There is great hope and enthusiasm for the restoration of the earth among the young people who celebrated Earth Day on April 22. They see the environmental destruction in all aspects of our lives—the air we breathe, the forest destruction, the polluted oceans, the climate change that is upon us and the pandemic—all a result of human neglect, greed and power play for riches and dominance of the Earth. This young generation wants it to change and is doing much to bring it about by advocating political change to the Green Platform for a healthy planet.
They are planning thousands of actions and events around the globe to demand that we change our lifestyles, habits, ways of living and working. They are dedicated to change destructive industry, corrupt political systems and bad environmental conditions due to the changing climate that is harming them and the Earth.
We all must work to change our lives and restore our Earth because everyone should have an equal opportunity to survive and have a healthy life of dignity and equality. Those greater ideals are far away but we can restore the Earth in small ways in the place where we live, like recycling plastic and waste products, never wasting food, planting organic vegetables and planting trees.
The most vital and important need is to have a healthy, clean, pollution-free, smog-free atmosphere and clean air to breath. The air we breathe affects our lives, our blood, our brains and body, and our ability for clear thinking. It is one of the most important environmental goals we must reach. Our health and that of the world’s children depend on it.
We humans are very unintelligent since we are poisoning ourselves. We are allowing national and multi-national industries to make billions in profits by producing electricity from dirty, dangerous oil and coal-fired power plants. The vicious politicians and mighty moguls of industry tell us it is for our own good if we want our electric fans, air conditioners, heaters, lights and factories to run. How dull can we be, we with the big brains, if we allow this when there are clear, sustainable alternatives? The young people who rallied this Earth Day know it and demand change.
The politicians are generally corrupt and in cahoots, and enjoy conspiracies with the tough tycoons of big business run by the oligarchs of industry. We need to have political action and vote for politicians with green environmental credentials. To restore the Earth is not merely cleaning up the plastic waste and planting more trees, all great and important, but we have to change the politicians and they will change the source of electricity production on which the world runs.
The politicians are generally corrupt and in cahoots, and enjoy conspiracies with the tough tycoons of big business run by the oligarchs of industry. We need to have political action and vote for politicians with green environmental credentials. To restore the Earth is not merely cleaning up the plastic waste and planting more trees, all great and important, but we have to change the politicians and they will change the source of electricity production on which the world runs.
This basic intelligent thinking, planning and positive action is all possible and it is part of the new wave sweeping the globe with the young generation. It means we and the tycoons have to confess to environmental sins, individually, nationally and globally, and repent and do penance by changing our bad environmental habits.
The coal industry is the worst of all for damaging the Earth. A February 2 report by N. Sönnichsen, at Statista.com says that “China has the highest installed capacity of coal power plants in the world … with a capacity of 1,042.9 gigawatts … the United States, which ranked second. China’s carbon dioxide emissions from coal combustion reached 7.2 billion metric tons in 2019—roughly 70 per cent of the country’s total emissions.
We can and must change to good clean ways of living so as to undo the damage caused by the past generations and the present one. We must change and replace the destructive energy-producing ways to restore the Earth. People must demand the politicians and industry to convert more quickly to renewable sources of energy and phase out the use fossil fuels such as oil, gas, coal and end the use of nuclear plants. We need to join the young today in demanding these changes by their marches, activities, protests and positive actions this Earth Day, now on its 51st anniversary. The building of more wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal plants, wave and tide power and environmentally-safe hydropower is the goal.
Converting to electric-run vehicles powered by renewable energy is the way of the future. However, less flying, more walking and cycling and using trains are the best ways to travel to restore the earth. The burning of oil and coal is the most dangerous of all. They emit the most CO2 into the atmosphere, producing greenhouse gases causing climate change and global warming, and they pollute the air we breathe. The Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic stopped travel and restored a clean environment to many cities especially in China.
Photo: UCAN/Mark Saludes
The coal industry is the worst of all for damaging the Earth. A February 2 report by N. Sönnichsen, at Statista.com says that “China has the highest installed capacity of coal power plants in the world … with a capacity of 1,042.9 gigawatts … the United States, which ranked second. China’s carbon dioxide emissions from coal combustion reached 7.2 billion metric tons in 2019—roughly 70 per cent of the country’s total emissions.
For a great nation to be truly great, admired, respected and emulated, China with its success in alleviating poverty in 50 years and massive construction and production capacity of consumer products, has to exercise moral values, respect human rights and respect the Earth and quickly phase out their oppressive cruel polices of island-grabbing, human rights abuses and their coal plants. Then, China will lead the world.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
The devastating results of a poisoned atmosphere from air pollution is felt everyday with millions suffering breathing problems and with these underlying weakness, millions are dying, even hundreds of babies in Brazil, from Covid-19. Make no mistake about it. This pandemic is upon us like a dark cloud because of our lack of care for the natural world and not protecting the earth’s wildlife and habitat of animals and birds. The unleashing of the various vicious viruses in recent years has brought devastation and suffering and death to so many.
The positive planned action of young people worldwide on Earth Day is inspiring. It begins with a global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising, in collaboration with My Future, My Voice, OneMillionOfUs and hundreds of youth climate activists.
We admire them. They are the hope for a clean, restored Earth.
Father Shay Cullen
www.preda.org
