Humanitarianism & Environment Change

HUNANITARIANISM AND ENVIRONMENT CHANGE

“Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.”

-Albert Schweitzer.

Humanitarianism may be defined as an ethics of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. It has been an evolving concept historically, but universally is a common element in its evolution. The definition simply says the duty of people to promote human welfare. Advance Science and Technology, Education, Socialization, Modernization, Globalization and Industrialization are some of the components of human welfare. But all these components are also equally responsible for environment change around us. Scientifically, Environment encompasses all living and nonliving things occurring naturally on the Earth or some region thereof. It includes air, water, soil, rocks, vegetation, micro-organism, energy, radiation, electric charge, magnetism and of course human being. Because of the intervention of man for the sake of human development now-a-days environment is gradually changing. Development of human welfare is now at the cost of adverse environment change which will cost to human being too.

Environment change mainly refers to environment pollution i.e. Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Soil Pollution, Noise Pollution etc. industrialization is regarded as the symbol of more economic growth of a country. The more a country is economically advanced the more it is considered to be developed. But now unfortunately it is also true that the more developed a country is, the more it s environment is polluted. There are thousands of industries worldwide and so as the pollutants released by them too. Release of industrial pollutants from North America Is 5.7 billion kilogram. The World is heading with a greater speed. Science and Technology has been making the life of people simpler and better. All around the world are time concerned now. Use of vehicle has reduced the time waste. But at the same time it also contributes to the environment pollution. About 20% of carbon dioxide emitted in atmosphere comes from burning of gasoline in engine of the vehicles. Depletion in ozone layer is thanks to the emission of chlorofluoro carbon from the use of refrigerator, the blessing of Science to mankind. Trees are being felt down to set up new industries. Deforestation results due to greater urbanization, requirement of land for factories and building, requirement of timbers etc. A tree can produce around 17000tonnes of oxygen per year. But because of deforestation the amount of carbon dioxide gas is becoming high in the atmosphere. Deforestation is to be blamed for 25% of all carbon dioxide release entering the atmosphere by cutting and burning about 34 million acres of trees every year. Most of the terrestrial animals have been extinct due loss of there natural habitat. All these things have been happening due to human interventions. Some of the pollutants produced by human activities are: - Sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide, Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, Methane, ammonia, smog (smoke+fog) etc. Sulphur Oxide is emitted due to volcano which is a natural process and industrial process. Nitrogen oxide is emitted from high temperature combustion. Incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal, wood produces Carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide and Methane are the two most important green house gases. Methane is 20 times as effectual as carbon dioxide. Coal produces 1.7 times as much as carbon dioxide per unit of energy when flamed as compared to natural gas and 1.25 times as compare to oil. Coal gives 80% more carbon per unit of energy it produces as compared to natural gas. All these pollutants are sufficient to wash out the whole life from the earth and making it intoxicated. All the above factors are not only responsible for air pollution but also responsible for other pollutions too. In our day to day life water is very much necessary. Because of unnecessary intervention and use of water by man lead to scarcity of pure water. Water is today contaminated by industrial effluents. Today population is growing at a faster rate. To feed the large mass more production in short time is required. So the farmers are also using high dose of chemical fertilizer and pesticide to get more production and more revenue thereby. The use of Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticides the residuals are being carried out to nearby water resource which is contaminating the water and the soil too. Use of polythene also plays a significant role in environmental change. Ammonia released from the physiological process of paddy plants in the field is also damaging the environment. Burial disposition by different communities also contribute to pollution. The modern mining projects leave behind disrupted communities, damaged landscape and polluted water too. It also affects surface water, the aquatic life, vegetation, soils, animals and also human health. Acid mine drainage can damage stream which in turn can kill aquatic life. The toxic chemicals by mining activities can harm animals and aquatic lives as well as their habitat. Illegal mining can lead to earthquake and other calamities due to hollowness of inside earth. Burial disposition by certain communities also contribute to pollution. Terrorism and war also play role in environmental destruction. The air at Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been paying for pollution since the Second World War.

