“We only get one planet. Humankind must become accountable on a massive scale for the wanton destruction of our collective home. Protecting our future on this planet depends on the conscious evolution of our species.”
The statement was made by Leonardo DiCaprio (UN Messenger of Peace) at the opening of the Climate Summit, 2014. Dicaprio is an actor-producer. He may not be a scientist or an expert in the fields involving the study of the environment, climate or pollution. Still, he is a concerned global citizen who finds it necessary to address the ongoing climate crisis, and that is precisely the need of the hour and is what matters! And that is what we have to do! We can be dancers, teachers, activists, therapists, doctors, but our primary profession as a human being who has got so much from Mother Earth, is to be active participants in returning what has been bestowed upon us by doing our deeds in keeping it clean and safe; after all, it’s all we have in common!
Rising levels of pollution at an alarming rate have affected the international community as a whole; the carbon emissions, acidified oceans and ocean floors, and the incorruptible plastics are not contained within the boundaries of just one nation or a specific geographical landmass the effect is known to accelerate environmental issues all around the globe. Therefore, all Earthlings irrespective of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, opinion, national or social origin are obliged to sustain the glory, flora and fauna of our Mother Earth. It’s not just us human beings who are getting severely affected by all the befouling. Even the plants and animals are getting adversely affected and a large number is nearing their extinction as we sit on our couches reading newspapers and forwarding headlines. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and isn’t that enough of a wake-up call? And if that is not, then there is nothing that can wake us up!
When we observe various institutions’ descriptions or merely the definitions of pollution, we believe that they are based on change and containment, primarily. But such is not the case. Over the years, these definitions have been subject to change, it is not about how contaminated our mother Earth is, instead it’s more about what does the ambiguous statement ‘introduction of pollutants’ mean and are the human beings responsible for it? Pollution is no longer studied as an effect of social activities, instead on how it affects lives. More than 39 million people were found to be affected by pollution as per the 2018 statistics. There is pollution literally everywhere. In the air, in the water, in the soil and even in the food you eat! The big question is, what can we do to make a difference?! Well, you don’t have to be like Greta Thunberg for influencing the world to take urgent actions and combat climate change along with its impacts. But, you just need to start somewhere, take small steps but START! The very first steps you can take will actually start from your own home. Think about how Greta may have convinced her parents to adopt a different lifestyle which would help reduce their carbon footprint….
Identifying threats that are giving rise to pollution has become accessible in the ‘Contemporary World’. With so much information, so many environment enthusiasts on the floor, and with so much awareness, any person with a presence of mind and a zeal or passion for bringing about a positive change for the greater good can easily do the exact.
Have our aim in life just become to earn power and money and position? How can we think about this in a Global Crisis? How can we be so inconsiderate and ignorant towards the environment? How does the fact that if we do not change our lifestyles today, we’ll destroy everything tomorrow; let us sleep? How have we become so selfish that all we care about now is to get to the top and not how to work to solve this Global Emergency?
Well, ‘it’s not just about pollution; it’s about eliminating it with combined efforts and rational solutions. We need to face these issues, and it’s high time we do so. We need to bring about a revolution. We cannot be ignoring this state of crisis any longer. It is a global emergency and must be treated like one. Gone are the days to think, it’s time to act, TO MAKE AN IMPACT.
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