Alleviating Environmental Degradation through Education

This isn't really a new article, just a new post. For archive only. :)

This year’s celebration of the Science Week is centered on the need to alleviate environmental degradation, as its theme suggests. This issue has become a frequent subject of debate and of international conventions, all seeking of effective policy to combat the problem, particularly global warming. The question still lives on: Are we really harming Mother Earth?

                As defined, environment counts all of the external factors, either living or non-living, affecting an organism. There is a specific field in science that studies the relationship of living organisms and their interactions with their natural or developed environment, called ecology. Thanks to ecologists, we understand better the world around us.

                There is naturally an equilibrium between organisms and the environment. It’s somewhat like a mutualistic association – organism is being benefited of the resources from its environ and environment is being taken care of by the organism. But this isn’t always the picture!

                “Organisms and their environment constantly interact, and both are changed by this interaction. Like all other living creatures, humans have clearly changed their environment, but they have done so generally on a grander scale than have all other species.”

                This is the sad reality. Humans, instead of being stewards who should safeguard the health of the planet, have become the slayers who do nothing but to exploit the resources, molded millions of years ago. Talk about unsustainable development. “Some of these human-induced changes—such as the destruction of the world’s tropical rain forests to create farms or grazing land for cattle—have led to altered climate patterns. In turn, altered climate patterns have changed the way animals and plants are distributed in different ecosystems.”

                There are various factors threatening the environment; some of the distinguished are population growth and global warming. Population growth is the grassroots of all the world’s environmental problems because it lays out greater impacts. “As the number of people increases, crowding generates pollution, destroys more habitats, and uses up additional natural resources.” In time when population fluctuates drastically, the environment will reach its limit and the support system of life will no longer be existent. Plants will die, animals will die… and we’ll eventually die too!

                Global Warming, on the other hand, is the increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses. Fact is Earth is heating up, which scientists believe to be caused by human activities. The burning of fossil fuels, to give you an example, is thought to be the chief cause because such process releases too many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which then becomes a problem. “As the atmosphere becomes richer in these gases, it becomes a better insulator, retaining more of the heat provided to the planet by the Sun.”

                Efforts are now being drafted to alleviate the alarming degradation of the environment. For example, on December 2009, world leaders from 193 nations met in Copenhagen, Denmark to try to reach an agreement limiting greenhouse gas emissions and best ways to protect the environment. Alas, they were unable to create a final agreement, but many leaders promised to help developing nations curb their emissions, as they were deemed to use more of fossil fuels to run their developing industries.

                Let’s accept it. We are the villains in this story of Earth’s suffering. The good thing is we can still do something to ease the situation. Time might seem to be running out, but so long that there is still little chance, we have to continue moving forward. The best weapon is perhaps educating the people. Because through education, one can learn to appreciate the importance of a healthy environment and to initiate efforts to help save the balding forest, the polluted waters, the smelling landfills, and generally the sick Earth.

                As future scientists, we should not only promote development through applying what we’ve learned from our courses. We should not focus merely on making lives better while Earth’s health is being impaired by too much unsustainable development. More importantly, as future scientists, we should think of a mechanism that allows development and environment to compromise, a mechanism that will make our society industrially progressive without harming the environment, including plants and animals. And this mechanism could fully be developed only through education.

                The problem is how is education should be done? An effective method that the government could take is to include a separate subject in the curricula, both institutions of basic and higher education. This subject should tackle, to name few, on how to conserve natural resources, how to take good care of them, how to properly dispose trashes, and others like the 3R’s (Recycle, Refuse, and Reuse). Moreover, the subject should also emphasize the effects of population explosion and ways of population control, either by natural or artificial methods. As it is proven that the major enemy of Earth is the increasing number of man, it is only pertinent to include in the preventive measures the discussion on effective family planning. Through these attempts, we are, step by step, alleviating the horrible situation.

                Let’s educate ourselves on how a commoner can help combat the incessant deprivation. Don’t merely rely on efforts of our leaders because simple acts put together can truly have a big impact. Let’s get aware of things around us; let’s not be oblivious of Earth’s cries. As quoted from a department t-shirt, “As long as the Earth can make a spring every year, I can. As long as the Earth can flower and produce nurturing fruit, I can...because I’m the Earth! I won’t give up until Earth gives up.”

Sources: Microsoft Encarta

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