Our Pissed Off Planet

I believe our planet is angry with us due to the damage we inflict upon it. Consider the destruction we are causing to the environment and the resources we are depleting.

It is undeniable that humans have had a significant impact on the planet's health in the short time we have been here. In the 4.5 billion years that the Earth has existed, the human population has exploded from one billion people in the early 1800s to 8 billion today. This drastic change has never been seen before in the Earth's history. If we were to compare 4.5 billion years of the Earth's history to a 24-hour clock, humans would have only arrived one second ago. This rapid growth has led to the burning of resources, increased car and airplane usage, and other activities that have harmed the environment. Despite the claims of climate deniers, the impact of humans on the planet is undeniable.

You may have heard that it can take days to turn an oil tanker, but that's not necessarily true. Depending on the size and speed, it can take up to thirty minutes. This is still a long time if a tanker approaches a stationary ship. Although supertankers are enormous, they are minuscule compared to the size of the Earth. Our planet, millions of times larger than a tanker, is like a tanker in space. However, changing the direction of the Earth's collapsing ecosystems can take much longer - decades, centuries, and even millennia.

If we want to avoid a future of extreme weather events and mass extinction, we must come together and take action to reduce the human habits causing climate change. We must recognize that this is a global issue and that we are all responsible for doing our part. Only by working together can we slow or stop the changes to our climate and ensure a safe and prosperous future for generations to come.

Science has the potential to help us prevent future damage, such as the breakthrough in nuclear fusion, but this technology is still decades away from being commercially available. If we do not take action in the next three or four decades, we could cause irreparable harm to the planet that may never be reversed. Our leaders must rise to the challenge; some are already doing so, but we cannot rely solely on them. Each of us must look for ways to protect our environment.

It can be difficult to comprehend how one person can make a difference in the fight against climate change. However, if we all come together and make small changes in our lives, such as recycling, driving more fuel-efficient or electric vehicles, making our homes more energy-efficient, only shopping at stores that are doing the same, and electing officials who are dedicated to combating climate change, the collective impact of these changes multiplied by the 8 billion people on the planet can create a huge shift in how we affect the environment.

The global community must come together to find a solution to assist those with limited or no resources. There are nations across the world that are still living in the early twentieth century technologically. They aspire to progress their societies to the same level as the more affluent countries while maintaining environmental sustainability, but they are hindered by poverty. We have begun to tackle this issue, but more needs to be done. If only 4 billion people take the necessary steps to protect our planet, but the other 4 billion cannot due to a lack of resources, our efforts will be in vain.

In a hundred years, the future of our planet, our children, and our grandchildren will be determined by the actions of the generation of the 2020s. Will we be remembered as the generation that stepped up and saved humankind, or will we be cursed for our failure to do so? It is up to us to decide.