How Environmental Degradation Contributes To Humanity’s Depression
As the world ages faster and is moving towards modernization, the environment is being compromised which now leads to a worsening condition of humanity. As we are gearing towards economic and commercial progress, the more we experience varied forms and incidences of environment-related catastrophe and sickness. Can this be already an alarm that everyone should already wake up form this deep slumber to be stewards of our mother nature? Before we provide with long term solutions, let us take a look at these aspects and points on how indeed, the deterioration of the environment destroys humanity per se.
- Environmental change is a threat to human health
As we are approaching the end of the decade, more sickness and epidemics are coming out. All from varied causes, mostly are pollution-related like polluted drinking water and smoke-filled houses and streets. According to the former director-general of World Health Organization, these illnesses can take away the life of a jumbo jet full of children every 30 minutes. That observation can only imply the immense effects of pollution to human health, which are, miserably, fatal.
- Worsening environment issues can put an end to the place we live in
You know how vital this blue planet in our existence is as human beings, for without this, life can never be conceivable. These times, all of us have been witnesses to most horrible incidences of natural calamities like typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes, interminable flooding, as well as drought. Well, these all point to what we now have as “global warming.” When this will remain unsolved, then let us not hope for a longer existence of life here on earth.
- Animals and other living organisms are critically affected
Like us humans, animals have this planet only as their permanent habitat. If in just a click of a second, this dwelling place suddenly exterminates, do you think, there can still be such things as “living organisms”? The depletion of ozone layer due to global warming directly affects these living organisms because of intense heat. Moreover, the forest, their natural habitat, is also affected. Because of prevalence of cutting of trees, also illegal logging and transforming this area into commercial lands can result to the extinction of these animals as they depend their survival on forest alone.
Life, as they say should be moving forward. It is good that developments and modernization are evident in the society nowadays, no issues with that. Only that, as we are heading towards progress, we should not miss out our accountabilities to still act as the stewards of nature. This should be in parallel relationship and direction. As we sail towards development, the environment should not also lose its presence; hence its essence. There is still time, we can still see a light of hope up there.
Countries with the Highest Electronic Wastes
Here in Singapore, many people buy new electrical and electronic items every day. This means additional sales for electrical and electronic companies but for the environment, it means mountain of wastes. Singapore is environmentally conscious but there are people who ignore it and still continue to purchase electrical and electronic items.
We have to be aware that the “mountain of electrical and electronic wastes” is our own doing. We have to be conscious of our purchase if we do not want wastes to invade our spaces. The United Nations (UN) is alarmed. In fact, the United Nations University compiled a report about the electrical and electronic wastes.
In 2013, UN identified that e-waste total reached 39.8 million tonnes and with the present trend, we will reach the 50 million tonne mark at the end of 2018 – which is in the not so distant future. Here are the countries with the most electrical and electronic wastes:
- Norway: Norway is the country with the most electrical and electronic wastes. Each inhabitant recorded an average of 28.9 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
- Switzerland: Norway is followed by Switzerland. Each inhabitant recorded an average of 26.3 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
- Iceland: Iceland is the third country with the most wastes. Each inhabitant recorded an average of 26.1 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
- Denmark: In Denmark, each inhabitant recorded an average of 24 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
- Britain: In Britain, each inhabitant recorded an average of 23.5 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
- The Netherlands: In the Netherlands, each inhabitant recorded an average of 23.4 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
- France: Each inhabitant in France recorded an average of 22.2 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
- United States and Austria: Each inhabitant in United States and Austria recorded an average of 22.1 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
Thankfully Singapore is not on the list but we have to be conscious of our wastes.
