Biting the Hand that Feeds Us
Nature is kind and gracious. She has given us all that we need for food, clothing, shelter, energy and other basic needs, but man is ungrateful and unkind to the Earth. Over the years, man through his socio-economic activities has destroyed, disrupted and degraded the ecosystem. We keep biting the hand that feeds us.
A step into the wild, the first truth that hits a keen observer is how nature has intelligently and systematically provided all that is needed for the sustenance of all organisms and built-in everything in such a way that it is sustainable. From the flowing fresh springs to the beautiful and green lustrous grasses, the fruits and herbs. A look at the fauna and flora all around us shows a connected web of delicate balance and sustainability. Nature is wise.
However, man in his arrogance, greed and lackadaisical attitude has degraded the environment. According to scientist, 50 billion years of evolutionary history could be lost because of humans. Environmental degradation refers to the deteriorating effects of man’s activities on the environment as a result of the depletion of resources such as air, water, soil and minerals as well as the destruction of the environment, pollution, extinction of plants and wildlife including loss of biodiversity. According to Henry David Thoreau, “Every creature is better alive than dead, men, moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it”. We must understand this.
An economic activity such as over-fishing harms the marine world, disrupts the aquatic food-web and food-chain. Bad farming practices for instance introduces pesticides, herbicides and other dangerous chemicals to the environment. This affects air, soil and water quality. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are produced which contribute to the depletion of the Ozone layer. Methane, a product of animal waste from animal husbandry is accumulating in atmosphere with an effect that is 28 times higher than carbon dioxide.
Mining activities for gold and other precious metals and oil drilling are carried without care for the environment resulting in erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, contamination of the soil as well as ground and surface water. Pollution, serious degradation and wanton destruction follow. Green house gases are causing increase in earth’s temperature and the resultant effect is the melting of ice-caps, rise in sea level, extreme weather and climate condition, flooding, frequent hurricanes, tornadoes and landslide. Nature is bleeding, we keep exploiting nature because ‘all we want is what we want’; no care for Mother Nature,
Deforestation and clearing of large swathes of forests for farming, roads, industrialization and urbanization is hurting Earth’s lungs; the forest through which the whole earth breathes. The Earth is choking with the green house gases, temperature is rising. Do we care? We keep on biting the hands that feeds us.
Our Earth’s natural resources are being exploited in an unsustainable manner. Toxic waste and trash are often dumped in the ocean, rivers and lakes resulting in the degradation of water bodies. The future generation may never enjoy the biodiversity we see around us today. Once biodiversity is lost, the state of health of the Earth will reduce rapidly and we will continue to see large cases of epidemics like Ebola and Corona viruses and many other destructive phenomenon like flooding, cyclones, hurricanes, forest fires and other destructive natural forces. The time to act is now.
Environmental degradation is a global problem. We all need clean water, air and quality soil for farming. There is need to engage maximum regional, international cooperation and collaboration. Policies to address issues such as soil erosion, noise pollution, deforestation indiscriminate waste disposal, water pollution and oil spillage, air pollution, ozone layer depletion and biodiversity loss must be drafted and implemented by various countries.
We must all arise to take Global action that is required; if we must stop the Earth from the free fall into extinction and destruction. Well-coordinated afforestation programs that involves introduction of plants and trees that are being lost to extinction must be carried out immediately. Also, every one of us must learn the 3Rs of waste management; reduce waste generation, reuse and recycle, thereby keeping materials especially plastics from landfills and water bodies as much as possible.
The use of green energy should be adopted as an alternative to burning fossil fuels thereby reducing carbon emission and other greenhouse gases. We must mobilize stake holders and initiate projects for the cleaning of water bodies and removal of oil spillages. Heavy sanctioning of defaulters, arrest and conviction of enemies of nature such as poachers should be carried out to curb the menace.
Information is power. Environmental education will enlighten individuals about the negative impact of their seemingly ordinary day-to-day activities on the environment. It will also encourage them to carry out activities that will help save the environment such as efficient use of water and energy including recycle and reuse of household waste. Hence, we must carry out proper awareness and mobilization of different individuals from all walks of life, for activities which will lead to environmental conservation such as tree planting.
If there is any time to save Mother Nature, it is now. Tomorrow may just be too late. We must not continue to bite her hand, we must all work together to save her.
