This week was just so unbelievably hot. They weren’t much of the windy, cool, sunny days. They were just sunny, and boy was it hot. Yeah. Real HOT. The kind that made people spend twice (maybe even more) on ice cream, and one that added up to an even longer queue at the shake stalls in the canteen. People found temporary relief of coolness in air-conditioned stores, internet café, cool drinks, fans, and electric fans—the last two being quite inadequate. People perspired and thirsted easily. There was a call for rehydration and cooling of the body. Our reaction? Global warming. However, another issue arose: global cooling. And these two are both results of man’s deliberate irresponsibilities.
Carbon dioxide, which we emit since the industrial age when factories, car exhausts, and production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) gave way to an increased level of carbon dioxide (CO2), which not only causes global warming, but also global cooling—both climactic changes. We destroyed the climate. So we fix it. After all, the consequences would still affect us. Once the heat is trapped, it cannot get out. That means it’s going to stay in our planet and warm it. A little rise or fall in the temperature, or little as it seems, could actually cause already a stress in the weather patterns and environment.
We’ve heard of this over and over again. We’ve read, watched, heard, and worried of the consequences our planet could get into if this prevails at a quick span of time. We’ve been told what to do. Have we done our part? Have we done enough to slow it down? If no, what’s keeping us from really doing what we should?
One word: Ignorance.
We do care about this planet, right? I mean, seriously, we should because we can’t actually live in Mars. So much for the oxygen level scientists say is present in the atmosphere. Combine it with iron equals tetanus. So, apparently, that eliminates the option. If we continue destroying the planet because we’re not doing our part in saving it, what will happen to us? As much as fiction isn’t so believable, we can just compare it with the earth that was shown in the movie, Wall-E. Barren. Almost like there was no sign of life, except for the single seedling. All Wall-E could see was piles—probably mountain would be a more appropriate term—of junk and rusty metal. Well, I guess it’s the businessmen mostly who caused this. They are driven by greed and the love of making money—lots and lots of money that they forget the ones who will receive the product—benefit to satisfy the demand but more disturbingly, a setback for the planet and the consumers—us—still. So, where do we stand?
There are some things we could do if we think there’s nothing we could do. And don’t call these little things, because even a little increase in warmth might be a problem to face decades or centuries later. The climatologists and other scientists have their own thing to do with the condition.
What about the local and higher officials? World leaders? Entrepreneurs of factories? Well, it’s been decades and centuries that they should’ve realized their mistake. They’re in charge of the issues and ensuring safety; their word is law, and they should use this for good.
That heat that enveloped the air during that week was just uncomfortable and unbearable. And let me tell you, a week was enough. We don’t want that to last longer. No, we don’t. Keep the warming, or even cooling, to a delay.
Casandra Hilary B. Emata
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