All these pollution can be felt and seen today. One of the most significant environmental changes can be seen through GLOBAL WARMING. Global warming is caused by green house gases, which in turn heat up the earth’s atmosphere. The green house affect is more prominently visible in recent years with increased number of natural calamities worldwide. The biggest sources of green house gases are thermal plants which burn the fossil fuels and produce these gases in enormous quantities. Next largest producers are road vehicle and industries. Global warming has led to the increase in mean earth surface temperature and thus melting polar ice which results in flood along with other natural calamities. It has been told that frequent melting of glacier will engulf low lying countries by 2025. Its effect is very evident on the animal kingdom also. Some of the animals have become extinct due to loss of there natural habitat or there inability to cope with the rapidly changing climate. Also there lifestyle is changing because of the changing in the season. The migrating birds have changed there time of travel and also there place of migration. There is shift in season cycle, as the summer is gradually prolonging and the winter is shortening which has affected the animals and made them to change their life style accordingly or those who failed to survive, perished or at the door step of extinction. Global warming has also an adverse effect on the crop production too as they are getting destroyed by the sudden change in weather. Plants are also affected by the attack of new pests which are becoming difficult to control. Bacteria can grow at a high temperature. Increase in temperature due to global warming provides a favorable condition to grow. Similarly, many incurable diseases are also evolving day by day. As a matter of fact, because of global warming, the earth’s atmosphere is getting more unpredictable with heavy rains in the areas which have scanty rainfall or drought in the areas which receive a good annual rainfall.

Effect of global warming can be seen on ocean by increase in sea level due to melting of glaciers and icebergs, ocean acidification and thermohaline circulation (Deep Ocean overturning). In Mountain Kilimanjaro, Africa, the volume of glacial ice has decreased by 80%. If this rate of loss continues, then it will disappear soon. Similar is the case with Alaska, the Himalaya and the Andes. Loss of Western Antarctic ice sheet has been recorded to be 148 cubic kilometer per year which was 47 cubic kilometer earlier. There is increase in sea level from 1.5mm to 3.1 mm/year which will be affecting coastal erosion, wet land and coastal plain flooding, salinization of aquifers and soil and a loss of habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife. Due to glacier melting and sea level raising it has been estimated that in near future 26000 square kilometer of land would be engulfed by water. Low-lying coastal regions in developing countries having large population are at risk. Both large island nations such as Philippines and small one such as Tuvalu and Vanuatu are at severe risk because they do not have enough lands at higher elevation to support displaced population. pH of sea water has been jumped down to 8.09 from 8.17 that mean that sea ecosystem is changing. If the pH drops by expected 0.5 during this century, the resulting effect would be a 60% drop in calcium carbonate which would put the productivity and also the survival of marine species at risk.

In a simple language, it can be said that increased population worldwide is all cause behind the destruction of the earth. It is the only reason behind the air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution etc

If environment changes take place in a rapid way, then the earth will destroy soon. So we all have to be concerned about saving the earth. The earth is crying, “Help me please, I can’t breathe” We have to listen to our mother’s voice and stop her from going to be destroyed. Now-a-days major steps are being discussed to protect the earth. At G8 submit, 2010, environment change was a major topic of discussion along with other issues. The G8 Summit Greening Plan includes:

• Actions to ensure all summit operations, including accommodations, transportation, food services, printing and waste management are conducted in the most sustainable way possible

• A carbon-offsetting strategy to balance the impact of carbon emitted as a result of the Summit

• Regular consultations with local governments as well as members of environmental and community groups in Muskoka

• The completion of an ecosystem impact analysis for the area around Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville that will identify sensitive areas that could potentially be affected by summit operations. By understanding these sensitivities, actions can be taken to reduce and undo any impact.

The Central governments as well as State government of different countries are having some rules on pollution control. There is “Environment Clean act prevailing” in US. Similarly, European Commission has tried to create awareness among people through “You Clean Climate Change” which is a campaign through website. Now different organizations are coming out with new kind of innovative thoughts like organizing drawing competition, essay and debate competition, road shows, “Ban Mahotsabas” etc to create awareness among people. Children fond of drawings. So organizing drawing competition is a best way to teach tem about environment protection.

Women have a high stake in climate change. They stand to be adversely affected by any strong shifts in weather patterns. Being more “vulnerable,” they often bear the brunt of social upheavals. And global warming and other such changes in our climate can lead to social upheavals. It is crucial that women’s voices are included in the dialogue on climate change- in multiple ways. And it is equally important that women in low-income countries are made part of the global discourse. When women become aware of the adverse effects of climate change, they will be more willing to make the requisite sacrifices that everyone needs to make in order to save our planet from doom.

All these are macro aspects of protecting the climate change, but nothing can be done until individual human being is concerned about this. Each and every person has to think for the sake of environment protection. Irving Babbit has said,”A person who has sympathy for mankind for lump, faith in its future progress , should be called not a humanist, but a humanitarian, and his creed may be designated as humanitarianism.” It is very much true, but humanitarian has to look after the whole earth, because man can’t survive alone. If all vegetation, animals, species will vanish from the earth, ten very soon man will also perish out of the world. Man can’t stop natural calamities to happen but he has the ability to stop adding ingredients to calamities to happen.

References:

www.google.com

www.gechs.org

www.g8isu.ca

References: www.google.com www.gechs.org www.g8isu.ca