The dilution of life.

After ICT training class, myself and Segun decided to walk down to his office instead of taking a bus ..a small exercise as some would say. The walk was good but there was one problem ..he wanted to strip down. "Lara I feel like striping down", Segun said. "You want to do what"? I quickly replied "Please do not strip at all o. You want everyone to see how God made you, please do not even unbuckle your belt" I said. "But the weather is so hot that you can fry an egg under this sun, it was not like this year's back" he said. Well, it's true that it was not like this year's back but everything is evolving around us, so it would not be too bad if the weather evolved as well. Would it?

Many people are quick to say the earth would repair itself, but not this time because we have gone beyond the point of the earth repairing itself. We need to join the earth to repair itself. Climate change is a core effects of environmental pollution. Climate change is a result of our day-to-day actions with regards to utilization of resources.  

However it is well known that tree planting can handle air pollution. The belief is that trees take in those toxic compounds and releases clean air, but that is not all that happens. Trees use energy from the sun to convert CO2 (from the atmosphere using its leaves) and water from the soil for the process of photosynthesis. The energy formed is stored in the form of carbohydrate ( sugar). When the leaves absorbs toxic gases alongside, it results in necrosis (death) on the leaves and stomata. Obviously when the leaves die, photosynthesis has been altered.  So why plant trees if the atmosphere is filled with toxic gases that would stop their growth? 
However, we keep planting trees yet we endorse open burning of waste at dump sites. Many dump sites situated along roadside are also burnt openly with large and small scale industries situated in residential areas releasing  toxic compounds daily. With power outage always, everyone is forced to use a generator. Studies have linked this level of air pollution in the environment to mortality rate and life expectancy as this toxic fumes are inhaled. 

Earlier this year, about 13 pupils in a school in Ogba (*name withheld*) collapsed in their classroom and were rushed to the hospital because they inhaled a toxic gas that was released from one of the small scale industries ( photo lab) around the school. Report has it that this was the second time in 6 months. Was the first one not enough to close down the photo laboratory or ask them to relocate? Where the enforcement authorities seen behind camera after the incident? How long will the trees keep taking in all the toxic gases that are released? How long will the government remain complacent with emission policies for industries and small scale business? How long would open dump site be our own method of disposal of waste? When would we stop killing ourselves "small small" every time we put on our generators?

Honestly I do not know but I beg to differ that tree planting in Nigeria is not worth it. Yes, its not worth it at all unless we change how we tackle climate change. Why? It is because we are using the curative method of solving climate change and not the preventive method. The preventive method would be to:

·         enforce the emission rules and regulations(which includes emission limits) for large and small scale industries especially those located within residential areas guiding the emission.

·         Open burning of waste by the road side or in dump site should be prohibited.

·         Waste disposal methods should also be review by the authorities

·         Power generation needs to be stable or else air pollution continua.

  

I found this quote that explains it all " The value of life will suffer a dilution If we do not fight air pollution". Have a lovely week and remember..give a hoot don not pollute.

 Photo credit: Google images