contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, groundwater etc is called as Water Pollution. Discharges from waste water treatment plants, outfalls from factories, leaking underground tanks etc all constitute the primary source of water pollution. The contaminants leading to pollution in water include a wide range of chemicals and pathogens. Most of the chemical substances are toxic and pathogens produce water borne diseases in either human or animals. And due to these diseases most of the under water living organisms have come to an extinct. Spilling of oil over the seas is the biggest danger ever as many lives are at stake. Acidity caused by industrial discharges etc pollutes the water.

Soil pollution is caused either due to man-made chemicals or due to other alterations in the soil environment. The felling of trees are the major reasons for soil erosion. Soil contamination usually occurs when chemicals are released by spill or underground leakage.

Noise pollution disrupts the activity of balance of human and animal life. Transportation systems, motor vehicle noise, aircraft noise etc are the sources of noise worldwide. The harmful effects can range from a headache to heart attack. Increase in stress levels, hypertension, hearing loss, tinnitus etc are also caused.

Light pollution occurs when areas are over lit or poorly lit refers to places where light is strictly unnecessary such as neon lights on signs in buildings. This creates sky glow, which causes trouble for astronomers. Light trespass, which means light going where it is not required, could lead to health problems. These are a hand few of pollutions that cause major destruction and ill effects on people.

Now let me discuss the much hyped about topic Global Warming…!!!

A delicate balance of heat trapping gases naturally insulates Earth which keeps the earth warm enough to support life. Over the last century we have been releasing more and more carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases when fuels are burned and forests are cut down. These additional gases have to a great extent upset the natural balance of our atmosphere by trapping more heat than needed. The result is human caused global warming, which brings in serious threats from increased flooding and melting of glaciers. Due to these the water level has increased to a very alarming rate, and because of which many islands are no more seen. The lives of number of people, children and infants are at stake as the rise in floods and landslides increase. As the glaciers are melting at a quicker pace the animals living in the Polar Regions like polar bear, artic fox, penguins etc are at great threat. The need of the hour is to curb this catastrophic event.

All the nations are joining hands to check the problem and bring it down. Our government has set up the “Central Pollution Control Board” to curb pollution in 2001. Energy conservation was enacted in an effort to lower down the immense pressure on use and wastage of energy. Kyoto protocol made an effort and in its last summit the greatest achievement of it was that global warming is not just a figment of science fiction but a painful real problem, which is to be acted upon now. In 1973 peasants started Chipko Movement; they fought against the commercial felling of forests by threatening to hug the trees while cutting them down.

An all around concentrated efforts at all levels is required to free the nature from the hazards of man. For controlling vehicular pollution, progressive emission norms at manufacturing stage have been notified, low sulphur diesel and compressed natural gas is introduced. Implementation of an Eco-mark scheme to encourage production, consumption of environment (friendly products), setting up clean technology mechanisms in polluting industries, monitoring of ambient air and water quality, bio-monitoring of rivers/lakes and identification of hazardous wastes streams in various sectors etc and many more are looked forward to.

Many men have now globally joined hands to preserve, conserve and protect the nature from its plight of doomed. One of such man was “Steve Irwin” popularly known as ‘The Crocodile Hunter’; his strongest desire was to educate people about conservation of wild life. He wanted to show the wildness and beauty of nature to all in spite of knowing and taking unthinkable risks, and deep down he knew his luck could run out any time.

Now or never we must contribute our might to check ourselves. We should remember that no generation has free held on this earth we have not inherited this earth from our forefathers. In fact we have borrowed it from our children. “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and an ailing environment…?” The choice is up to us.