Let us end the war against nature..

By: Amala Gnana Prabhu J., India

“LET US END THE WAR AGAINST NATURE”

There is a story that almost all of us believe: that beyond a certain state of development, we relearn a respect for nature. It is true that we give more money to conservation projects and more time wasting wildlife films than we have ever before. But as soon as we perceive that our economic interests are threatened, our war against nature resumes. Yes it is true. Ecological crisis is the talk of the world at present than the previous era. People are facing greatest catastrophes due to ecological crisis which is the result of human being’s detachment from nature. On the one hand, the temperature goes high. On the other hand, in some parts of the world, the ice bergs are melting down due to global warming. In brief, the earth is on the verge of death. We become the cause of ecological crises that kill both the life of earth and its species, including human beings. Unless and otherwise if we wish and pay special attention to the ecological crises we can not save the earth.

The earth could be called as “sinking ship”. This reflects the present condition of earth. People’s indiscriminate applications of advances in science and technology, especially the first world countries such asAmerica,Britain, andFrance, have produced harmful effects on nature. The increasing numbers automobiles, super fast jets, nuclear power station, deforestation for building construction and others have poisoned the atmosphere of nature.

Activists have pointed out that globalization has led to an increase in the consumption of products. It has affected the ecological cycle. Increased consumption leads to an increase in the production of goods, which in turn puts stress on the environment. The industrial waste that is generated as a result of production has been laden on ships and dumped in oceans has killed many underwater organisms and has deposited many harmful chemicals in the ocean. Globalization has put pressure on the available land resources. While humans may rejoice on the sparkle with these innovations, these can have long-term effects on the environment. Various studies have found that plastic is one of the major toxic pollutants, as it is non-biodegradable product. This has led to increased use of plastic, causing widespread environmental pollution. Environment pollution is the root cause of all other problems prevailing in nature. Release of high amounts of industrial gases in the air pollutes it to a high level. When industrial wastes disposed into ocean, pose a great danger to aquatic life.

Increase in temperature of the Earth is a consequence of global warming. This problem has been currently analyzed deeply and several measures have been implemented throughout the world to control elevation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Loss of biodiversity is also associated with global warming and extinction of species that are not capable of surviving under high temperature is inevitable. Planting more and more trees is a great solution for controlling global warming.

God created this earth from nothing. “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void.”(Gen 1: 1-2). Out of nothingness God created this beautiful and mysterious world. Even the humblest matter is an integral and fundamental part of God’s creation. God declared creation to be good. Creature is good and beautiful by virtue of its standing in relationship to its creator. From the book Genesis we could understand that God gives special blessing to humankind by creating in His image and likeness. Human being is created on the same day as land animal are created. This shows a certain kinship between human being and animals.AdamandEveare placed in the garden in order to maintain and take care of God’s creation. Sabbath day is established to be communion with creation as whole. It is a day of renewal for human being and nature. It is the Sabbath that blesses sacrifices and reveals the world as God’s creation. The earth and its resources are God’s gift for humanity. The earth should not be slighted, abused, wasted, conquered, plundered, privatized and destroyed. It should be treated with reverence and tenderness. Earth has to be given as healthy, whole and beautiful to next generations. It should be a source and support of life to the humanity.

The Famous Jesuit theologian and scientist, Teilhard De Chardin invited every person to look at nature as the incarnation of God. For him, God is the centre and of holism of universe as well as nature. He proposed a new idea to see God as ‘Cosmic Reality’. God is immanent in the world whenever we look, God is there. There can be no radical separation of creator from creation. God is involved in all the change through and through. He is the changer and the One who is changed. God is found in every atom and molecule of existence. He ceaselessly animates without disturbing all the earth’s process. The good in universe is gathered up by the incarnate word as nourishment.

Each and every human being must pay special care to safeguard the nature. Option for life is more inclusive. The option for poor today does not mean only the marginalized, oppressed, downtrodden people but also the nature, the world and the universe. We must have and create the conscious efforts to reduce the excessive of natural resources. As the members of the world we must refrain from the war against nature. Any form of war on global scale would lead to incalculable ecological damage. Modern society should submit itself to ways and means of delivering itself from instant gratification and consumerism. Everyone must cultivate simplicity, discipline, and spirit of sacrifice, and responsibility to save nature. The human beings must feel that solving ecological crisis is their duty towards nature as well as the creator and an expression of their faith.