Amalgamation
This website has been designed specifically to spread awareness about the environment, trying to reach out to as many people as possible. Major threats to the environment were selected, researched and presented, namely; Sustainability, Biodiversity, Global Warming, Climate change, Conservation, Pollution, Human population, Natural hazards, Diseases and Genetic engineering.
We came to realize that all of these topics amalgam as an extensive chain where everything originates from the rise in human population. This rise led to an increased demand for homes, food and job opportunities, resulting in the felling of trees for the same. Deforestation, as we came to realize, is extremely perilous, especially in places like the Amazon basin which not only provide over a third of the world’s oxygen, but also harbor an extensive range of animal, bird and insect species, all of whose habitats have been infringed upon and destroyed. In other places like India and Kenya, an increase in the human population and thus, the need for money has brought about activities like poaching, wildlife safaris, hunting (as a sport) etc which threaten the well being of animals in the region like tigers, lions and elephants. This has instigated the inclusion of “Biodiversity”, “Conservation” and most importantly, “Human population”, on our site.
Another severe effect of deforestation is the increased occurrence of natural disasters like floods and drought. With lesser trees slowing excess rainwater down, disastrous floods have wreaked havoc in various places all over the world. In other places like the Sahel, a belt of land towards the south of the Sahara in Africa, the desert advances by up to 6km per year due to the felling of trees for cattle feed which ultimately results in erosion of the top soil. The top soil is the main storehouse for minerals without which agricultural attempts go in vain. The area thus experiences severe drought and food shortage. This has brought about the “natural hazards” section in our topic list.
The development of industry has been extremely beneficial for mankind, as the pathway to a better standard of living. It has, however, numerous disadvantages. Industry is the focal cause of pollution which proves to be a major threat to the environment. Humans are no less affected by the same, in the form of diseases such as lung and throat cancer. When thinking about the transmission of disease, majority of the world is concerned about its spread from human to human. However, studies over the past few decades have revealed a new group of victims as well as sources for disease: wildlife, which has prompted the inclusion of “Pollution” and “Diseases” on our website.
It can thus be concluded that human activity is the main cause for environmental degradation, which brings us to the topic of genetic engineering. During the period of industrialization, innumerable trees were felled, without considering the consequences of the same. Today, we are paying the price for it. Genetic engineering is a new field that brings with it numerous benefits, but we mustn’t tread the same path as our forefathers. Our site provides basic information on genetic engineering and also touches upon its possible setbacks, for which we must be prepared well in time.
The main source of energy for most industries is fossil fuels which, when burnt, release excessive amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. Carbon dioxide is a harmful greenhouse gas and a significant cause of global warming. The latter is responsible for more frequent and serious droughts and floods as world climates change, and this is expected to intensify in the future. Growing human need and the various threats facing our environment today call for immediate restorative action as well as the introduction of sustainable development, a possible solution to ALL of the threats mentioned above, which brings “Global warming”, “Climate change” and “Sustainability” under our coveted list of topics.
We have thus brought a variety of topics under one motion: ProjectGreen. We hope to spread the light of awareness among all those who care. As for those who are unaware of the threats facing our environment today, we hope to open your eyes and let your gaze fall upon the perilous path we tread today.
