The Wake up Call : Why should we save our planet?

Rtr. Dilhan Jayasinghe 

We have been concentrating on the various types and causes of environmental pollution so far, giving our readers a “Wake Up call” about the different aspects of pollution. Another important feature of environmental pollution is their direct and indirect consequences. 

It should be understood that pollution cannot be completely terminated at once. But what we can do as the general public is to reduce the pollution that is taking place with the consent of humans.

Why should we mitigate the environmental pollution and move towards a sustainable lifestyle?  ‘Is it because we need to protect the environment?’ 

The next question coming in to your mind then would be, ‘Why should we protect the environment?’ is it because ‘environment is notable to be protected?’ or ‘humans need the environment for their own survival?’

The answers to these questions will be the most important piece of knowledge in mitigating the pollution. If people do not understand the actual need of protecting the environment, no matter how much the environmentalists raise their voices, it would not be heard by those who should hear it.  

We should understand that the environment has to be taken care of, not just because there are many more living beings getting harmed due to the anthropogenic activities contributing to the pollution but the humans in turn will also have to face the consequences of environmental pollution. This is a reasonable factor for the human beings to change their mindsets and look into more sustainable and greener methods of development and other sectors which contribute to pollution.

The destruction of the wild life and other ecosystems will directly cause many environmental issues. Humans should also remember the fact that they are not the only species living on earth. Human is the species with the most advanced minds among all others. Hence, we have to be kind enough to all living kinds not only because they are an important part of the ecosystem but also they too have the right to live on earth. The advancement of the minds should be reflected through our behaviour.  

Despite all this knowledge being common, yet people seem to have forgotten the fundamental concepts of living. Even though people research on fascinating applications in the fields of scientific developments, the basics seem to have vanished from our minds. 

Therefore, we should further understand the critical issues created by the human activities, due to the environmental pollution. The next article will focus on one of the main such global issues we are currently facing and how important it is to act on this.