Environmental Pollution
Essay No. 01
When the Industrial Revolution hit Europe in the nineteenth century, the world hailed the advent of a glorious new age. It was a brave new world—a world of steam engines and motor cars. Then came aeroplanes, the spacecraft and finally, computers! Great cities all over the earth echoed with the sound of factory sirens and the roar of machinery.
Little did anyone foresee the havoc that was to be caused by this attack on nature. It was left to a few lost souls in the wilderness who spoke to us as prophets of doom, but their cries were submerged in the black smoke rushing out from the tall chimneys of a million industrial houses and drowned by the din of metallic monsters.
Today, our planet has reached a stage where environmental pollution is threatening to destroy it. Try to imagine a time when there will be no flowers, no butterflies, no fish; when the rain will be black in colour; when the rivers will have dried up and instead of forests we will have concrete jungles!
This could soon become a reality if we do not take immediate steps to stop pollution. We must grow more trees, stop killing wild animals, avoid using plastic bags, stop littering, use less petrol, use more environmental-friendly products — the list of do’s and don’ts is endless. We must all do our bit towards achieving a pollution-free environment — otherwise, we will be destroyed by a monster of our own creation!
Pollution
Essay No. 02
Plato the great philosopher lamented the destruction of soils and forests in ancient Greece. Dickens and Engels discussed eloquently the conditions created by the industrial revolution. However, the surge about environmental quality over the last three decades has been a concern for everybody. Man on the earth realised the value of environmental purity. Perhaps the most dramatic intellectual shifts are taking place in the third world where the ecological under spinning of human life is lost in the struggle for industrialisation. The progress-oriented thoughts are favouring fast growth even if it is harmful to the human race. The theories are more for relief for underfed and protection to the environment. This can be the mutually supportive goal for our activity.
The concept affected the thinking of bigger nations who as much opted for new laws, altered aid programmes and the trend was to bring change in international treaties. Even then, the response remained inadequate to the needs. The need of the day is to protect whatever is in balance. Action towards the goal can be taken up effectively if we understand the actual meaning of pollution
The literal meaning of pollution is to make dirty, the act of making something foul etc. In its normal sense, the pollution depicts environmental pollution. It is more of an unfavourable alteration of our surroundings. The causes are changing fuels and energy patterns, physical and chemical combinations and abundance of organisms. It pollutes the air and renders it unsuitable for breathing, spoils the water and the soil.
Cooking over wood and cow dung cakes spoils the atmosphere. Many rural areas and cities are engulfed with smoke and foul smell. This causes respiratory diseases (asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis). Those staying near refineries are exposed to cancer due to toxic substances.
Pollution is cropping in air, water and sound and has a disastrous effect on humanity and other animation around. Pesticides, fertilisers and solid or semisolid garbage spoil the connected food, plants, air, water and soil. The unhealthy effects are stomach infections, skin diseases and other hazards.
The modern world has another pollution to face that is noise pollution. The loud-speakers, loud music, vehicle horns contribute a large share and, in between, the loud sound of the marriage ‘band’ affects the mind of those who are exposed to such factors. The next and the most dangerous cause is the continuously increasing population. The earth has a heavy load of people. This creates waste and consumes resources extensively. The limit fixed has already been crossed in countries in Asia. In the same way, urbanisation is fastly increasing and, thus, our cities or metros are getting faster pollution. Industrialisation also attracts the rural population to shift rapidly and cause damage. The overpopulation disturbs solar radiation. This all adds more stress to – the biosphere. Some metros have so much enlargement of the population that it is difficult for the municipalities to maintain the proper provision of civic facilities.
The problems are socially, economically and politically so deep-rooted in the society that the dependents of political structures or vote banks fail to take any effective action. In reality, cleaning measures fall upon the industries or groups who are not in the position to spare anything out of their profits. The legal aspects and cost of controls as needed are tangible and easily figured but there are no ways existing for assessment the benefits of pollution reduction. People apt to bypass the law can repeat the factors contributing to pollution.
‘Cigarette smoking and propaganda against it is opposed by the industry for their own motive. They move the boat in the reverse stream and follow anti-pollution policies with a purpose to ignite inquisitiveness about smoking in the common man’s mind. Thus, while these people are appearing to do good for society, they are, infact, getting easy publicity in a disguise.
Despite the best arrangement of boards and departments, the problem has very faint and dim results. None of the Govt. agencies can explain the causes of this failure.
The importance of a clean environment has been realised well in India. The government is providing funds in five-year plans for the purpose. It is, however, felt that unless the fixed legislations are enforced with sufficient political will, all the laws enforced are rendered futile. The creation of better awareness and mass education about pollution can possibly help to make the measures effective. Policies and voluntary efforts can certainly restrict the causes if done and followed with dedication.
Environmental choices must be guided by the vision of a desirable human society and of the quality of the natural environment needed to support the concept. People have to accept the vision for it and make up a mind to fight against pollution
