Are we, as a species, creating our own downfall, the end of our days? The sad truth is that we are. We're destroying the ecosystem that gives us life and doing so at an alarming rate. Our failure to live in a sustainable way is the single greatest problem facing humanity today.
We've been unwilling to address this situation for far too long. We're now faced with the bitter fact that, at our present rate of consumption, we will have entirely exhausted the earth's natural resources by the end of this century.
In short, we will make ourselves extinct, along with most other life on this planet, if we don't stop the destruction. So what's the answer? Can we still save ourselves? Yes. First of all, it's all about what each and every individual does. We can no longer leave it to the other guy to solve the problem. We must each do our part or the solutions won't come. We all have a responsibility to make better decisions.
We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. This proverb indeed tells us that we too need to start thinking long-term. If we had carefully considered all the problems attached to nuclear power or the extreme poisoning of the land and water for miles and miles around each mine, perhaps we'd have looked for better ways to satisfy our insatiable energy needs. Instead, millions of acres of land are now unfit for use and billions of gallons of water unsafe to drink. The time it will take to restore these resources is measured in centuries.
The term "sustainable development" is being used more and more each passing day. Yet, I believe that it is being deliberately misinterpreted. It is simply becoming another excuse for allowing humans to exhaust our national resources. We should be looking at conservation methods instead.
The life support systems of the planet depend on diverse, fully-functioning ecosystems and not fragmented artificial remains of vegetation. In truth, most sections of our economy are dependent on natural resources. Major industries such as fishing, agriculture and tourism all depend on the healthy functioning of the natural environment.
We have a responsibility to ensure that our political leaders and local councils know our opinions. It takes only a few minutes to send a letter or e-mail or to make a phone call. Your voice is the greatest tool possible for making things happen. Together, we are unstoppable. The more we tell our leaders that we want to focus on the issue of sustainability, the more quickly and fully governments will address the problem of the environment.
The children of the future have the same rights we had of living in the world as we know it. It's not fair to use it, exploit it and give no chance for future generations. We can't stay in denial about it any longer. We're destroying our environment and we must stop. We don't have the right to wilfully destroy it. Must we cut down the last tree, poison the last river and eat the last animal before we finally figured out that our possessions won't sustain us, that we can't eat our money?
The choice is ours. We must act now. I hope we choose wisely.