“The world was so different not so long ago,
That was when Mother Nature had its own flow.”
True, isn't it? The world was different and now it has changed so much. Those of us who have been fortunate to be able to spend time with our great-grandparents or even grandparents, might have often heard them saying today's youth, today's society, today's technology, today's government, today's world!
Today is very much unlike their yesterday. But that is only during the times of our great-grandparents or grandparents. Man has been on earth since thousands of years and times have kept changing since the earth was created. Change is the only permanent thing on earth, as quoted by some genius.
But has earth changed for good? I am quite sure that if we look around at today's scenario, our answer will be, no! Global warming, pollution, devastation and what not…
Back in prehistoric times, man was a nomad and completely dependent on nature. When man learnt to settle down into civilizations, it was a good thing. Then man started discovering and inventing a lot of new things and even that was a good thing. The urbanization of towns was, and still is, a good thing. Urbanization meant taking up characteristics of the urban areas or cities and this meant that all the basic necessities of man were met within the town.
The difference here is that the basic necessities of man about hundred years ago meant an unremitting supply of food, clothing and shelter and today it means an unremitting supply of good variety of food, trendy clothing, big houses, cell-phones, cars, computers, ipods, and on and on and on. Man has kept inventing and advancing things, first out of necessity and then out of greed for luxuries. But what he could not do was turn around once and look at all that he has done to earth, to Mother Nature that gave birth to him.
Nature is the mother of every living creature on this earth and so it can keep everything in balance as every living creature is of equal importance to her. Man has forgotten this and considering himself as the all-powerful creature challenged this force of nature. And needless to say, has proven to be the most destructive creature on planet earth.
Deforestation and burning fossil fuels have led to global warming. Current levels of global climate change threaten 25% of all land-based plants and animals with extinction by 2050. Studies show that global warming is responsible for the extinction of polar bears and other species from the arctic. This year there was no snow in December and in January the temperature in New York reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Last time the temperature in New York was so high in mid-winter was in the year 1877. And it was a decade ago when it hadn't snowed in December.
What could possibly be a better illustration of the rapidly increasing effects of global warming?
Pollution and destruction of natural habitat has also caused much extinction. It is like we invade their land, beg for shelter and then force the original occupants (animals) out. But if man tries to do the same to another man, there will be war! We are the wildest beasts that all the other creatures seek shelter from.
Earth as disintegrated and we are responsible for most of it. Acid rain is one gift we have given the biosphere. Every year, 75 % of sulfur dioxide emissions in Canada is from its industrial sources and in US is from electric utilities. Acid rain kills thousands of sea animals every year and leaves its tribulations on land and in the air.
There seems to be no end to the tragic story of how man has selfishly destroyed his own mother, for personal gain, that will eventually come back to bite him. We talk about making a difference in the society. Look, what a great difference we have made on our planet. Maybe in the next millennium, planet earth and if life ever existed on it will be a mystery to those who, if they do, discover it.
A burnt ball of ash, floating around in the universe! Someday is going to be the last day for this planet. Our duty as the children of mother earth is to postpone this day by doing good deeds, but we are doing exactly the opposite. Man needs to stop and realize that earth is not a part of him but he is a part of this planet! Only then can we make a difference here, a good difference...
