Plastics are smiles and plastic is seen dumped for miles and miles,
Mammals subjected to hate, aquatics suffocated for breath,
slithered is the marine life,
Poaching leading to endangered species,
there’s never a goodwill in hunting,
How many lives are in the counting,
Trees, flowers, birds and all the wildlife,
Not a day in peace, not a moment in solitude, just why this strife?
Does the concept of earth day get more acuity when backed up by United Nations? And if so, what is the lasting proof that it is igniting consciousness to alleviate all that is wrong with mother-earth?
As the Earth Day is being celebrated across the world- perhaps with a hint of warning at all that is wrong, the mind is being cast into constant doubt if things can get better, ever. Anywhere you look, social media updates or national headlines, retweets or dividing opinion lines- the commonality surrounding “Save Earth” is being wrapped in complicated new meanings- in a bid to make people act now.
Clearly, the time is running out. But are we really sane or mindful of the grim reality surrounding the planet we live in, or is ours just a temporary participation to join the chorus?
Perceptions are done aside, there’s a lot of woes that for starters we must be privy to:
1. Ocean Acidification
Apparently, 25% of the CO2 on earth is produced by us humans. Ocean acidification is a direct consequence of the excessive production of CO2. In the last 250 years, ocean acidity has increased tremendously but by the year 2100- it may shoot up to 150%.
2. Water Pollution
Imagine having a tremendous dearth of something as precious as a useful resource for survival then plying it with pollution? A common phenomenon in developing countries, despite several warnings, the scenario remains majorly unchanged. As much as 70% of developing countries openly dump untreated industrial wastes into water bodies.
3. Urban Sprawl
It might seem like a fancy new addition to a list that is already marked by earthen-atrocities- urban sprawl refers to the large chunks of population migration to urban or more developed areas of a country. The phenomenon leads to added negatives such as health issues and environmental degradation
4. Dead Coral
It might be Australia’s unsaid national treasure but given its eye-widening beauty, the Great Barrier Reef- now suffering from copious amounts of dead and depleted coral, on account of water pollution and rising temperatures is suffering from the worst crisis till date. Should this phenomenon continue, the Great Barrier Reef might be termed the Great Barrier ‘Steal’; carrying an underlining inkling to decode just ‘whodunnit’
5. Acid Rain
On account of a pungent mix of pollutants that stymie our earth and atmosphere, acid rain- a result- can have serious implications on health, aquatic species, wildlife. Even erupting volcanoes, rotting vegetation and, combustion of fossil fuels causes such rancidity.
As a result of such turmoils that are harming the planet, we realize, with a pulverizing shock that our planet- a safe haven for animals and human beings- is not safe anymore. The feeling is particularly striking since never in the history of the planet known to be existing for 46 billion years has the concern been ever so real.
We don’t need to be tutored that the human interference that began making upsetting the natural course of things on earth began in 1760 at around the time of industrial revolution.
But what isn’t known is when and or it may all come crashing leading to worst consequences for us all. And if that is to happen- leaving aside fictitious renditions on the cinema-reel like 2012 (with all due respect)- would we have the spine to learn that our own undoings led to such grave harm?
But all that said, it is also pertinent to note that tiny that they may be, in relation to the size of the actual calamity earth is reeling with, corrective measures are being taken to engage in some “earth redressing”.
Sustainability led projects that include the likes of – corporates such as Amazon feeding off from solar projects in the US to fulfil their energy needs, massive campaigns being orchestrated in countries like India on social-media to save rivers, institution of bio-diversity gardens in developing countries, countries like Britain coming out from the cold to draw relevance through meaningful measures like banning plastic eatables from the country- hint at major bodies not sitting idle in addressing the looming threat.
But perhaps there’s a lesson in a teacher’s cursory advice to students in being consistent and disciplined- when it comes to addressing matters affecting the Earth. Maybe the time- running out is hinting at treating this earth no more as a playground but as a classroom where the need to be disciplined now is paramount more than ever.