We should minimize our carbon consumption, if not for our future generations, then for ourselves. The greenhouse effect is leading to rising in earth’s temperature since the past few decades. But it has been proved that maximum temperature is rising because of the consumption of fossil fuels by human beings. There is a limited amount of fossil fuel present on this earth, and looking at the way how humans are using this limited amount of fuel; one or the other day, this excess amount of fossil fuel is going to be depleted from earth. So, what I can say is that greenhouse effect is a temporary situation and will not be able to harm our future generations. But, by the time the fossil fuels will deplete completely, the global warming situation will eat up much of the flora and fauna of the present world, just like Adelie penguins. All that can be said is, pollution is OK for future generations, but, is alarming for the present generations if not controlled or minimized. The increasing world population quotes another example of pollution. In my regard, it is a form of human pollution and if not controlled will be alarming for the present generation itself. Latest data show the present world population to be more than 7 billion.
Now, consider talking about the quality of human life. When the first Islanders visited Easter Island, they wondered how they will survive in such a solitary, abandoned place. Later on, they discovered that this place was heavily forested with palm trees many centuries back. These palm trees became extinct during the Easter Island culture of building moais. We value human life with the housing and possessions a person has. For a long time, the Easter Island was exploited for building moais. This marked the victory and glory the of the human race over there. But, what now! Everything is extinct. All the flora and fauna of the Island has been depleted now. Now the question arises, what is the use of moais over there? What are they symbolical of- the quality of human life, or deprivation of human life? Human needs/wants should be the only consideration for the building of new roads, housing developments, golf courses, cities, etc. and it is practical too. Just constructing a monument, a road or a dam, which has no need, is just a waste of money. It creates a lot of global warming, and also causes harm to other species. It is not at all a symbol of quality of human life. In fact, it is a symbol of environmental resistance. Now, no human being can inhabit this island.
Not disregarding the plight of the spider that harbors the parasitic wasp, Hymenoepimecis. This type of relationship is very evident in any society. For the growth and development of any group, the other has to make sacrifices in one or the other way. Then considering the human society as the most superior among all, why will it make sacrifices for others? Even the spider wants to get rid of the wasp. That is the basic reason why we keep on discussing on environmental issues, but are unable to solve most of them. Most of the environmental issues demand sacrifices from human race, which is almost implacable for most of us. Ultimately, consumption is what humans have evolved to do. The Ovahe Beach, situated close to Anakena was a beautiful sand beach which marked the occupation of Easter Island It had been inhabited and excavated from time to time by humans; first by Hotu Matua, then by voyagers and finally by the missionaries. More the humans evolved over there, more was the human activity. Human activities brought harm to the island’s flora including the giant palms. All I can say that human beings have evolved to consume nature’s best sources and its beauty from time to time.
Citations:-
Lorenzini et.al., (2014) – Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology “Adelie penguin dietary remains reveal Holocene environmental changes in the western Ross Sea (Antarctica) ” volume 395:21-28.
Rotmans et.al (1994) – Global Environmental Change “Climate change implications for Europe: An application of the ESCAPE model,”, Vol. 4(2): 97-124.
Hunt and Lipo (2009) – Pacific Science “Revisiting Rapa Nui (Easter Island)-Ecocide” volume 63(4): 601-616.
Valente, P. (2015) – Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioural Sciences “Censuses- Current Approaches and Methods” Vol. 2: 296-301