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Critical Reaction
Introduction
Global climate changes are first to attract the interest of different groups within the society and in particular scientists and politicians. As the Earth continues to experience harsh climatic conditions, the blame for environmental degradation has been placed on human activities by these two groups. The world’s biggest environmental concerns today are putting an end or at least reduce activities that contribute to the mess. In fact, climate fluctuations are thought to lead to some of the worst threats to the existence of life in the world. In the past decades, disasters such as drought, flooding, earthquakes and landslides among others have been precipitated by human activities (Aran MacKinnon, 2010).
Again, both animal and plant life are threatened by human behavior such as the application of chemicals, deforestation as well as the use of non-biodegradable materials. However, the eco-system in some cases has derived ways to sustain itself. For example, while humans have believed themselves as being in control of domesticated plants such as apple trees, it is likely that plants too have made use them as well (Schwarz, 2009). That is, a dependent relationship from both sides exists. However, in terms of other activities, environmental pollution has affected urban dwellers as well as indigenous groups whose natural habitats are being attacked by developers (Konikow, 2011).
Critical Response
Despite the fact that overtimes governments have attempted to position themselves as the saviors of the environment, they have failed terribly. The reason behind all that is governments’ putting economic interest above nature preservation efforts. Actions by governments have always appeared as skewed towards economic interests of those who pay for the campaigns of the politicians in leadership positions. For example, when indigenous groups have been at the forefront in the fight against pollution such as disposal of chemical waste, local and national political leadership has not shown keen interest in that fight.
Some political leaders such as those in developing nations have moved a step further to allow waste disposal in their territories in return for financial and political favors. While scientists’ views may focus on predicting the unsustainable future of the world due to pollution, economic interests have by far outweighed their arguments. At global meetings, political leadership from the influential countries has defended businesses where it ought to have stood for measures meant to reduce pollution (Aran MacKinnon, 2010).
Planetary system destruction has affected societies both within the urban areas and the marginalized ones living in the areas such as rain forests. Activities such as logging have contributed to pollution of the environment in multiple ways including; water, and soil and air pollution. For example, tree cutting exposes soil; thus winds cause erosion, leading to desertification easily sweeping the area. That eventually contributes to the destruction of water catchment areas thus downgrading the livelihood of those who depend on such a forest.
Again, the natural habitat of the majority of wild animals such as monkeys and gazelles, as well as the birds, is destroyed. What is more, except the environmental harm, it affects the local heritage used to attract tourism, fetching money to the locals. On the other hand, urban population also struggles with the menace of pollution. Release of toxic waste to the rivers or its poor disposal, as well as harmful gasses released into the atmosphere by the industries, have far reaching effects. Urban dwellers get exposed to respiratory ailments and face dangers of poor sanitation caused by the pollution.
However, the environmental question sometimes does run tricky and thus requires an informed judgment to determine whether the benefits of an activity outweigh its losses. In his ‘Botany of Desires’, Michael Pollan demonstrates that the relationship between man and domesticated plants is mutually beneficial. While human interest lies in the sweetness of apples, people are driven to help in the development of a friendlier environment for the growth of the plant. Again, the plants are being protected from diseases and harmful pests. However, such protection often involves chemical elements and pesticides, which pollutes the environment. However, failure to protect the apple fruit will reduce human satisfaction from its sweetness (Schwarz, 2009).
Conclusion
Despite the fact that environmental degradation has been proved to bring about painful consequences, several factors have delayed governmental efforts to stop it. In fact, politicians play in the hands of investors thus failing to play the critical role of effectively managing the environment. Pollution effects are severe and pose a real threat to the existence of humanity. Life on the planet is so interconnected that every species depends on each other. Further, in situations where government intervention has been in use, people’s rights have been violated, or economic burden has risen without being constructive on the climate. Although world resources such as water are limited, practices being unfriendly to the ecosystem continue to increase at a very high rate. In addition, human population continues to increase while that of other animals and plants is being threatened with extinction.
