We do not have the Privilege to be Ignorant anymore.
What is your ideal holiday?
Pristine beaches, high mountains, waterfalls, lush green forests, a safari tour where you get to see lions, elephants, tigers, or an ocean tour where we experience being with turtles, dolphins, whales, beautiful corals, etc.?
That’s what most people mention when I ask them about their ideal vacation spots.
But when the topic of Fast fashion, Sustainability, Climate change, Composting, Over-consumerism, and Plastic pollution comes in, most people seem disinterested.
Isn’t it hypocritical? We want all the comforts from nature, but are not willing to make the slightest efforts to protect it.
We build bigger houses, take multiple flights a year, consistently buy things that we don’t need, and purchase products with heavy packaging that ends up being eaten by co-owners of the earth.
We refuse to share resources with other humans hence forcing others into poverty.
We also refuse to consume food that would tread lightly on the planet. Without any thought, we buy unhealthy and unnecessary products filled with packaging that end up affecting the very nature that we enjoy during vacations.
Maybe there was a time when we had the privilege to be ignorant of what we were doing to our planet. We heavily profited out of delaying the effects of our actions. But the earth is facing the results right now.
Here are a few topics that will directly affect us and the future generations in the next few years. Each one of us needs to thoroughly understand these concepts:
#1 Climate Change:
Nineteen of the warmest years occurred since 2000, except for 1998 (Source: NASA).
While there is a flood of information on Climate change, the whole zest of it is:
We need to keep Global warming below 1.5 degree C by 2050. According to the latest NASA report, we are presently at 1.02 degree C.
What happens if we exceed the limit?
More (devastating) droughts, heat waves (similar to what British Columbia faced a few weeks back), storms, unpredictable weather patterns (which can affect agriculture & food sources), flooding, etc.
What needs to change?
A lot. There needs to be complete transformation in energy, industry, transport, food, agriculture, forestry systems (Source: UN.org).
How do we change it?
1) Push for bigger scale policy changes (make corporations accountable for emissions, find alternatives to plastic, reduce the use of fertilizers and harmful chemicals for agriculture, push towards reforestation etc.) and,
2) Start with personal accountability (reducing air travel, consuming less, composting, using fewer plastics, etc.).
#2 Plastic Pollution:
What is the issue?
Approximately 1,000,000 sea birds alone die from plastic.
It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
Where does all the plastic come from?
The sources of plastic pollution include land plastic such as water bottles, containers, plastic bags, packaging, textiles, and ocean sources such as fishing nets and debris from shipping (commercial & tourism).
#3 Water shortage:
Less than 2% of water found on this Planet is fit for consumption.
What is happening?
By 2025, half the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas.
Presently, 1 in 3 people do not have access to safe drinking water, and 1.6 million people die every year from waterborne diseases.
Additionally, with increased temperatures across the globe, there have been massive droughts in many parts of the world. With needs rising, water is slowly becoming a privatized commodity than a fundamental right.
Why should I care?
If not for others living in dire conditions, rest assured, it will (down the line) affect people even in privileged communities.
In addition, water shortages will also lead to food (agriculture) deficits.
#4 Coral Bleaching:
Coral reefs are vital for marine ecosystems. They are also known as the rainforest of the ocean. In addition to supporting 4000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species, these magnificent system protects the land from waves, storms, and floods (by providing up-to 97% buffer).
In addition, a by-product of the coral reefs also has the potential for next generation cancer drugs.
What is happening to them?
Coral reefs are severely threatened by climate change, water pollution, and habitat destruction due to innumerable land activities and ocean activities such as over-fishing, irresponsible tourism, etc.
By 2070, coral reefs could disappear altogether.
What can we do?
Educate yourselves, support/push for policy changes to protect the reefs, make personal lifestyle changes.
#5 Wildlife extinction:
Humans have destroyed 83% of Wild animals.
Out of all the birds present in the world, 70% are poultry chickens and other farmed birds.
Out of mammals left, 60% are livestock. Only 4% are wild.
The planet is going through the sixth mass extinction known as Holocene extinction (caused by human activities).
How often do we make an effort to learn about these topics?
If we think that there will be a magical innovation that comes and saves us all, forget about it.
There is no magical product that has the power to save us from all the effects of Planet’s fury. We need to change our ways and that’s THE ONLY WAY.
Moreover, people who do have the resources to help out (and which they owe), have their focus on “Space tourism” while the world is flooding and burning.
We cannot continue going in the same direction as we were ten years back. It isn’t feasible anymore.
We might, as millennials or, boomers somehow escape the majority of the problems, but what about innocent kids who will be taking over after us.
Don’t they deserve better?
It’s time to give up ignorance and start educating ourselves.
Check out my YouTube channel for inspiring videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBfUxVSxC0koxGSkwzVRYzQ
