If you open a newspaper or listen to the news on television, you will most likely hear about a natural disaster occurring in one part of the world or another. Typhoons, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, extreme heat waves and droughts are common and wreaking havoc across the globe.

While some natural disasters are inevitable, most are the result of careless human activities resulting in climate change. Think of it this way, someone carelessly damages your extremely expensive toy or rips apart your favourite book — wouldn’t it make your blood boil or make you see red? It might even make you blow your top or cause you to flip out. You might even burn with fury or seethe with rage.

Now just think how Mother Nature feels every time a forest is destroyed, a fire is started to clear agricultural land, a river is polluted with industrial waste and dynamite fishing is done to catch fish.

Our planet, our home, is angry, wounded and in pain, and each of us must do as much as we can to help restore its health. You might think what can I, a single child, do in the face of such huge problems? The first step to solving any problem is owning up that there’s a problem. The next step is to find the root cause and then develop an action plan to tackle it.

For this, you need a team of like-minded people — your friends, peers and schoolfellows. The next stages are implementation, evaluation and plans for constant improvement.

Sounds daunting? But it need not be! Read on to find what steps you can take to save our planet, our home.

Our planet, our home, is angry, wounded and in pain, so each of us must do as much as we can to help restore its health

Spend more time in nature

Most of us take nature for granted and make very little effort to spend time outdoors. The more time you spend among nature, the more you learn to love and cherish it. Try to visit parks, beaches, hills and lakes in your vicinity.

During the day observe the sky with white fluffy clouds or at night when the stars are out. Look at the myriads of plants and flowers growing around you. When you appreciate the beauty of nature, you become more committed to protect it.

Spend time observing butterflies, honey bees, ladybirds and caterpillars and you will understand how pesticides, habitat loss and climate change affect these little miracle workers. Visit lakes, rivers and beaches to witness the effects of pollution firsthand.

Think about how human activities impact the environment. Your concern and empathy will one day lead you to find innovative solutions for the conservation and preservation of nature.

Watch informational documentaries and movies

Many great resources are available in the form of books, movies, TV channels, websites and apps that help raise awareness about our beloved mother earth. TV channels such as National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, BBC Earth, etc, telecast excellent documentaries on wildlife, forests, oceans, ecosystem, the threats they face and their preservation.

By reading books and watching movies and documentaries of people like Rachel Carson, Sir David Attenborough, David Suzuki, Dr Jane Goodall, Steve Irwin and Wangari Maath, we can learn how passionate individuals can make a big difference. There are also many websites such as World Wildlife Fund, NatGeo Kids and PBS Nature which provide tremendous information on biodiversity, climate change, endangered species and conservation efforts taking place across the globe. These will give you an idea of how you can also make an impact in conservation.

Connect the dots

Deforestation in South America, bushfires in Australia, oil spill in Gulf of Mexico, and the list of problems faced by the environment goes on. You might think you live on the other side of the planet and would not be affected by human activities causing havoc so far away, but you are wrong!

While deforestation, oil spills, bushfires, mixing of industrial waste to various water sources have catastrophic effects on regions hundreds of miles away, winds and ocean currents carry polluted air and water across oceans. They contribute to global warming and the melting of glaciers, which cause sea levels to rise and many coastal cities now face extinction.

All our actions have consequences and we must educate ourselves about the impact of our actions on a global scale.

Develop green thumbs

One of the best things you can do for the environment is to develop green thumbs. Do not let lack of space or experience discourage you. You can start small by planting seeds in small pots and keeping them on your balcony. When you grow more confident, watch YouTube videos on how to grow and take care of various vegetables, plants and herbs, and grow them in your garden.

There are many plants and herbs that are easy to grow and maintain, such as aloe vera, snake plant, money plant, coriander, basil, parsley, mint and cilantro. Every bit of greenery fights air pollution, so do not think your efforts are too small or insignificant.

Participate in tree plantations

Participate in tree plantation drives. Look for places in your neighbourhood where trees can be planted. Educate yourself about the soil and climate in which native trees thrive well. It is not enough to plant the saplings. You have to make sure they are watered regularly and are safe from animals.

You might need help of adults so try to involve your friends, family members and neighbours so that there’s a sense of ownership and responsibility. Plant a tree on significant dates, such as your birthday or Independence Day every year.

Practice environmentally friendly habits

Make a list of environmentally-friendly habits that can be adopted in your home and school. Simple things, such as switching off lights when leaving a room, unplugging devices not in use, turning off taps, throwing waste in dustbins and carpooling, cycling or walking wherever possible can make a big difference.

Always use reusable lunch boxes, water bottles and cutlery instead of disposable ones. Donate books, clothes, shoes, toys and household items in a responsible way to reduce waste and encourage reuse and recycling.

Say no to littering

Can you believe a single discarded glass bottle can cause a wildfire that can destroy hundreds of trees? In some extremely hot and dry areas, glass can magnify sunlight and ignite dry grass or leaves causing a wildfire that can spread rapidly. A single cigarette butt carelessly flicked can do the same.

Whenever you go to an outdoor place like a park or sports ground, keep a small bag with you to store any trash until you can dispose it properly. Remember to pick up tissues, chewing gum, fruit peels, food wrappers and other waste that you have generated before leaving a picnic or camping area. Similarly, keep a small trash bag in your car to avoid tossing litter out the window.

Set a good example for your younger siblings and teach them to do the same.

Say ‘NO’ to fireworks

We all enjoy watching the sky transform into a colourful display of lights, but did you know that the colours in fireworks come from metal salts such as strontium carbonate (red), calcium chloride (orange), sodium nitrate (yellow), barium chloride (green), and copper chloride (blue)? Thus when these chemicals react with the metals, they release pollutants that are highly toxic to humans, plants and wildlife.

As individuals and as a nation, we should celebrate every occasion in a moderate way that does not leave a lasting impact on the environment or harm any form of life.

Create an eco-club in your school

Request your school administration to have eco-classes at least once a week. During this time, you can create posters to highlight environmental issues, grow plants, go for a tree plantation or cleanliness drive. Use your skills and talents for this purpose and have a special space in school where you can share your work for others to see.

You can also publish a newsletter, develop an app, create artwork, recycle old stuff into new things, take photographs of littering and write to local newspapers. Encourage your school to have separate bins for recyclable items such as paper, plastic, glass and metal.

Take your education to the next level

Did you know that many universities and websites offer free online courses on environment, climate change, sustainability and green living? Even if you want to be a doctor, engineer, computer programmer, chef or singer when you grow up, you can always benefit from learning about the environment. Learn, explore and educate yourself about the environmental problems that are snowballing rapidly.

If you have resolved to follow any of the above suggestions, then congratulations — you are an eco-warrior! You have recognised the problem, developed a few goals and now you must try to implement them.

Are your surroundings greener and cleaner? Has anything changed, even if it is a single tree or a few plants on your balcony that didn’t exist a few weeks ago? Any “reduce, recycle or re-use” story that you are proud of? Have you managed to convince your school to give you a designated eco-space? Have you watched a single documentary that has increased your knowledge about biodiversity or the environment?

Evaluate your habits and goals regularly and see the impact on you — yes you, one single child — can make it!

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 23rd, 2024