Hope for a pollution-free world

Environmental pollution is on the rise and is a cause for critical concern. Diwali brings

with it festive lights, crackers and fireworks but the damage that accompanies it is a heavy price to pay.

The fallout from these increases the levels of carbon monoxide and other chemicals that cause and aggravate respiratory problems like bronchitis and asthma, as stated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency on their official website. The United Nations Children’s Fund or Unicef has issued a serious warning in this regard that cannot be ignored.

According to the Indian research organisation named Urban Emissions, the danger of pollution is equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes a day. These are alarming facts indeed!

So what is the solution one may ask?

An awareness campaign needs to be strongly launched about the detrimental effects of environmental pollution, especially through the burning of fire crackers and the resultant release of toxic elements in the atmosphere. Another significant action would be to remove the remnants of burnt crackers and strictly avoid the piling up of the same.

I conducted an Anti-Pollution campaign promoting a ‘Green and Cracker Free Diwali’ this year in my locality and school and also helped in the subsequent clean up post Diwali in my neighbourhood in Bur Dubai. There is a dire need for more environmental protection campaigns for a cleaner and safer planet and better health in the future.

The key to a greener planet is in our hands. We all need to consider making a shift towards a ‘green lifestyle’ that is environmental friendly, non-polluting, non-wasteful and aims towards conservation of natural resources. This will not only improve the quality of life but shall also aim at sustainable development. So let us all endeavor to make our communities and our world cleaner and greener.

— The reader is a pupil based in Dubai.

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