Recently we all came to know about some
unprecedented news about UAE as some parts of it like Dubai, Sharjahan and the
northern Emirates saw more than 100 milli meters (4 inches) of rain between on
16th April— a 75-year record since the country started recording
rainfall, according to its National Centre of Meteorology. The government on
Tuesday closed the offices, school and banks, as it was declared National
Emergency Crisis. On the other hand there are continuous news about Taiwan in
which it was told that it was hit by dozens of strong after effects of deadly
earthquakes especially on 3rd April and 22nd April, the
day when the whole world was celebrating Earth Day. Since 22 April up to 45
earthquakes with magnitudes up to 6.1 M had occurred in the area of Hualien
County lies at eastern Taiwan. There are many incidents and phenomenon we
observe on our earth that we never expected to see, like extreme cold in this
year and then sudden transition from the cold of February to extreme hot March.
Changing of weather patterns, flood in desert area, heat waves in cold
countries like Canada, water crisis in Bangalore and many parts of Maharashtra,
food insecurity, diseases, extinction of many species such kinds of news are
grabbing the attention. These problems are actually giving red signals to the
entire world that now the alarming situation has come and without any further
delay we all need to take big and small steps to protect the MOTHER EARTH.
On every April 22 we
celebrate this as World Earth Day and this year, we decided its theme “Planet vs. Plastics”. Every year we
select new and interesting theme like “Invest
in our Planet”, “Restore our Earth”
and so on, but instead of ending the problems they are increasing day by day.
This year theme aims to bring attention to the serious issue of plastic
pollution and how it harms nature. For a healthy planet many organizations
are working and plea to end plastic for example EARTHDAY.ORG aims to end
plastic for planetary health and demands a 60 per cent reduction in the
production of all plastics by 2040. We all know this is an ethical and healthy practice
of not using plastic but how many of us have adopted this practice in our life.
We all are bound to our careless nature and irresponsible behaviour and think
that what would happen if we save little water, or switch off the engines in
traffic, save electricity, carrying our shopping bags, hunting animals for our
pleasures like Great Indian Bustard ( Critically Endangered) and many more. One
day while driving in the lane, I was in deep shock and anger when I noticed two
neighbours washing their cars and wasting litres of water in one go, using a
pipe and that reminded me Bangalore’s water crisis and the other was when I
came across the article in the newspaper talking about few Pakistani people killing
GIB, holding that dead bird in their hands and boasting of in the pictures.
The origin of Earth Day can
be traced back to 1970 and Gaylord Nelson, a US senator, and Denis Hayes, a
Harvard student. Deeply disturbed by the environmental
impacts, they wanted to infuse the energy of student protests into
an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution. They started an
event and its immediate success was evident with a massive turnout of 20
million people across the US. By 1990, Earth Day became a global event
transcending national borders. The day holds significance as it shifts our
perspective, prompting us to see ourselves not separate from nature but
intricately connected. It encourages humans to make small changes in our daily
lives, supporting environmental causes and contributing to a more sustainable
future. Remembering their contributions and significance of Earth Day, we can
engage ourselves in various environment-related activities to make the day
special. We can pledge to avoid using plastics in your home, go on nature
walks, make lifestyle changes that reduce your carbon footprint, educate your
family and friends on ways to save the environment, and more. We can also learn
the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle and practice them in our lifestyle
and keep the lesson given in our Atharva Veda ( 12.1.12):
“Maata bhumi putro aham
prithviya”
(This Mother Earth is our
common Mother and we all are sons and daughters of this Mother.)
