January 22, 2008 – (Manila) – What other proof is needed to justify that global warming is severely and rapidly affecting the global ecological system wherein the world we live in would be severely different in just a lifetime?
In recent years, the proof of a radically changing world is being seen almost everywhere ranging from severe typhoon seasons in areas where typhoon rarely frequent; droughts in places where vegetation used to enjoy much rainfall; to warmer winters or in the case here in the Philippines, ‘no chill in the early dawn during these months.’
In saying that changes could be observed and felt in one’s lifetime is evident with the rapid ecological changes that we are seeing. In my case, summers of my youth was fairly warm and dry in Metro Manila while nowadays, its scorching hot and close to unbearable. In the early days which is mind you not too long ago, night time was way cooler past 7 in the evening when the soil has breathed out much of the summer sun’s heat but nowadays, even as early as 4 in the morning, the ground is still heated up.
In the recently concluded Bali conference on Global Warming held sometime November of 2007, there has been a ton of paper work made, presentations prepared and the call for action has been once again fallen on deaf ears among the major economic powers such as the United States and China who are the prime suspects in the continuing process of global warming.
Nowadays, a globally encompassing action is still not being meted out by the world’s industrial nations who are not entirely ignorant of the on going situation but are more absolutely arrogant of their position in preserving status quo as the environment continues to decay and third world countries who are willing to effect the change are the ones who would be affected first.
In some cases, these smaller countries are the ones who could be first wiped out as a result of the arrogance with regards to the decaying ecological systems.
This week, reports are coming out that the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has about 50 years left of its already meager existence.
Tuvalu, made up of some 11,000 people is a small republic, a sovereign island nation located a few thousand kilometers east of Australia and is made up of Austro-Polynesian people who call the small patch of green in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as home.
Home for the people of Tuvalu is shrinking and sinking as King Waves that’s usually is some 2.5 meters in height is now way above 3 meters and is encroaching into the island and large portions of the main island’s beaches are already beneath sea water.
There are about nine major islands that comprise Tuvalu but several of the islands are already close to uninhabitable by being submerged in sea water.
The island nation rests on top of porous corals and sea water is slowly polluting the fresh water tables that provide fresh drinking water to much of the island’s residents.
Meteorologists have been conducting projections that as the world’s sea level rises as a result of the ‘de-frosting’ of Arctic and Antartic ice and with rising severe waves in the Tuvalu region, the island nation will be severely affected in less than 10 years and in 50 years, there will be no more of the islands as it sinks into the Pacific.
The Philippines, being an island nation itself faces the same dilemma as the one facing Tuvalu, and not to mention hundreds of other island nations in the Pacific, Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.
This country is comprised of 7,100 islands and it would also be a matter of time before it might even go less to some 6,900 islands if global conditions continue to worsen.
Unlike Tuvalu, the Philippines has several large islands where people living in low smaller flat islands could run to and seek shelter but with Tuvalu, lacking in resources and could only call home a few pieces of island, its people has nowhere to go.
Much of the Filipinos have found homes along the sea shore and from the sea, much of their livelihood could be found.
The Philippines speaks of a bountiful of natural wonders along its coasts and all are under threat if and when the sea continues to rise, wiping out the lives of perhaps some 2 million non urban residents.
Metro Manila, the nation’s capital is by the sea, partially protected by an inlet bay but it too is not going to be spared should sea levels continue to rise.
Based on an Asian Development Bank study, Metro Manila and its almost 10 million residents are living on sinking ground as the capital sinks by as close as 1 inch annually.
Metro Manila is not just faced with rising sea levels but it sinks as a result of the continuing irresponsible collection of ground water and with the ground water gets emptied, the earth where Metro Manila stands sinks further.
I live in Metro Manila and barely 15 minutes by driving without traffic, I can be by the shores of Manila Bay and enjoy the sea. Never mind if the bay stinks but still it is the closest thing to seeing the ‘sea’ from my vantage.
It maybe an over reaction on my part but I fear the day when I will only need to walk a few steps and could actually experience walking along the ‘new shores’ of Manila Bay just beside or near my house.
The world needs to act as one and not be adamant to face head on the problems that are fast becoming a real threat to mankind.
Greenhouse effect is the main concern and it wouldn’t be reversible in the same short number of years mankind has made it a problem.
An action should be made, and it should have been done the day before yesterday, otherwise all will be too late and millions if not billions of people will be severely displaced and affected.
The major powers of the world are not the only residents of this small planet and these governments should take into account that their arrogance will be the destruction of this little lonely planet we call home.
For individuals like us, every little thing that we do could contribute to the whole and instead of ignoring the facts and doing nothing, we should take the next step and make the necessary action.
