The destruction of the earth is a problem in itself, and its impact on our lives goes far beyond rising sea levels and crazy weather. It exacerbates humans' destruction of each other, which further contributes to the destruction of the environment. It is perhaps the most vicious of vicious cycles.
The links between conflict and environmental degradation are evident, but often overlooked. Competition for land and resources are perennial conflict drivers, and worsening scarcities of food and water due to rising temperatures, drought, and so on will only create more sources of tension and put already-marginalized and vulnerable populations even more at risk. A group of retired military officers concluded that climate change amounts to a "threat multiplier" that even currently stable regions of the world will succumb to — a conclusion that should grab far more attention than it currently does.
If we know the eventual impact of refusing to act or acting too slowly to reign in the man-made causes of climate change, are we committing genocide against the lives, cultures, and countries that will be destroyed as a result?
Celebrating Earth Day is about much more than appreciating our planet — it's about recognizing the critical relationship between human interaction and the physical environment we all share.
Photo credit: Bertramz
Posted via web from Firesaw
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