Saving our Home by Ali Asghar Arif

In October 1957, USSR was able to successfully send an artificial satellite into space Sputnik 1. This was the first significant step into modern day space exploration and since then till this day scientists and explorers have failed in find another planet which can be inhabited by the human race, which pretty much confirms that Earth is the only home we have got. And since the late 18^th century we have been destroying our home in our greed for energy, wealth and luxury by burning fossil fuels in a disproportionate amount that has intoxicated the very air we breathe.

Trees do not just serve the purpose of a source of food, wood and shelter for animals that inhabit the forest, they serve a much greater purpose, they serve the purpose of the lungs of our planet. Without trees, life will cease to exist on our planet just as a human body starts to die when its lungs fail to function. They clean the air of the harmful elements such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc. but like all things they have a limit to which they can function and our carbon footprint is so huge that the amount of vegetation left on the Earth’s surface cannot handle it. Deforestation is taking place in such epic proportion that each year that around thirty million acres of forests are being cut down, which is equivalent of the whole of North Korea.

The lack of trees has given rise to smog levels in the urban areas throughout the world. In 1952 London was covered in what is known as the ‘Great Smog’ that darkened the city streets and killed approximately four thousand people. In 1943, July 26, Los Angeles was covered in a smog so sudden and severe that the residents thought that the Japanese were attacking them with chemical warfare. Even locally in Pakistan since start of winter season heavy smog loaded with pollutants cover major part of Punjab especially Lahore, causing breathing problems to such an extent that doctors advise residents to stay indoors and wear face masks outside.

Cutting to the chase, it is now the responsibility of every person to play his role in saving the planet. For planting a tree doesn’t only start a life, it plants hope for the future of this world. Plant a tree, nourish it but remember to water it every day.  Let’s take the initiative while we can.