Dubai
Our world as we see it is dying - day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second. And the planet’s cruellest predator is responsible for it. We are killing off animals and ecosystems that have evolved and survived millions of years within decades.
We’re rather good at this, destroying our environment, an effortless skill honed by years of bad practices. If the latest WWF’s Living Blue Planet Report is anything to go by, then we’re in for a scary time. It states: “Populations of fish species utilised by humans have fallen by half, with some of the most important species experiencing even greater declines. Around one in four species of sharks, rays and skates is now threatened with extinction, due primarily to overfishing.
“Tropical reefs have lost more than half their reef-building corals over the last 30 years. Worldwide, nearly 20 per cent of mangrove cover was lost between 1980 and 2005. Twenty nine per cent of marine fisheries are overfished. If current rates of temperature rise continue, the ocean will become too warm for coral reefs by 2050.” And this will be tragic because 25 per cent of marine species exists in reef systems that covers about 1 per cent of the total marine environment. Blue planet it ain’t anymore!
And we’ve managed all this single-handedly, with no external help. No, unfortunately we cannot blame Area 51 for it.
Global warming and declining health of our planet means worsening economic conditions, poverty, unemployment, natural disasters and increased conflict. Perhaps it is time for us to take notice because we’re going to face the damage in our lifetime - not a few hundred years from now.
Another international study showed that the Middle East is heating up.
I have an interesting exercise for you — if you have a smart phone and get weather reports, check the difference in temperature in your city today and for the exact same date in 2014. Ninety five per cent of the time it shows that it is warmer by at least three to five degrees. I don’t need any scientist to tell me Earth is heating up, I am living it. A direct result of over-exploitation of natural resources.
Save the world. Stop wasting, start conserving. And we might still be able enjoy the pleasure of a biting wind on a cold morning, while savouring warm porridge.
I think Gulf News community reporter Nityashri Sankaran understands this sentiment to a great measure. A pupil based in Sharjah, she filed a report, published on October 3, about the need to save water. Such a simple idea but brilliant in its understanding. “Water conservation is crucial as every drop counts”, talked about how people abandon drinking water bottles, with water in it. If that is actually collected and re-used — just water a plant, it’s a big step towards environmental protection. A precious commodity, it becomes even more precious in a land that has to get its water by recycling sea water. Sankaran takes first place.
Second place goes to yet another Sharjah based reader Kinshuk Phalke for his report, “An act that can result in a life-threatening accident”, published on October 22. The picture said it all. It showed a housekeeper cleaning the windows by standing on the outside ledge with no safety measure. The family she works for should be penalised for either not warning or stopping her.
Third place goes to the report by Afsar Sajid, “Commercial vehicles should move out of residential parking”, published on October 26. It talks about pick-up trucks taking up residential parking spaces in Abu Dhabi. The reader calls for better monitoring and fining to control the problem.
Each community report was well written, researched and carried valid arguments - just the way journalism should be.
PROFILES
First: Nityashri Sankaran
Published on October 3, 2015
Nityashri Sankaran, a student based in Sharjah, is passionate about the environment and hopes to raise awareness about the need to protect it.
She said: “I wish to inspire and empower more eco-warriors through my awareness presentations and community reports. I believe we need to be fully aware of the implications of our daily actions and keep our carbon footprints to the minimum and make positive lifestyle changes to conserve the Earth’s resources for the generations to come. We can easily use the internet, social media and print to spread information and to increase education and awareness.”
Through her report, she says that she was trying to reach out to the community and bring about positive change.
She said: “Many of my classmates and friends who are regular readers of Gulf News, appreciated the report and the facts mentioned in it.”
Second: Kinshuk Phalke
Published on October 22, 2015
Kinshuk Phalke, a student based in Sharjah, always welcomes a good challenge with a smile.
She said: “I am working on the cause of spreading awareness on education, which I feel is the birthright of all. Nobody should be deprived of it. I feel community reports are not just providing information or sending a message, but they are highlighting important issues for the public to understand, think and act on. It is related to regular life issues, therefore people connect with them.”
When asked about his report highlighting the issue of the housemaid cleaning a window, he said: “One of the tenants of the same building called me and asked what apartment that was, but I didn’t know which one. I showed the report to the watchman of that building and he was also shocked and told me he will monitor, control and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
Third: Afsar Sajid
Published on October 26
Afsar Sajid, who works with a telecommunication community in Abu Dhabi, raised the issue of commercial vehicles taking up parking spots in the residential area near Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi.
He said: “Despite several emails and phone calls, there is no sign of improvement to secure the parking space for residents. These pick-up drivers often occupy the parking lot from 8am to 10pm. Taxis are parked in those spots fom 1 to 4pm and again from 8 to 10pm. The drivers eat, stand and chat for a long time and sometimes block the parked cars.”
