Monday, 20 June 2022

YES to an Environmental Movement; A Wide Cause of a Social Responsibilities


In the universe are billions of galaxies,

In our galaxy are billions of planets,

But there is Only One Earth.





        World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on the 5th of June every year. First observed in 1973, World Environment Day is characterized by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as “a global platform for inspiring positive change”. It is celebrated every year on June 5 by millions of people across the world. World Environment Day 2022 is hosted by Sweden. This is United Nations’ main methodology for raising awareness and action for the protection of our environment. It was first held in 1974, under the slogan “Only One Earth” and it became a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging issues from the environment to marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. For nearly five decades, World Environment Day developed as a platform to raise awareness on the problems facing our environment such as air pollution, plastic pollution, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable consumption, sea-level increase, and food security, supporting action, and leading changes for the environment. Every year it changes its theme, some of which are Beat the Air Pollution- 2019 and Beat the Plastic Pollution -2018. The theme of World Environment Day 2022 is “Only One Earth”, is to focus on the world's togetherness in the direction of creating the atmosphere conductive for peace, harmony, and prosperity and health by saving the nature and life. The policy of the theme is to create and adopt a lifestyle which should be pollution free and full of green land. The moto is still the same as it was 50 years ago to protect the mother nature. This planet is our only home and we need to save it for upcoming generations.

   Currently, millions of plants and animals are endangered and may be lost to future generations. The majority of these are the result of human activity. Humans are also becoming more aggressive and abusive to the environment in which they live. Deforestation, the use of fossil fuels, improper waste disposal, and overconsumption of natural resources all contribute to the destruction of nature and even the future of our children. Our beloved nature has suffered greatly and rapidly as a res conductive for peace, harmony, prosperity and health by saving ult of the modernization of our lives. Despite the fact that our lives have become more comfortable, we cannot accept the fact that our environment is suffering negative consequences. We, as people who only live on Earth, will never allow it to be gradually destroyed. We must fundamentally reconsider our relationship with the living world, with natural ecosystems and biodiversity, and work to restore it. Now, World Environment Day 2022 calls on all of us to take action, reconsider our environmental impact, and make smart lifestyle changes if we want to continue calling Earth home.

    The Covid-19 outbreak is one of the biggest challenges that the human race has had to ever endure. This almost apocalyptic situation is an indication of the disharmony in nature’s equilibrium. It is telling of the repercussions of encroachment and mistreatment of nature and its abundance by humans. While there is a lot to debate around the cause and spread of the virus, the role of humans lies uncontested. Our short-sighted approach to our environment has led to degradation and a climate crisis that has not only caused the surge in new and fatal diseases like the Covid-19 but also threatened the future of –our planet and its inhabitants.

     In the high time sustainable initiatives must be taken on an urgent basis. As we all have been facing pandemic for the last two years, it has highlighted the significance of safe, clean and sustainable environment like never before. Now, it is alarming for all of us to take care of the mother earth and its resources. The global warming is as very big  threat giving us challenges o secure a healthy life and nature's protection. To my homeland, Philippines taken many steps in the direction of spreading awareness and taking corrective measures for protecting the earth from global warming. It is our first and foremost responsibility to look after the usage of every resource. The environment has become extremely polluted and full of toxins which  has harmful impact on our health. The World Environment Day inspires us to do something about it and improve the environment we can not live without  and take appropriate steps and protect the environment without which the life on the earth is impossible at all.

      On World Environment Day, every action, no matter how small, counts. It is about getting involved and taking action to make the world a greener place. The best place to begin with ecosystem restoration is within yourself. Change your habits and begin making environmentally friendly decisions. Purchase environmentally friendly products that benefit the environment rather than harm it. Using alternative energy sources, planting trees in your backyard, using recycled materials to make new products, and most importantly, avoiding overconsumption of natural resources and being responsible in their use are all simple things that have a big impact on protecting and restoring our environment. The first step to undo the harm we have already caused is by creating awareness and encouraging climate literacy. Only when we truly understand the magnitude of the issue can we find innovative ways to solve the problem. With the correct knowledge and tools at our disposal, we will be able to fight this battle against climate change. Youth Climate activists like Greta Thunberg have set the ball rolling and we must take it forward by educating ourselves and those around us of the various challenges that our planet faces today to find ways to restore the earth to its former glory.

    Another issue plaguing our environment is to combat problems particularly of proper waste management. From our lands to our rivers and oceans, plastic wastes are everywhere. They are not only affecting the quality of our crops and groundwater but also severely impacts marine life. The government has taken various steps to curb and manage plastic wastes such as a ban on plastic carry bags and on multi-layered plastic products that cannot be recycled. Local governing bodies also encourage the segregation of waste at source and discourage the usage of single-use of plastic. We can support these efforts by ensuring that we segregate our domestic wastes, reduce the use of plastic whenever sustainable alternatives are available, and organize or participate in clean-up drives in our location. 

      It seems the more we create the more we throw away. Early humans did not produce as much garbage as modern humans. During the pre-modern era, most of the waste produced was either ashes or human biodegradable waste which could be released back into the land without causing much harm to the environment. In the years that have passed since mankind began to evolve, especially since after the Industrial Revolution, waste is something we see everywhere. It’s on the streets, in our houses, dirtying our land and polluting our water. It is in its own particulate form infiltrating our air, the very air that is meant for our survival. It is the plastic bags we don’t reuse, the aluminium and tin cans we dispose of after downing our beverages, and the paper we don’t recycle. And all these are going to result in the kind of dire consequences no one thought something as supposedly insignificant as not segregating their household waste could lead to.