In recent years, the proof of a radically changing world is being seen almost everywhere ranging from severe typhoon seasons in areas where typhoon rarely frequent; droughts in places where vegetation used to enjoy much rainfall; to warmer winters or in the case here in the Philippines, ‘no chill in the early dawn during these months.’
In saying that changes could be observed and felt in one’s lifetime is evident with the rapid ecological changes that we are seeing. In my case, summers of my youth was fairly warm and dry in Metro Manila while nowadays, its scorching hot and close to unbearable. In the early days which is mind you not too long ago, night time was way cooler past 7 in the evening when the soil has breathed out much of the summer sun’s heat but nowadays, even as early as 4 in the morning, the ground is still heated up.
In the recently concluded Bali conference on Global Warming held sometime November of 2007, there has been a ton of paper work made, presentations prepared and the call for action has been once again fallen on deaf ears among the major economic powers such as the United States and China who are the prime suspects in the continuing process of global warming.
Nowadays, a globally encompassing action is still not being meted out by the world’s industrial nations who are not entirely ignorant of the on going situation but are more absolutely arrogant of their position in preserving status quo as the environment continues to decay and third world countries who are willing to effect the change are the ones who would be affected first.
In some cases, these smaller countries are the ones who could be first wiped out as a result of the arrogance with regards to the decaying ecological systems.
This week, reports are coming out that the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has about 50 years left of its already meager existence.
Tuvalu, made up of some 11,000 people is a small republic, a sovereign island nation located a few thousand kilometers east of Australia and is made up of Austro-Polynesian people who call the small patch of green in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as home.
Home for the people of Tuvalu is shrinking and sinking as King Waves that’s usually is some 2.5 meters in height is now way above 3 meters and is encroaching into the island and large portions of the main island’s beaches are already beneath sea water.
There are about nine major islands that comprise Tuvalu but several of the islands are already close to uninhabitable by being submerged in sea water.
The island nation rests on top of porous corals and sea water is slowly polluting the fresh water tables that provide fresh drinking water to much of the island’s residents.
Meteorologists have been conducting projections that as the world’s sea level rises as a result of the ‘de-frosting’ of Arctic and Antartic ice and with rising severe waves in the Tuvalu region, the island nation will be severely affected in less than 10 years and in 50 years, there will be no more of the islands as it sinks into the Pacific.
The Philippines, being an island nation itself faces the same dilemma as the one facing Tuvalu, and not to mention hundreds of other island nations in the Pacific, Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.
This country is comprised of 7,100 islands and it would also be a matter of time before it might even go less to some 6,900 islands if global conditions continue to worsen.
Unlike Tuvalu, the Philippines has several large islands where people living in low smaller flat islands could run to and seek shelter but with Tuvalu, lacking in resources and could only call home a few pieces of island, its people has nowhere to go.
Much of the Filipinos have found homes along the sea shore and from the sea, much of their livelihood could be found.
The Philippines speaks of a bountiful of natural wonders along its coasts and all are under threat if and when the sea continues to rise, wiping out the lives of perhaps some 2 million non urban residents.
Metro Manila, the nation’s capital is by the sea, partially protected by an inlet bay but it too is not going to be spared should sea levels continue to rise.
Based on an Asian Development Bank study, Metro Manila and its almost 10 million residents are living on sinking ground as the capital sinks by as close as 1 inch annually.
Metro Manila is not just faced with rising sea levels but it sinks as a result of the continuing irresponsible collection of ground water and with the ground water gets emptied, the earth where Metro Manila stands sinks further.
I live in Metro Manila and barely 15 minutes by driving without traffic, I can be by the shores of Manila Bay and enjoy the sea. Never mind if the bay stinks but still it is the closest thing to seeing the ‘sea’ from my vantage.
It maybe an over reaction on my part but I fear the day when I will only need to walk a few steps and could actually experience walking along the ‘new shores’ of Manila Bay just beside or near my house.
The world needs to act as one and not be adamant to face head on the problems that are fast becoming a real threat to mankind.
Greenhouse effect is the main concern and it wouldn’t be reversible in the same short number of years mankind has made it a problem.
An action should be made, and it should have been done the day before yesterday, otherwise all will be too late and millions if not billions of people will be severely displaced and affected.
The major powers of the world are not the only residents of this small planet and these governments should take into account that their arrogance will be the destruction of this little lonely planet we call home.
For individuals like us, every little thing that we do could contribute to the whole and instead of ignoring the facts and doing nothing, we should take the next step and make the necessary action.
* * *
No comments:
Post a Comment