Mr and Ms Contest -Entry 2- Round 2

For a very long time, people living as hunters and gatherers reigned the world. Their tender nature towards their environment and their nomadic life enabled nature to repair itself easily. But with the beginning of the Industrial and Green revolution, modern society started believing in over-exploiting the natural resources, undiscerning of the adverse effect on the environment due to this approach.

Professor: We know that our over indulgence is leading to a devastating change. Yet, why don't we stop? Let us for now analyze the root causes of the problem we found to be the most prominent.

Time and again, we hear deleterious reports involving catastrophic changes in the environment. This, however, is the result of human activity. It is the right of every human to carry out development activities. But, people should give a thought to the possible consequences of their actions and use their rights rationally.

Human population has been an ever-growing phenomenon on Earth. The population is increasing at an alarming rate and has ended up as one of the most significant causes of environmental problems, as overpopulation has caused rapid depletion of resources. As our population rises, the consumption rate tends to spike, and so does the pollution. Things worsen when epidemics or a disaster strikes the world.

Poverty also tends to show a great influence on the devastation of the environment. Especially in developing and under-developed countries, where people strip off the resources to survive and pay debts, unaware of what is at stake. Getting engaged in affairs involving abusive use of environment has been seen in poor people from the past few decades.

Pollution has been creating grave and irreversible damage to our environment. It has become a major issue of severe concern and instant reaction. Pollution has reached its peak with development and modernization of the society affecting our normal lifestyle adversely. Pollution is a key source of devastation disturbing the balance of the environment.

Development of industries results in the increment of waste generation. Often industrial waste is toxic, resulting in massive environmental degradation and contamination. Waste is mounting and there are no dumping spaces! Apart from creating waste, industries are also responsible for many accidents that release deadly substances into the environment.

Ecological ignorance is also known to be one of the major causes of environmental issues. The lack of sensibility of a person to understand the fragile and complex relationship between man and the environment leads to this. Cutting down forests without acknowledging its adverse effect on the environment is an example of ecological ignorance.

Professor: As you can see, there are numerous factors that lead to the damage of our environment. Ecological ignorance, which might seem otherwise unimportant, is a major contributor. Surprised much?!

Okay, now let's see how these factors create deleterious effects. Doraemon, please take the lead!

Doraemon: Yes Ma'am!

Global warming, an adverse effect of environmental problems, is a major buzz in today's world. The phenomenon of global warming is the rise in the temperature of the earth's atmosphere and instant climatic changes. Today, dangerous heat waves and extreme storms are increasing and occurring. Mountains and glaciers are melting resulting in an increase in the sea level, marking a red signal for the inhabitants of tropical islands.

Due to various causes, the habitat, food cycle, climate and reproductive system of creatures is affected. It damages the biodiversity by affecting the quantitative increase and life system. As a result, the diverse species of flora and fauna are diminishing. If the process continues, some of the endangered and rare species will not take time to get extinct.

With the tremendous increase in the consumption rate, the resources are being consumed at rates much higher than the rate at which they can be replenished. This results in the rise in the prices of our daily necessities. Resource depletion is most commonly seen in fossil fuels, food production, water and forests.

Deforestation is natural to occur in this modernizing and developing world. Forests are being cleared out for human settlements and agriculture purposes. Many animals are being left homeless and our source of oxygen is being cut down. Deforestation results in irreparable damage to climate, water level, habitat and biodiversity.

Decrement in the quality of air and water is visible to the inhabitants of the world these days. Heavy extraction of groundwater has depleted aquifers and lowered the water table. Carbon emission from industries causes massive environmental degradation. This has led to people suffering from different cancers, poisoning and diseases- some of them being incurable!

How are we going to satisfy our needs and wants with this high rate of consumption? Are we even going to survive? The question remains unanswered till date. This surely is an unannounced welcome to catastrophes and devastating disasters. Above listed causes and effects are only small glimpses to the darkness. The even darker side is yet to be revealed!

Professor: We have seen so far how environmental changes can be disastrous and harm our lives, so there are certain things we must do to heal our Mother Nature and make her as pure as possible.

The objective of our deeds should be to pervade the ideas of removing harmful elements from the environment which are increasingly polluting it. Pollution in environment is synonymous to the gradual arrival of death. The changes which we are ignoring today can prove fatal in the coming years. Therefore, do every possible thing to obliterate the burden on nature.

Blossom will now read out the preventive measures we can implement.

Blossom: Here are some spastic ideas which you can implement to do the same, i.e., prevent further dangerous involution in the environment with practical actions that yield a cleaner, healthier atmosphere:

M e a s u r e Y o u r I m p a c t

The superior and the first step to reduce environmental damage is to measure one's own impact. Saving nature does not mean giving up on things we love. It means to gradually lighten the load we put on the earth. The things we eat, the way we travel and the things we do have a large impact on the environment. Thus, we should stop for a while and think of all our activities and judge whether they are impacting our environment adversely. If they are, and if we love doing them, then we should steadily remove our indulgence from them. If all of us do so, then even our .50% contribution for earth's cleanliness will unite and become a large social revolution.

R e d u c e T h e C a r b o n E m i s s i o n

The second step is to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide or other harmful gases. Our contribution to this global cause can profit us in a big way, especially those in countries like US, Canada etc. where people release 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per individual per year. Our conversion into energy efficient people can set a motto for others to follow by minimizing the use of oil, gasoline, coal, petrol and other similar substances.We should also have car pools instead of driving individually, and use C.N.G. to reduce carbon emission.

C o n s e r v e E n e r g y

The wastage of energy also contributes to environmental damage. Excessive production of electricity, heat etc. brings a change in temperature and natural elements, but more importantly it leads to wastage of fossil fuels and resources which go into generation of electricity. We should switch to energy-efficient lighting, home appliances and cooling systems consuming power as less as possible. We should also buy clean energy certificates and carbon offsets.

R e d u c e , R e u s e , R e c y c l e

The ideas of reusing, reducing and recycling are not new, yet people forget them. This mantra should be the prime thing in our day to day life, it should be foremost and kept in mind while taking everyday decisions- at vacations, at home, at work etc. It can solely remove a major part of scraps hovering about in the environment and can give a clean atmosphere.

Professor:Hold on! So how many of you have two separate bins at your place? I mean- one for perishable, and other one for non-perishable items?

(Belle raises hand)

Professor:Okay, that's just one. I expect the other two to practice this exercise too, also ask your neighbors or friends to do the same. It's an easy and effective method of garbage segregation! Ain't it?

Doraemon:Yeah! I will do that from today itself.

Professor: Yes, you should! Okay Blossom, you can continue now.

Blossom:Hmm.. Here is the next one..

A f f o r e s t a t i o n

Afforestation or planting of trees is the basic principle of reducing the load on the environment. Once the trees are gone, the land eroded away cannot be restored. So we should discourage deforestation and plant as many trees as possible.