    The issue of improper waste disposal has a lot more relevance in our lives than we realize. It is important for our health, our environment, and the aesthetic beauty of our surroundings. Humans produce a lot more waste than any other species on the planet and we need to learn to store and manage it properly to prevent damage to the Earth’s ecosystem. How we dispose of our wastes directly affects our environment. Improper disposal of waste can create disease causing pathogens and thus can have effects on human health ranging from skin diseased to other health hazards. Additionally, it can have a wide range of impacts on our natural surroundings.

     There are different methods of solid waste management that have to be chosen among carefully depending on factors such as nature of waste, amount of waste, and geographical factors. The most common way to manage solid waste is inarguably landfills. Landfills are usually dug at old abandoned mining sites or quarries. The method involves layering the waste in thin spreads before compacting it, after which it is covered with a layer of soil. More layers of earth are added over time. While landfills are very cost-effective and hence the most practiced, they have environmental downsides. They give off hazardous gases and could possibly contaminate groundwater of the land nearby. Therefore landfills should be properly lined and should not come in contact with the adjoining area.

    The second method, incineration, also referred to as thermal treatment, comprises the controlled burning of waste at high temperatures. Incineration facilities can be built in a small space and process a large amount of waste, hence saving a lot of space as compared to landfills. The volume of the waste can be reduced by more than half, and moreover, incineration can also provide for a continuously available alternative source of energy. The waste is transformed to heat, ash, gas and steam and this method is widely used in countries with limited space such as Japan. Unfortunately, the high cost of installation of an incinerator presents a problem. Another obvious disadvantage of incineration is the release of toxic gases, such as dioxins which can even be carcinogenic.

    Composting is the most natural process of waste disposal. In composting, the waste simply breaks down into  organic compounds that can be used as manure or fertilizer. Organic wastes such as fruit peels and skins, yard trimmings, manures, food wastes, etc. once acted upon by microorganisms can be used as soil enhancers or a medium to grow plants. Some challenges faced by taking up composting include foul odor, the need for a composting area and the release of greenhouse gases. Although it is a big change to make, once composting is made into a habit, its benefits far outweigh its drawbacks. It is definitely a method to be seriously considered.

     A very well-known way to manage solid waste is recycling. Recycling works on the principle of not completely disposing of anything that could be used and not introducing new, unnecessary raw materials which would need to be disposed of later. Recycling can be done by everyone and is encouraged everywhere. Small things like carrying your own reusable shopping bag to the supermarket instead of using plastic bags each time and separating your trash at home can contribute to reducing the amount of total waste generated by everyone. Reducing the volume of our waste is a great first step to dealing with the problem of waste management. Materials such as paper, glass, aluminium, etc. that can be recycled should be recycled. It has several advantages. You could save money. You could save resources. You could reduce the amount of waste created. As easily as by recycling, we could lessen the strain on the environment. Thus, recycling is an important idea to minimize the waste generated by us today and better deal with whatever we create anyway.

 


     We are to blame for the extinction of our natural world. As a result, every small step we take to protect and preserve our environment is critical, and that is exactly what you have done today. We can't turn back the clock, but we can certainly make the world a better place. Our global actions with more prudent environmental care can save our world from drowning and make it a better place to live. Think green, plant more, and use environmentally friendly materials. Be good stewards of the world, because I believe that where we live is more than just an environment; it is a very beautiful paradise that will never be forgotten.

      Every little effort from us will help collectively improve the environment and restore our Earth. It is never too late to take action and responsibility to preserve our environment. As responsible citizens of this nation, we must prioritize the environment and do our bit to restore it. This Environment Day, let us all pledge to educate ourselves and take urgent action to combat the depleting condition of the environment and create a sustainable ecosystem that can be restored for our future generations.

     The day aims to focus on the importance of the environment and to remind people that nature should not be taken for granted. According to the United Nations, “The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.” Therefore, World Environment Day calls for “collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet,” encouraging everyone, everywhere, to live sustainably and address the climate change. The UN conducts several awareness programs on June 5, with participation of civil society, governments, schools, businesses and celebrities, to urge the adoption of such corrective measures. Let us give the future generations a healthier environment to have a happier life…Best wishes on World Environment Day. World Environment Day will keep reminding us of the wrong we did to our environment and the right we need to do to correct it all.

“On World Environment Day, let’s stop harming nature… Let’s join hands to bring a positive change to make Planet Earth a much healthier, greener and happier place to live.”

Multimedia References:

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=EXqKJA1T&id=D653C6187654A1F28FC18EAF1A3861765691D9AD&thid=OIP.EXqKJA1TbQd4bx3tzi3H5AHaEH&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fimages.indianexpress.com%2f2018%2f06%2fworld-environment-day-759.jpg%3fw%3d759&exph=422&expw=759&q=world+environment+day+2022&simid=608031970639301361&FORM=IRPRST&ck=B89DC6DC2F062FB1453E65CDE748D242&selectedIndex=0

 https://bit.ly/3tCyKfL

. https://bit.ly/3b05Ek2

 https://bit.ly/3NVjmmM

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.r0dRWeera76AW8QIy4XzbQHaD4?w=336&h=180&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.75&pid=1.7


No comments:

Post a Comment

YES to an Environmental Movement; A Wide Cause of a Social Responsibilities

In the universe are billions of galaxies, In our galaxy are billions of planets, But there is Only One Earth.         World Environment ...