Global Warming's Special Environmental Problems

Earth Day, that was inaugurated for the first time in 1970. Environmental problems, population growth , natural resources like clean water, arable farmland, forests, and fisheries are permanent features of societies torn by internal strife.

Earth Day commemorates earth health and promotes making the environment cleaner and safer. Its connection with war is that munitions pollute the environment and mines are safety hazards. The connection between Earth Day and industries is that they use the earth's resources, many of which are nonrenewable. They also pollute the land, sea and air. Therefore, there is an inconsistency between the accumulation of material wealth through the expansion of industries and the maintenance of an attractive and healthy environment. Population growth also harms the environment because more people require more land, water and air and the resources in them. Unfortunately, continued population growth will deteriorate the environment in spite of the best efforts of people to make the earth cleaner and safer.

Earth Day Network, www.earthday.net, seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide. Dr. Robert Bullard of the Environmental Justice Resource Center said "Global warming poses special environmental justice challenges for communities that are already overburdened with pollution and environmentally-related illnesses. Those most affected must have a voice at the table in shaping the solutions. EDN President Kathleen Rogers said "Women leaders are already engaged in the new green economy and women have always been the staunchest supporters of a healthy environment, so this promises to be a highly engaging exchange of ideas and will establish a blueprint for moving forward."

A 1993 US State Department report identifies land mines and other unexploded ordnance as the most toxic and widespread pollutants facing mankind.

Assuming the world population continues to increase, and assuming that poor people insist on having a "good life" equal to the rich, and assuming we still want to stall the increase in atmospheric CO2, then more green plants will be needed for both food and biofuel.

There is much talk but only a little action to reduce global warming, e.g., Kyoto Protocol, which the U.S. did not sign. Seems to me that the combination of wind plus solar plus biomass scales for all power, light and heat needs with minimal warming and pollution. Isn't that the ideal solution, assuming that a practical electricity storage is developed. Industries wherever they are exploit earth's resources—most of which are nonrenewable. They also pollute the land, sea and air. There is an inconsistency between the accumulation of material wealth through the expansion of industries and the maintenance of an attractive and healthy environment. Population growth also harms the environment because more people require more land, water and air and other resources. Unfortunately, continued population growth will deteriorate the environment in spite of the best efforts of people to make the earth cleaner and safer.

"Chemical pollution is everywhere: in the air, the soil, and the water. Everyone knows that. Scientists are totally in agreement that pollution does harm and some research is being done. Governments also are cleaning up the most polluted sites in the U.S. and in other countries. In the U.S., money has been spent since the 1970s on cleaning up buried industrial chemicals, fertilizer runoffs into lakes and rivers, and sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in the air. They also eliminated certain chemicals from production, e.g., lead, mercury, PVCs (polivinyl chlorides), asbestos, chlordane, etc. Regulations were tightened to curb excessive pollution". said an economist Mr. Stanly to me.

Therefore, it is likely that people who are especially sensitive to pollution, will continue to work so we can conduct educational programs throughout the world.

On April 22 every year we celebrate the World Earth Day. Every year the Earth Day's Peace Bell ceremony at the UN brings together leaders from countries around the world to promote understanding and choosing the ways of peace. Journalist and Story Writer

Kamala Sarup is specialising in in-depth reporting and writing on Peace, Anti War, Women, Terrorism, Democracy, and Development. Some of her publications are: Women's Empowerment (South Asia, Nepal Booklet). Prevention of trafficking in women through media, (Book) Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in for Media Activism (Media research). Two Stories collections. Her interests include international conflict resolution, cross-cultural communication,philosophy,feminism, political, socio-economic and literature. Her current plans are to move on to humanitarian work in conflict areas in the near future. She also is experienced in organizational and community development. A meeting of jury members held on 21 March in Geneva has decided to attribute Kamala Sarup, with a Honurable Mention of International Award for Women Issue.

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