Environment in requirement

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Ever wonder what a drop of petrol, a homeless bird, and a withering forest have in common? They can be saved. The environment around us is an entity on its own, and yet it is intrinsic to our very existence. It takes one to change the world, and indeed one single, yet magnanimous effort can make a difference.

Ecology or the study of environmental science transcends the boundaries of local habitation. It encompasses much more than just an area or a precinct. Ecological research has shown that changes in environment across one region undeniably affect the other.

When one thinks of the environment, few of the following words come to mind – sustainable, recycle, afforestation, animal slaughter, industrial emissions etc. The questions they pose are nothing short of rhetorical. Should we not plant more trees? Should we not consume less meat? Should we not switch to Hybrid cars? Should we not use energy efficient bulbs?

Well, finding an answer to any of these questions appears to be, well basically, a no-brainer, but it appears deludingly disparaging. To elucidate further, a recent survey attacked animal rights activists who condemned the killing of seals and whales in the Arctic and Japan respectively.

This leads us to two questions- Is the killing done for game or for consumer purposes? There is no doubt that these two regions consume the most amounts of seals and whales respectively. If there ever was a reason for global warming that appeared inconclusive prima facie, it has to be the seals and whales conundrum.

Seals the world over are known for their warm bodies that melt the ice surface with time. The continuous growth in population of whales across the world has led to rising sea levels. How? – A very important postulate of Physics comes into play here- Archimedes Principle. Just like an average human tends to displace water when they lay in a bath tub fully brimmed, rising number of whales in the seas does the same.

Is it affecting our environment positively, or negatively? Got to give something, something’s got to give. The justification of human deed comes with individualism. What can one person create, that is both awe inspiring, pluralistic, and durable, for the whole world to implement? Initiatives such as the Earth Hour and Live Eight Concerts across the globe only uphold the promise of a better day, but not guilt free tomorrow. Why can’t every single day be celebrated as Environment Day? Why do we ensure we behave our eco-friendly best only the fifth day of June, and not every single day we live henceforth.

Personal merit notwithstanding, the perils of entertaining a global village has debilitated our ecological progress in the name of advancement. Waste material, that was earlier limited to garbage, is now radioactive; petroleum and forest, that are perishable commodities, are compromised. Is it fair to use paper bags to prevent usage of plastic?

It is the hypocritical nature of Homo sapiens, to first rebuke the mismanagement of a  crumbling environment, and to add insult to injury, be the very perpetrators of the human cul-de-sac. It is abject poverty not in our pockets, but in our minds not to able to cherish the beauty of the environment. Only if our busy life hadn’t let us spin in pirouettes like we are today, the promise of environmental longevity would be etched on the seal of human civilization.