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Our World Is Teetering on the Edge

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Submitted By cullinancombined
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Our world is teetering on the edge of a chasm of destruction. Earl Nightingale says, "Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations". If we expect our planet to be around for the future, then we need to change our attitudes now. We cannot wait until it is too late before we decide to act. We need a wakeup call ... and soon. Global warming, deforestation, strip mining, frakking for natural gas deposits, depletion of our renewable sources and carbon emissions are all contributing to mankind's ever encroaching, and too often, indelible carbon footprint. Take a look at some of the statistics - they represent an alarming reality. In recent years roughly 27,000 plant and animal species have become extinct; 85% of the larger fish species in the oceans are no longer around; there is more and more plastic in the oceans and less and less phytoplankton and more and more forests, grasslands and prairies are being destroyed by humanity's population explosion. The population explosion on Earth is growing at a rapid rate and man's seemingly insatiable need is encroaching ever further on the land and the oceans in our quest to feed ourselves; accommodate ourselves and continually, and too often exponentially, develop our technological and industrial appetites and needs. We are spraying significant quantities of pesticides and chemicals to try and grow sufficient food; we are exploiting our renewable resources like fish and forests; and we are polluting our environment indiscriminately. Methane gas is already being emitted from the melting Artic ocean floor, rivers are poisoned and damned for agriculture and our search for cheap energy in the form of coal burning plants is resulting in smog, toxic waste and an eroding ozone layer. And some of the consequences? 100 amphibians, 1100 birds, 734 fish, 1000 mammals and 200 reptiles were listed on the endangered species list over the last few years. When will society stop? When will society take a step back from the chasm of destruction facing our endangered planet? Margaret Mead suggests, "We can't have a society if we destroy the environment." Yes, we need to explore ways to protect the environment and yes, more money and resources need to be spent on how to save planet earth. We need to investigate, develop and implement renewable energy sources. We need to recycle and reuse. We need to waste less and conserve more. But, of course the quandary lies in how this is to be achieved? Ansell Adams says, "It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment." Perhaps it here where we should begin. Governments, the world over, need to introduce and enforce legislation that will save our world, legislation to stop the world from progressively teetering on the edge of a chasm of destruction and legislation to ensure a world of tomorrows for future generations.

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