Desecration

Foreword

ForewordMother Nature has a way of self-regulation; she manages her business efficiently to ensure a natural balance in the world. However, mankind is trying to tip the natural balance of life in his favour - and it will almost certainly end in tears unless we change both the way we expand our societies and the way we treat each other and our planet.

Governments and global corporations are finally jumping on the green bandwagon, sometimes because it’s the ‘right’ thing to do and sometimes because the green issue is a marketing tool - one of many used to make us feel good about our choices. Political and commercial organisations can achieve a great deal of good on behalf of each and every one of us. However, ultimately, we all have an individual stake in the welfare of our planet and a personal responsibility to make a difference in the way we live our lives to safeguard the welfare of future generations that will be dependent on Mother Earth just as we are. This doesn’t mean we have to live a perfect life: choose the causes and make the changes that suit your way of life and will impact directly on the people and environment around you.

What’s in it for me, you and every other man woman and child? Not every benefit equals instant gratification, but the good news is that whatever steps we take to minimise the damage we all do to our environment and ultimately our health and quality of life will make a difference, provided enough of us DO something.

And if you’re still not convinced, remember that there’s always that feeling of personal satisfaction, that quiet sentiment of virtue you get when you know you’re doing the right thing, for the right reasons and you believe in it - especially when the benefits are not immediately obvious. It takes some effort, but often in small ways, such as taking fewer flights, recycling more of your household waste or creating your own vegetable patch. Whatever makes sense for you and your life; any contribution you can make - it’s worth it.

FACT

The population of the world has grown from about 3.85 billion people in 1972 to 6.1 billion in mid-2000 and is currently growing by 77 million people year-on-year. As life expectancy rises around the globe, world population will grow and age faster in the next 50 years than during the past half-century.

The ever growing needs of a burgeoning global population, living in an increasingly industrialised world, inevitably lead to a greater demand for energy, The resources of planet Earth are finite, however, and the requirements for energy production and consumption cause environmental problems, which in turn threaten human health and quality of life. Increasing industrial pollution results in changes to atmospheric composition, deforestation leads to soil erosion and silting up of water bodies and we are running out of sites for the disposal of household, commercial and toxic wastes.

The effects of global warming and climate change are now being felt. Severe hurricanes, tsunamis, heat waves and flooding are occurring more frequently and in regions previously unused to such ‘freak’ forces of nature.