Hot and Burnt

I’ve just read about an article relating the disaster that is imminent—global warming. I was sweating at that moment due to the recent hot weather.

On any given day, there are 600 forest fires raging in the Amazon, as indicated in the article.

There’s no escape, even for us in the concrete jungle. Need we remind ourselves of the times when forest fires in the South-East Asia, torched to make way for plantations, stung our eyes and choked our lungs with haze?

Deforestation and global warming induced droughts are ravaging the planet at an astonishing rate. By the time you read this far, 13 hectares of the world’s forest (equivalent to 13 football fields) will be doom. Manchester United and Liverpool will soon face a problem for their race of the English Premier League’s title. Where else can they play in the next decade?

Studies show that global warming maybe converting tropical forests from net carbon sinks to net carbon emitters. A rise in global temperature may also trigger a massive bacterial response in the soils. With more bacteria exist, the more organic material will be broken down. This certainly contributes to the production of billions of tones of carbon dioxide and methane, which catalyses the positive feedback loops of the carbon dioxide’s production.

We are now at a critical state. Do nothing and climate change maybe reach a tipping point beyond which is out of our hands.

And that’s the point. It is still in our hands.

Each of us can do our part. This year, why not change your vacation plans? Instead of flying off to a foreign city, consider visiting one of our fascinating national parks.

Try to reduce waste and recycle. Photocopy on both sides of the documents. Decline plastic bags at shopping counters if you can. Switch off electrical appliances when not in use. Learn to appreciate the wonders of nature in our own backyard.

The hand that fans the fire can be the hand that extinguishes it. Together, we citizens of Malaysia can make a difference if we act now. One pail might not put out a fire but millions can.