Mother nature is not asking for help, it’s warning us by the adverse climatic changes. These are results of the human deeds. Reading and hearing frightful news concerning the environment makes me utterly depressed and at the same time they inspire me to do something. Any matter related to nature always draw my attention and motivates me to change my way of living for the betterment of environment. I am hoping that this will embolden all of you to bring the change as well. By our small changes we can make massive impact on the BIG picture.
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones”
-Confucius
By harming our environment we are harming ourselves too. Changing our lifestyle is the prominent step towards green makeover. This is the high time to implement those 3 R’s which we were taught in school.
- REDUCE
- REUSE
- RECYCLE
And now let’s look at the denouements of Stephen Hawking.
“As scientists, we understand the dangers of nuclear weapons and their devastating effects, and we are learning how human activities and technologies are affecting climate systems in ways that may forever change life on Earth. As citizens of the world, we have a duty to alert the public to the unnecessary risks that we live with every day, and to the perils we foresee if governments and societies do not take action now to render nuclear weapons obsolete and to prevent further climate change… There’s a realization that we are changing our climate for the worse. That would have catastrophic effects. Although the threat is not as dire as that of nuclear weapons right now, in the long term we are looking at a serious threat.”
Stephen Hawking’s Quote from Press conference for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, (1 January 2007)
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“The danger is that global warming may become self-sustaining, if it has not done so already. The melting of the Arctic and Antarctic ice caps reduces the fraction of solar energy reflected back into space, and so increases the temperature further. Climate change may kill off the Amazon and other rain forests, and so eliminate once one of the main ways in which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. The rise in sea temperature may trigger the release of large quantities of carbon dioxide, trapped as hydrides on the ocean floor. Both these phenomena would increase the greenhouse effect, and so global warming further. We have to reverse global warming urgently, if we still can. ”
Stephen Hawking’s Quote from ABC News interview (16 August 2006)
One of the most serious consequences of our actions is global warming brought about by rising levels of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels. The danger is that the temperature increase may become self-sustaining, if it hasn’t done so already. Drought and deforestation are reducing the amount of carbon dioxide recycled into the atmosphere and the warming of the seas may trigger the release of large quantities of carbon dioxide trapped on the ocean floor. In addition the melting of the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets will reduce the amount of solar energy reflected back into space and so increase the temperature further. We don’t know where global warming will stop but the worst case scenario is that the earth will become like its sister planet Venus, with a temperature of 250 degrees C and rain sulphuric acid. The human race could not survive in those conditions.”
Stephen Hawking’s Quote from the film “The 11th Hour” (2007)
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One can see from space how the human race has changed the Earth. Nearly all of the available land has been cleared of forest and is now used for agriculture or urban development. The polar icecaps are shrinking and the desert areas are increasing. At night, the Earth is no longer dark, but large areas are lit up. All of this is evidence that human exploitation of the planet is reaching a critical limit. But human demands and expectations are ever-increasing. We cannot continue to pollute the atmosphere, poison the ocean and exhaust the land. There isn’t any more available.
Stephen Hawking’s Quote from the film “The 11th Hour” (2007)
—“I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I’m an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.”
Stephen Hawking’s Quote Daily Telegraph (16 October 2001)
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Whoa! Reaching out to the stars. Well that seems a distant thing for now.
But, here are some conversions that we must do at our level first. These simple adoption of habits in our daily lives can make a difference. We should play our respective roles.
- Turn of any lights and electronics when they are not being used.Let hair and clothes dry by themselves if possible.Set the washing mashine to lower temperatures.
- Create a compost heap in your garden or use a compost bin. This helps recycle food waste and other biodegradable material.
- When going shopping, make it a habit to bring your own eco-bags and say no to plastic bags as much as possible
- Plant more and more trees. Join as many tree planting trips as you can.
- If possible, try carpooling to work, business presentations, events, or even to run errands. Think of ways you can reduce the number of trips you make using your car. Reduce emissions from vehicles by walking or cycling. These are not just great alternatives to driving, they are also great exercise.
- Use public transport, when you can, for everyday travel.
- Send your drinking bottles, paper, used oil, old batteries and used tires to a depot for recycling or safe disposal; all these very cause serious pollution.
- Do not pour chemicals and waste oil on to the ground or into drains leading to bodies of water.
- Wherever possible, separate biodegradable and recyclable waste from non-biodegradable and work to reduce the amount of non-biodegradable or recyclable waste.
- Reduce the amount of meat you eat, or even better become vegetarian.
- Don’t let water run when you don’t use it. For example while brushing your teeth or when you shampoo your hair. It will save a lot of water! Run dishwasher and washing mashine only with full loads.Use environmentaly friendly cleaning/household products.You find them in regular stores and they are not even much more expensive. They won’t pollute the water with toxins.
- Use your cellphones less .A new study has directly linked cellphones to the mass exstinction of bees. Bees are critical to our food production since they are responsible for pollinating plants.
Think of your own ways to REUSE REDUCE AND RECYCLE the resources as well.
We have read or heard all these several times some way or other way but now is the time to act .
I feel immense bliss in the lap of nature. Healthy environment makes me feel happy .
By default i have strange connection with nature. I am doing my bit and hoping that by taking consistent and positive tiny steps will lead to big results; will further lead to bigger steps one day.
Are you ready to give yourself a green makeover?!
Green makeover for us and for the planet : A new style statement.
Source : WEB
Ratika Singh's blog 