The Earth and Us

Short story. Recently I was involved in a Clean Up Campaign on the campus of my university. I began the day with much enthusiasm and positivity because I felt like I was contributing to a great cause. However, the end of the day was a complete contrast. I was left disgusted, indignant, physically and emotionally drained and most importantly, utterly disappointed.

The place we were cleaning could have been captivating with all of its huge trees and greenery if not for all of the wastes scattered everywhere with every single step you take. We collected the most we could in the little time frame we had. We picked up and saw hundreds of empty plastic bottles, empty cans of beer, empty glass bottles of alcohol, bottles containing piss, plastic wrappers, cigarette boxes, used condoms, unused condoms, used syringes, unused needles and well, the list is quite long.

Carelessly throwing away litter anywhere except in bins is something I have observed from across all the generations. From old women and men littering the bus with their travel tickets to people driving flinging plastic bags out their rolled down windows to little kids tossing the plastic wrappers of their sweets on the ground. Only one question rings in my head. Is this our culture or is this the result of a bad education?

I am very much disappointed in us as ‘intelligent’ beings. Wasn’t it enough that we crushed most of nature to build our houses, roads and whatnot? Couldn’t we at least respect the little that was left of it by keeping it intact? Couldn’t we respect our own creations and all those individuals around us who make use of them? Is it so hard to keep an unwanted piece of litter in our possession until we find a bin to throw it away?

Every time I saw a stranger throw away waste on the ground, I kept quiet. Maybe because I was doubtful of the reaction I would get if I said something or maybe because I simply didn’t know what to say. Either way, I asked myself. Isn’t the environment mine to enjoy as well? To compensate for my silence, I will start by giving you 3 main reasons as to why a clean and healthy environment is crucial for all of us. I trust you to find a hundred more reasons why.

Firstly, do not listen to those people who claim that global warming is a hoax. Instead, listen to all those scientists who, based on years of research and proofs, affirm that climate change is a reality. The consequences of global warming are long-lasting and in some cases, irreversible. Ice is melting, the sea level is rising, the temperature is increasing, there are some known extreme weather events across the globe and some species of animals are now classified as endangered species. If we do not mend our ways soon, we should not be surprised that it starts snowing or there is a tornado in Mauritius!

Secondly, it might seem too banal, but each biotic and abiotic factor in the environment is significant. Every being in every ecosystem is directly or indirectly connected and hence species depend on each other to survive. Here’s a simple example. Humans feed on vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits need pollinators to reproduce. Remove the pollinators from the equation, you have no vegetables and fruits and consequently, you have no humans. Furthermore, a larger biodiversity means a larger food and medicinal resource!

Finally, the way we treat the environment around us shows who we really are. Our actions define our upbringing, our education, our morals and values, our maturity and our level of respect for others. A simple action means a lot more than you can imagine. Throwing away litter in a bin or looking after the environment does not in any way make you inferior. In its stead, it shows your level of maturity and unselfishness.

Nature has given us so much for free and what have we given back? Destruction? Degradation? Pollution? I would hence like to make an appeal to all of you. Let us keep this environment clean and healthy. Let’s make it a must to throw waste where it should be thrown, in bins. Let us educate those around us; our relatives, our children and even strangers. This environment is yours as it is mine. It is for our children as it is for all the next generations yet to come.

Let us react before it is too late. Before every tree is withered. Before food is scarce. Before water is unclean. Before the air is too polluted. Before all the other species go extinct. Before diseases accumulate by over a hundred. Before we end up wearing masks and gloves. Before land is barren. Before the earth becomes sick.

Ultimately, our home is not restricted to that tiny piece of land that supports a building made of cement, brand new cars and an unlimited connection to a WiFi. Our home is this little earth among the other millions of planets floating in space.

If we put fire to a building, all that will be left are ash and debris, nothing else. In this same note, if we burn this planet, all that will be left is scorched land and a huge graveyard.

“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” - Barbara Ward

Sending buckets full of love your way,

Kavya H Saikia 🌸