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All of us are concerned with the environment we live in.
The recent haze caused by forest fires and land clearing
in Indonesia affected our health and our work. Our
country's economy was also affected. The number of
tourists to our island declined during this period; for
who would want to take the risk of endangering their
health? The release of carbon dioxide and other toxic
chemicals into the air by any one country harms the
earth we live on. Such gases are blamed for damaging the
ozone layer in the atmosphere and creating global
warming - a term used to describe the increased
temperature of the earth. Global warming occurs when
certain greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide form a
blanket in the atmosphere and trap the Earth's heat.
It is predicted that global warming would cause a
rise in sea levels. The change in climate would have
considerable effect on human civilization. Land could be
completely submerged by rising oceans, deserts could
spread, malaria could be carried to Europe and Africa
could suffer even more from severe drought.
World leaders meet regularly to discuss this issue
and are working hard to save the Earth. Many agree that
they must attempt to reduce the emission of greenhouse
gases in their countries by some 15% by the year 2010.
It is envisaged that greenhouse gas emissions would have
to be reduced to 0% if the current level of gases in the
atmosphere is to remain stable by the year 2100.
Climate changes caused by global warming would have
potential ill-effects. Food and water supply could be
affected. Health hazards like heat-related illnesses,
cholera, dengue fever and bio-toxin poisoning could
become more prevalent.
It is therefore important that we try to do what we
can to save our Earth. Creating less waste by reusing
containers and recycling papers; using water and
electricity carefully and walking instead of taking the
car, are little contributions that we can make to reduce
the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
That would help to ensure that we and the generations
that come after us would have a beautiful and clean
place to live. |
