Sawse - Stir it Up!

Today, as several corporate houses join hands to save the Environment, there still might be hope for several of the bird species that as predicted, might just go the way of the Dodo by 2100, if things do not change.

Climate change has today, become a major cause of concern for us humans. For humans! Why we’ve got everything from sunscreens to umbrellas to protect us in both rain and shine. Well, well, its time that we chose railways over airways.

Railways over airways! Why on earth would anybody want to spend so much time traveling? The answer is simple; because using railways would mean that we contribute to climate change is a smaller manner as compared to airways. Doesn’t seem practical yet, but it will in a few years, when some of the amphibians and bears that we treasure today would not be around for us to photograph.

Imagine this; several species of amphibians might not be around after a few years. This despite the fact that amphibians have been around even before dinosaurs ruled the earth. The distressing fact is that today, amphibians are not really able to keep pace with the rapid climatic changes. These changes include exposure to UV – B light, pesticide pollution, habitat loss and other such issues that are a directly related to climate change and indirectly related to human activities – in other words indirectly related to us!

Our actions have led to the extinction of many species and will soon result in mass extinction. So the big question here is “is human civilization on a path to self destruction?”

It is a well known and well understood fact that we humans greatly depend on other species for our survival. Despite knowing this fact, it is hard to understand as to why we humans chose to drill a hole in the ozone layer. Perhaps, because the short term benefits of doing the same were far too many that hardly any of us really thought about the long term miseries that this could bring upon us.

Right from the air we take in to the water e drink, everything is polluted. We all know about the ill effects and illness that these pollutants bring upon us. However, little do we care about the suffering that these pollutants bring upon other beings that we call creatures! These beings also include the ones from the plant kingdom. The pollution that is caused because of the luxury cars that we wish to drive in ultimately leads to a phenomenon called the Green House Effect.

It is ironic that the term “Green house”, which once was associated with plants has in itself become one of the deadliest phenomenon that could wipe out the whole of the human race in a few years from now. The Green house effect is one of the major causes of concern today, as it directly results in Global Warming. The phenomenon has quite a simple mechanism and the reason for its occurrence could be attributed to the increase in Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Now Carbon Dioxide has a unique capacity of trapping heat. Thus, the heat from the sun reaches the Earth but it is not really allowed to escape; Thus resulting in Global Warming.

Imagine this, in a few years’ people living along the costal areas or banks of some perennial rivers would have to use boats instead of cars. Well, so what?! Then we would have the more scope for innovating boats. But, what about the Bio – diversity that exists today? We cannot afford to ignore their survival. If we do, then the future generations would only be able to see photographs of the Lions and Tigers, and several other species of birds and animals. Quite like the way we see the Dodo!

Global warming harms every creature; right from the Salmon to the turtle. In some turtles, Global warming also causes cancer. Adding to the effects of global warming is the increase in rate of deforestation. Trees could in fact help deal with the increase in carbon dioxide and thus, prevent the cause of global warming. However, it is very difficult for us humans to implement simple things such as deforestation. It is true that there is a lot being said about deforestation and very little being done. However, this is because the need of the hour, which is to be met. We need paper, then we need furniture, then we need electricity and we need so many other things. (Some of these we do not even need but we just want)

Thus, because of our needs and some of our wants, the balance in the ecosystem is being greatly disturbed. It is again ironically that every time we cut a tree to build our home, we actually destroy the home of so many other creatures. Besides, deforestation means no forests, no forests means no trees, no trees means no habitat for animals to live in; and deforestation also means global warming. Global warming would again lead to melting of the glaciers, quite like in some of our animation movies, melting of glaciers and snow caps would again lead to rise of water levels; which will ultimately mean no homes for most of us. So it’s all interlinked and quite simple.

Nature has its own way of dealing with elements, especially stressful elements; and we would rather not be the stressful element. This is why there are so many ad campaigns telling us to reduce, reuse and recycle. The fact is that the damage has been done and we are beginning to see its effects. If only, we could do our bit to mend the harm that we have caused, can we save our homes. Off course it is the question of all other animals, but in the end the climatic change is causing harm to the Earth – which incidentally is our home.

Did you know: It takes almost 17 trees to make 1 ton of paper. – Consider Recycling!

Tags: animals, biodiversity, climate, global warming, plants, pollution