While writing this piece another typhoon hits the Philippines. One of many other natural disasters worldwide... .
My worries and fears that nothing would happen to preserve and project our nature have been proven to be well founded. Sure, climatic change is a global problem, but even while writing this piece, I do have again and again this disgusting smell of burning and plastic and rubber "basura" in my nose. My neighbours don't care! Bahala na! how gruesome and horrid! I would love to pray for more rain to "kill these fires". But the Philippines got rain more then enough!
The term "hothouse earth" as well as 'hothouse effect" describe the dramatic climatic changes in our daily life conditions. Here in the Philippines and everywhere in the world. The hothouse effect has its cause and origin on the way we are living. Effects and consequences of excessive consumption of so-called "fossil fuels" are one of the main reasons. Our industrial society's ecological footprint becomes too big; its ecological rucksack becomes too heavy. Remaining "ecological niches' become smaller and smaller.
The report of the "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes from March 2001 (!) showed us the startling dramatic scenario:
- The 1990s have been the warmest decade (1998 the warmest year) since 1861.
- The eternal snow and polar ice have become dramatically smaller.
- The average sea level rises and will rise up to 88cm in the year 2100 according to this report.
Now it's 2009! Heat waves, increasing tropical cyclone activities, intensified precipitations (heavy rain and landslides) are also reasons for tourism destination changes. Losses of human life, appearing epidemics, increasing of erosion - as well as infrastructure damages, especially in coastal areas are more complex extremes.
The essential and vital resource water becomes a scarce, meager and barely sufficient good.
National and international climatic policies have born fantastic rules and regulations, such as 'Emission Trading', 'Clean Development Mechanism' or the 'United Nation Environment Programmer" as well as the 'World Environment and Development Organization'. So far so good. Where are the deeds?
We sing our praises as the most stable and secure form of human knowledge, but we leave the practice to others without envy. Fixed in their views worldwide, politicians accept oppression from company monopolies and allow deforestation and burnt patches. Fishing with dynamite, pale corals, sick animals, melting icebergs and the ozone hole... .
Climatic changes are a global problem. But every one of us should start cleaning up his own compound first without burning poisonous garbage while only a short distance away our little children are playing!
