Opinion Sur
There are four threats to our common home that require special care of us.
The first is the poor vision in modern times of the Earth as lifeless and aimless: object of ruthless exploitation overlooking the enrichment. Such a view, which has brought undeniable benefits, has also led to an imbalance in all ecosystems that caused the current widespread ecological crisis. With that effort were eliminated whole villages, as in Latin America, the Atlantic forest was devastated and partly closed.
In January 2015, 18 scientists published in the renowned journal Science a study on “Planetary boundaries: a guide for human development in a world in mutation”. They listed nine fundamental aspects for the continuity of life. Among them were: the balance of climates, maintaining biodiversity, preservation of the ozone layer, control of acidification of the oceans. All these aspects are in a state of erosion. But two, which they call the “fundamental limits”, are the most degraded: climate change and species extinction. The failure of these two fundamental boundaries can lead our civilization to collapse.
In this context, care for the Earth means that the paradigm of conquest, which devastates nature, we must oppose the paradigm of care that protects nature. This heals past wounds and prevents future. Care leads us to live amicably with all other beings and to respect the rhythms of nature. We must produce what we need to live, but carefully, within each region endurable limits and the wealth of each ecosystem.
The second threat is the death machine of weapons of mass destruction: chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. These weapons, which are already mounted, can destroy all life on the planet in 25 different ways. As safety is never complete we must take care that they are not used in wars and security mechanisms are increasingly stringent.
To this threat we must oppose a culture of peace, respect for the rights of life, nature and Mother Earth, detente and dialogue among peoples. Instead of the win-lose, we should live with the win-win, seeking convergences in the diversities. This means creating balance and generating care.
The third threat is the lack of drinking water. Of all the water that exists on Earth, only 3% is fresh water, the rest is salty. Of this 3%, 70% goes to agriculture, 20% for industry, and only 10% goes to human use. It is a derisory amount, which explains that more than a billion people live with insufficient drinking water.
We have to take care of the water on Earth and take care of the forests and jungles, as they are the natural protectors of all waters. Taking care of water demands ensure that the springs are surrounded by trees and all rivers have their riparian vegetation, as this feeds the sources. It happens that more than half of the rainforests have been deforested, altering climates, drying rivers or decreasing water aquifers. The best we can do is always to reforest.
The fourth major threat is represented by the increase in global warming. It is characteristic of geophysics of the planet to know that phase of cold and heat always alternate. But this natural rhythm has been disturbed by excessive human intervention in all fronts of nature and Earth. Carbon dioxide, methane and other gases from the industrial process have created a cloud that surrounds the Earth and retains heat down here. We are near 2 degrees Celsius. With this temperature we can still manage the cycles of life.
The Paris COP21 at the end of 2015 created a consensus among 192 countries in order to do everything possible to not reach 2 degrees Celsius, and tend to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the level of pre-industrial society. If we exceed this level, the human species will be dangerously threatened.
Not without reason scientists have created a new word to describe our time: the Anthropocene. This would set a new geological era, in which the great threat to life, the true Satan of the Earth, is the human being with its irresponsibility and carelessness.
Others throw the hypothesis that Mother Earth would not want us already living in your house and looks for a way to eliminate us, whether through an ecological disaster of apocalyptic dimensions or some powerful and unassailable superbug proportions, or by allowing other species that no longer feel threatened by us and can continue the evolutionary process.
Against global warming we must look for alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, as fossil oil, the engine of our industrial civilization, largely produces carbon dioxide from. We need to implement the various Rs (r) of the Earth Charter: reduce, reuse and recycle, reforest, respect and reject consumption calls. All that can pollute the air should be avoided to prevent global warming.
