Global resources: Problems and solutions

Ling
Meridian Junior College
Singapore

The only known place in the universe where there is water, where vegetation flourishes and life thrives, is the Earth, our planet. Since the creation of our planet some five billion years ago, it has supported life of many different kinds.

However, many do not value our irreplaceable planet. Despite Earth being the only known source of life to date, it has been subjected to innumerable acts of damage over the years. This has threatened the existence of our very own kind. It is crucial to protect our planet, so as to ensure the survival of life on Earth. The numerous problems our planet face range from small-scale extinctions of plants and animals to widespread pollution, the outbreak of epidemics and overpopulation. Humans have often caused these problems. In this essay, I will discuss ways of protecting our planet from various threats and, in particular, how to protect our planet from the wrongdoings of humans.

The extinction of certain plants and animals has an adverse effect on our Earth as every living thing on our planet is interlinked. For instance, humans depend on plantations and poultry as sources of food. The extinction of any species would disrupt the ecological food chain, bringing about an imbalance in the ecosystem. Hunting, poaching and the destruction of habitats are the main reasons for the extinction of animals. Strict laws on poaching and deforestation may be enforced to prevent the killing of animals and the destruction of their habitats. However, we must recognise that human activities are generally the cause of the extinction of plants and animals. The extinction of Tasmanian tigers in the 1930s encouraged the thriving of other wildlife in Tasmania, such as kangaroos and wombats, thus upsetting the ecological balance in that area. Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction. This is just one example of how human actions play an important role in the extinction of animals.

One pressing problem our planet is facing now is overpopulation. It is essential to curb this problem effectively in order to protect out Earth. In the course of the last hundred years, the world's population has quadrupled. Currently, our planet supports over six billion people and this number has been predicted to peak at nine billion in less than a century's time. The consequences of overpopulation include the depletion of raw materials and an increase in pollution and deforestation (which contributes to the loss of ecosystems and mass extinction of species). In an attempt to limit the rapid growth of the human population, birth control methods, such as contraceptives, have been introduced in less developed countries. Governments of various countries implement family planning and birth policies to control the growth in their countries. For instance, China's 'one child policy' restricts the number of children each family is allowed to have. As the name suggests, parents are only allowed to have one child. Incentives and work relief are awarded to families abiding by the policy, whilst fines are imposed on families with more than one child. These measures to control population growth may have a positive impact on overpopulation; however, problems triggered by overpopulation are still outstanding.

With overpopulation, the rate of the depletion of natural resources soars rapidly, due to increased demands. Especially significant is the rapid depletion of fossil fuels. Many countries have programs to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels for energy production and have shifted towards renewable energy technologies. These include hydroelectric energy generated by dams, solar energy, geothermal energy, biofuel and biogas. Naturally, each individual has a part to play in conserving our resources. One should only use what one needs. It would be ideal if everyone abided by the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle' guidelines. For instance, if everyone switches off electrical appliances when not in use, saves water and reuses papers, heaps of wood, water and fossil fuel would be conserved.

Pollution in the form of air pollution, water pollution and noise pollution increases with the rise in population. Pollution from motor vehicles and industrial waste, coupled with deforestation, contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming, which ultimately causes the melting of ice caps. One way to minimise pollution would be to have strict laws to restrict the amount of industrial waste generated per year, and to prohibit the direct disposal of industrial waste into the sea. Also, the controlled burning practiced by agriculture and forestry management should be limited.

The 2004 Indonesian tsunami, the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and the recent 'bird flu' pandemic are all examples of other problems our planet has faced: natural disasters and epidemics. Natural disasters and epidemics cause a massive loss of life and the destruction of properties and natural habitats. There is even a possibility of the entire human race being wiped out, if an epidemic gets out of control. Prevention is always better than cure. Countries susceptible to natural disasters should have good infrastructure that would help minimise damage done by natural disasters and planned mitigation programs to deal with the situation when disasters strike. In the instance of an outbreak of an epidemic, countries should take swift actions in preventing the spread of diseases. This could include the use of quarantines and the killing of poultry, if necessary. Cooperation amongst countries is also vital in such circumstances. Individuals should be aware of personal hygiene on a daily basis and not only when an epidemic strikes.

Overpopulation is a major factor that threatens our planet. Human activities lead to plant and animal extinctions. The excessive use of natural resources contribute to their depletion and the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, motor vehicle usage and industrial activities are the main contributors to pollution on Earth. Human beings distinctively cause each of these activities. Moreover, consequences of epidemics are aggravated by some irresponsible acts. Certain countries under-declare cases of epidemics and limit the sharing of information. I strongly believe that the key factor that triggers such irresponsible behaviour is human self-centredness. Humans do things for their own benefit, many a time at the expense of others, and even, our planet.

In my opinion, the most efficient way to protect our planet is through a multi-pronged approach targeted at each individual. On one hand, laws and regulations have to be imposed on companies and individuals to curb irresponsible behaviours that threaten our planet, such as pollution and deforestation. Of course, with law comes punishment. Punishment serves as a warning for companies and individuals to abide by the laws.

On the other hand, I also believe that educating each individual is critical if we are to protect our Earth. The Civics and Moral Education in schools in Singapore is an example of an educational system that serves to instill moral values into students at a young age. It is necessary to start at a young age and, besides moral values, environmental issues should also be included in the curriculum. As such, young children would be informed of the reasons why our planet should be protected and the ways to go about achieving this. To inform the public of how they can take a part in protecting their very own planet, environmental and ecological campaigns must be held. For instance, we have the 'Clean and Green' environmental campaign and the 'Save Water' campaign in Singapore. The media plays an important role in educating and uniting every individual, as well.

However, these solutions are insufficient in the big picture. The Earth, our planet, is one big family. Principally, in order to effectively protect our planet, tolerance amongst racial groups, religions and countries is the most crucial factor. With tolerance comes unity. Our Earth has no boundaries. Each and every individual has to unite and work together to protect the Earth, our only home. With unity comes love. Love for each other and love for our planet.

In conclusion, most of the problems Earth faces are directly or indirectly caused by humans. As the saying goes, 'You reap what you sow'. The state of our planet today is the result of our own deeds and we are responsible for it. In order to effectively protect our planet from further damage, all humans have to unite and put up a strong front to deter threats to our planet. Even though the root of all problems is humankind, ultimately, only humankind has the solutions to protect our planet.

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