Our children's planet

From Suara Karya

I have a baby daughter who is certainly ignorant to the realities of the world. Looking at her I often wonder what kind of world she will be living in when she grows up. How much carbon dioxide will she have to inhale and how polluted will the water become?

Experts estimate that Earth's natural resources are enough for only 14 billion people. So, how much of these natural resources will be left for my baby?

I have always been haunted by these questions because I know that humankind's treatment of Earth has not always been well- meaning.

Environmental damage, tree felling, forest burning, nuclear waste, the ozone hole, global warming and other horrible things we read about in the paper everyday have convinced me that the ecosystem of Earth is under threat and the planet is being placed under enormous pressure.

I have often seen how humans destroy nature, seemingly oblivious to the consequences, by felling trees, contaminating and polluting the soil, water and air with their waste.

I often wonder how many of the six billion people living on this planet really care.

The 20th century has seen environmental damage continue unchecked while our efforts at conservation fail to keep up with the rate at which our ecosystem is deteriorating. I cannot help but feel pessimistic about the future. Can civilization survive the third millennium?

In my childhood things were more precious, the air fresher, the water cleaner, the chirp of birds more melodious, the woods thicker and the footprint of humans or machines not so apparent. I wish I could be transported back in time to my childhood.

When the last tree is felled how do we answer the cries of millions of babies who, if they could, would ask: "Grandfather, why haven't you left a little for me? Why have you allowed industrial waste to deluge the land and the seas? The sky is no longer blue. What kind of earth have you bequeathed to me?"

The grandfather, in his ignorance, will reply: "My grandchild, the world is not eternal and this is what I pass on to you."

WRESNI WIRO

Belitung Laut

Banjarmasin