Global resources: What we need to do

Madhur
Maharaja Man Singh Vidyalaya
India

Since time immemorial Mother Nature has blessed human beings with the most precious things. This includes all of our natural resources. These things have existed even before we landed on the Earth. But, in the beginning, humans did not know how to utilise them. Slowly and steadily, the fertile mind of human beings started racing and our inquisitiveness about the dynamics of nature have led us to modify these resources and make them fit for use. But in the quest for inventions and discoveries, we humans have started overusing or misusing these resources. This has led to their destruction, depletion or degradation.

The impact of the destruction of resources is very evident now, as they are clearly getting depleted. Resources are jeopardised due to over-usage, wastage and contamination. These resources have to be channelled in the right direction in order to save our planet. Resources like air, water, fossil fuels and food are of global importance and hence are called global resources. In order to save our planet, we first have to conserve these resources so that the future generations can get their share of them.

Air is the most important and indispensable part of human lives. It is our lifeline. But with the increase in industrialisation and pollution all over the world, a slow poison is being added to the atmosphere making it unfit to inhale. The greenhouse effect has inflicted an irreparable damage upon our atmosphere and is also causing an increase in global heat. Some countries have reacted to this by turning to non-conventional and non-polluting sources of energy, but they lack intensity and urgency, which is so very important to save our planet. Therefore, as global citizens, we should vow to protect our environment by using non-polluting vehicles for short distances, promoting reforestation and by using more and more renewable sources of energy.

Water is another important global resource. In some ways it can be viewed as even more important than air as it not only quenches our thirst, it has also become an important raw material for the industries in the modern world. Water is the prime necessity for agriculture, which is the oldest and the most widely practiced occupation in the world. But due to water pollution, water reserves are getting depleted every day. So it is our duty that we conserve water resources by limiting water consumption and by helping in the regeneration of various water resources.

Next comes food, which is as important as water or air. In fact, the entire human population is dependent on it as it nourishes our bodies and gives us energy. It is a necessity and a right as well. But a major chunk of the world's population is deprived of it, especially in the third world. A large section of the population is still underfed, whereas people in the developed world eat a lot of processed food, which is very resource intensive. Plus, factors like food adulteration and the use of chemical fertilisers has not only decreased the nutritive value of foodstuffs, but has also affected human health in a significant way. So it is our duty that we help to strive for global health and promote the eradication of hunger and poverty.

Next come fossil fuels, which are the most important resource of the modern world and on whose pillars stands the edifice of global development and prosperity. Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas, hold an important niche in the list of global resources. Without them, the present as well as the future of the Earth, is unimaginable. Their use has brought many negative results such as pollution and global warming, but they still hold a very important place in terms of human development. Therefore a top priority should be given to its conservation because of its non-renewable and exhaustible nature. We should encourage the use of non-polluting and renewable sources of energy and should use such resources whenever possible.

Although we have talked at length about the various global resources and ways to conserve them, the real courage lies in taking action against these issues. It is a sad fact that if not taken care of, this problem will only worsen and increase the economic, as well as moral disparities, between people. We, as the present and future of this world, should put collective effort towards conservation of our Mother Earth so that we can pay back the debt that we have incurred.

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