This semester in environmental review

This semester has been one to remember.

Lots of notable environmental topics and issues have been discussed in my section. Let’s just quickly recount them.

Honeybees are dying in record numbers due to a mysterious disease, Colony Collapse Disorder. In addition, rhinoceroses are sadly being hunted to extinction.

Also, humanity’s wasteful practices are starting to catch up to it with the discovery of large garbage patches plaguing all of our world’s oceans and with more landfills popping up around the world than ever before. Moreover, our materialistic need for goods has continued the abhorrent phenomenon of blood diamonds and dirty gold.

Finally, this September was a sad month for the planet with the loss of Wangari Maathai, noted environmentalist, woman’s right activist, Nobel Laureate, and a personal role model of mine. These issues affect us in different ways, but the thing they have in common is they all come with a message.

In regards to our planetary species loss, it is important to remember we need all of our species to sustain life on earth and disregarding any species as less worthy of life than another is a form of bigotry. Without honeybees, our agricultural industry would die. Without rhinoceroses, several ecosystems throughout the planet would be in dire straits.
  
Because our excessive pollution is starting to have noticeable effects, now more than ever we have to work to reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste. Furthermore, valuing human life should take precedence over valuing materialistic goods; humanity should take a stance against supporting civil war for the sake of jewels and goods.

Finally, it is important to learn from the positive steps other people have taken that this world needs more people like Wangari Maathai. 
Speaking of reviewing the environment, the UN is currently meeting in Durban, South Africa for an annual review of the world’s stance and actions against climate change. The most notable aspect of this meeting is that it concludes the Kyoto Protocol, a notable international treaty designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sadly, the protocol will probably be viewed as a failure, due to many countries being unable to achieve the goals set in 1997. This is most likely because there is no international enforcement agency designed to keep countries on track. Hopefully the next attempt to reduce climate change will prove to be more effective.

There is much to reflect on at the end of this semester: hopefully, next semester will be greener and more positive.