Magnified Thoughts

3 | Our Environment

"We won't have a society if we destroy our environment"

- Margaret Mead

I still remember the time when I was seven years old, I used to fly my kite in that vast green field located near the park with my family. The green spaces that we used to enjoy and play in have been replaced by buildings and factories that fuel the world with its pollution. Every day, I come home complaining about the sweltering hot weather that gets hotter each day and see the news headlines flash out a new global disaster caused by the deteriorating climate. Every year, it gets undeniably worse. I've grown up watching Gaia suffer from global warming, depletion of our ozone layer, choking due to air pollution and her offspring-- animals and nature becoming extinct every day. Is this the future we want for our children? A world plagued with diseases due to progress and advancement in our society?

Firstly, Global warming is an issue that has been debated constantly in the world by people which include scientists, environmentalists, and conservationists. With reference to Oxford Dictionary's definition, "Global warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere." However notice the words "gradual increase" despite the fact that it is slowing becoming a serious problem, we are already experiencing the effects of global warming. According to a data published by NASA, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has never exceeded 300 million till the year 1950 and after where the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased tremendously. Therefore, this trend is significant because it shows how much we are polluting our environment. All these starts with the factories that are emitting carbon dioxide in the environment due to the advancement of technology in our society. One example is in China whereby its high-speed rail was smudged in brownish patches due to its smog problem. Therefore, this calls for action to reduce our carbon footprint.

Before we can do something to save our environment, we need to understand the impacts and effects of global warming. The evidence of global warming is compelling and this can be seen through the rise in global temperature, sea level rise, warming oceans, shrinking ice sheets and extreme weather events. Since 1906, the global average surface temperature has increased between 0.6 to 0.9 degrees Celsius. Due to the increase in temperature, the ice in the Arctic and other polar regions are melting causing a rise in sea level. A rise in sea level could mean that countries with low above sea level height or probably below sea level height would sink in the future. One example is the floating city, Venice that is sinking at a rate five times faster than expected due to rising sea levels. Due to more extreme weather events around the world, humans and wild animals face a new challenge-- survival. These extreme weather events destroy the places they live, wreaking havoc on their and our lives. The warming oceans destroy coral reefs around the world by bleaching them. As a result, the polyps that live in these coral reefs die and are endangered. Thus, we as humans need to reflect on our actions and see what we can do to save our environment.

Lastly, what can we do to save our environment? We can reduce our carbon footprint by taking public transport, walk or cycle. However, if we still want to drive, an alternative way is carpooling. This way we can reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, we can also incorporate the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle into our lifestyle by weighing our needs more than our wants and be thrifty in what we use. We can reduce our usage of electricity by switching on the air-con at 25 degrees Celsius. We can also help protect our environment by being more aware of the environmental issues around the world and join non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to support the cause of protecting the environment.

In conclusion, I believe we can do a part in protecting the environment by starting to do something from small. This is because no matter how big or small our actions are to save the environment, these actions matter and can make a big change in protecting our environment. I believe as long as we keep hope and put in the effort to save our environment, Gaia will be healed through our warm hands and hearts. Definitely, progress is as important as protecting the environment and it is hard to sacrifice either or. However, I believe that the earth is like Ying and Yang where we need to balance our progress and advancement into a new world and at the same time saving our mother earth where I call my home every day.