20080406
Is environment suffering?
source :
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j191/mikesamerica/USEUCO2a.jpg
source:
http://zfacts.com/metaPage/lib/zFacts-global-temperature-1860-2005.gif
Is the environment suffering? Why are we trying to hard to protect the environment? Why are there the three 'R's, reuse, renew and recycle, which are the habits that most of us should have. Why are scientists finding alternative ways to replace fossil fuel so as to preserve the non-renewable fossil fuels? It is all because of mankind torturing the Earth too much.
By looking at the amount of pollution there is on Earth, we could say that it is already too much for our Earth to handle. Yes, trees do provide the materials much needed in our daily lives, like paper or furniture. With the increasing population and demand of theses materials, industries have no choice but to cut down more trees to provide the society. However, deforestation starts to bring about major problems for us. Although it is a needed ingredient for paper, it is also extremely important to the Earth. It is the Earth's lungs, just like how our lungs are important to us. Through photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is removed by the forest and fresh oxygen is released for our use. With the work of deforestation, the number of trees to remove the carbon dioxide decreasing, the amount of carbon dioxide removed also decrease. Carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere have risen about 40% since the onset of human industrialization. Carbon dioxide, though important to the trees, is extremely dangerous to the Earth if it exceeds the amount that there should be in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide not only react with the water droplets in clouds to form acid rain, it also helps to trap heat within the atmosphere. Contributing to global warming as part of the greenhouse gases, it rise the global temperature, leading to the melting of ice berg and thus the rising of sea level which results in frequent floods in lowlands.
Enough about air pollution, what about land and water pollution? As compared to air pollution, land and water pollution contributes to the suffering of Earth as well. Also due to the rising population, the amount of crops needed to feed the society increase. Many farmers, due to this reason, tend to use fertilizers excessively and carelessly. Out of good intention in hope of having their crops to grow well, they use too much fertilizers that results in eutrophication as excess fertilizer is washed into rivers. Fertilizer encourage the growth of bacteria which takes up much of the dissolved oxygen in rivers. Plants and organisms die and results in the lifeless rivers.
Adding on to these, what about oil spills and resource depletion? With the endless list going on and on, they are definitely harming the Earth. Many issues are due to development brought about by mankind and are unavoidable. However, if human were to be able to reduce the harm caused by us, it will be useful even it the problem cannot be resolved totally. Even if a perfect solution cannot be found to save the Earth completely, it will be good enough for us to try our best to bring the least harm possible to Earth.
xiaorong (: roared at
