We tell ourselves each and every day that we need to recycle this and reuse that yet, do we truly lead an eco-friendly lifestyle? We share a common earth. Approximately 220 million years ago, all the world’s continents were but actually one huge landmass which had gradually split up into today’ continents according to geologists. However, even though our continents are no longer physically connected, it does not mean that we, the inhabitants of this earth, cannot be united.
We fight for our own lands, be it America, Britain, India or even Singapore. We fight for the greater good of our homes and defend our culture, our people and our environment. We all share a common goal. Earth has provided its lands for us to build our homes; should we not be grateful to Mother Nature and protect and preserve it to the best of our abilities? As people of the same earth, should we not unite for our common cause to protect our world? Yet, instead of working together, we are working against each other. In Indonesia, the people adopt the slash and burn technique to clear forests and bring about haze to other lands and causing illness to others, much less reducing the number of trees which contributes to global warming. In most countries, we burn coal and oil to power our ships, cars, aeroplanes and factories, contributing to the depletion of our ozone layer and hence causing global warming.
It really is amusing how hypocritical people can be. Country A says to Country B, burning down trees and destroying the homes of wildlife is barbaric and should be stopped, Country B points out to Country A that they do the same too. Many people of different nationalities campaign for a more environmentally friendly world yet, this task remains unaccomplished. Call me a cynic, a title I humbly accept, I believe that the human race will not sacrifice their convenient lifestyle which fuels global warming for the benefit and conservation of our environment.
I questioned myself, could really all people be so overwhelmingly selfish and ignorant to the damage we are doing to our own home? I travelled to Japan in the year 2017 and discovered how considerate the Japanese are to other people and how eco-friendly their daily habits can be. They make an effort to recycle wholeheartedly and avoid wasting items unnecessarily. A year later, I travelled to Seoul, Korean in November and there, I observed the Koreans’ lifestyle. When I purchased goods at a convenience store, the shopkeeper asked me whether or not I wanted a plastic bag and if I did, it would set me back by a little more cash. I was pleasantly surprised. I would later find out that this was the same option offered by every store. I thought it was an interesting method to deter patrons from receiving plastic bags just for the convenience of carrying a bottle or two of coke once and tossing them away later. However, despite having witnessed the considerate Japanese and the creative Koreans, it still wasn’t enough to atone for the sins of the rest of the world.
Every single day wild animals are massacred, forests burned to ashes, the earth sucked dry of fuels, the ozone layer ripped to shreds, yet we continue to live our daily lives despite knowing all this and convincing ourselves it's not all that bad when in reality, it is in fact near incorrigible. I will not believe that it is not that bad, I refuse! The earth is exhausting and dying! How is ‘we need to save the world now!’ not truism enough?
Step up, all who wish to converse our future for the better. Set aside your differences, disregarding the fact that our continents are divided by oceans, we shall not be divided by the differences of race, religion and origin. We will have to work together; all communities will have to pitch in and contribute to the conservation efforts. Who wishes to see our earth, our home in ruins?
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, once named us millennials the most connected and influential generation the world has ever seen so far. This said we can be the change the world has yet to see. We are not powerless, anyone can make a difference. You could be any Tom and Harry yet, as long as you take the initiative to raise awareness of our cause and join the battle to save our world from annihilation, you could be just what this world needs.
If every country in the Commonwealth or even the United Nations as a whole were to team up and synchronize conservation efforts, our common earth can be undoubtedly be protected. Laws can be put forth and effective amongst every state against deforestation, poaching and the excessive consumption of fuels.
Even with laws put in place against environmental threats, harmony and preservation of our earth are not guaranteed. However, should you and all other people are ready to give your full support and change your lifestyle to a more eco-friendly one, I am completely confident that the environment will be sustained for a better future.
Only oceans should separate us and not our differences. We shall let no tectonic plate shake us and work together towards a common goal; save the earth today.
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