Our environment- Our duty

by Pooja Sharma
(jain Vishwa Bharti University, Ladnun)

It's our duty

It's our duty

Keep the planet clean, keep your conscience clean - Do you ever feel like the world is getting messier faster than you can clean your kitchen table? The conversation asks a simple question: what happens when people stop pointing fingers and start picking things up?

Pooja starts us off: Our mother Earth has been giving a lot since from our journey to civilization.

Our development can be owed to our priceless mother earth only. But what we are doing is just opposite to it. Our anthropocentric attitude towards our environment has endangered all living species including human beings. We are facing the crisis of existence.

If our such attitude will continue to grow, this earth will not be in the state to be lived upon. It's our duty first to save our environment.

For that, we need to first ponder our life styles which is based upon consumerism resulting in over-exploitation of resources again resulting in degradation of environment. We need to adopt such a code of conduct which will prove to be instrumental in pulling our mother earth from crisis of extinction.

Because we are bound to bestow upon our future generations the beautiful earth to play and foster as we have been given from our ancestors, so be aware and strong enough to play a role of steward of this earth.

Barry's Response - Thank you Pooja. This makes a good start in developing a solid set of guiding principals for taking care of our home and our legacy.

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The Environment and Our Duty

If you've ever wondered why the sky sometimes looks smoggy, why rivers foam after a storm, or why your city smells different on hot days, you're halfway there. Yes, your curiosity matters more than any slogan. It doesn't take a PhD to ask the questions that change the world.

Let's be honest: Earth isn't fragile. It's survived supervolcanoes, meteor impacts, and continents smashing together. It's us -- humans with lungs, crops, tap water, and hopes for Tuesday. Saving the planet really means making sure people can live good lives without coughing their way through math class.

There's a lot to do with meteorology

Pollution travels by wind. Chemical reactions are determined by sunlight. The clouds can either clean the sky or trap the mess. Even your weather app whispers: "Hey, where'd the nitrogen oxides go today?"

What about toxicology? It's just asking, “How much is too much?” - Water's harmless until you inhale it. Sunlight is great, until you forget sunscreen. At high concentrations, oxygen can catch fire. This is why science is humble. Everything is complicated when you zoom in.

When people argue about pollution or climate, remember this: Some worry we're not doing enough. We're panicking too fast, some worry. They both care. We both want a safe world.

There's no left or right when it comes to environmental duty

Survival, stewardship, and a little common sense.

And yes, faith and tradition have a place at this table. Scripture talks about stewardship: humans are caretakers, not tyrants. Dominion wasn't a license to wreck ecosystems; it was a job description. Teenagers get it instinctively -- give them a messy room, a pet, a skateboard, a phone, or a patch of park, and stewardship just makes sense.

Let's get back to the basics Pooja raised

Consumption burns resources fast. Atmospheric dispersion spreads pollution in ways most people don't see. If the wind field is right, a single leak can travel kilometres overnight. There's nothing like swimming through air you can chew when there's a temperature inversion.

Stay awake, don't feel guilty. Be aware of your habits. Pay attention to signals. Be aware of how your world works.

Being perfect doesn't save the environment. Being curious helps. Tools are built by curiosity. Problems are fixed by tools.

Young people today are better at asking hard questions than any generation before. In disguise, you're a bold, skeptical, restless meme-powered scientist.

Here's the counter-narrative

It's not about fear. It's all about power. Knowing enough science to not be fooled. Let's use freedom of thought to challenge lazy ideas, left or right. I'm wondering why the sky looks hazy today. Finding out what's in the water. Whether a river died from climate change or poor runoff management. Real solutions don't have one cause-and that's where they start.

When toxicology, meteorology, and environmental engineering work together, we get cleaner air after wildfires, cleaner cities, and better emergency plans. It's not scary—it's teamwork. Creativity is in their blood. They're weird. The future belongs to them.

Here's your real duty if you clicked Our Environment - Our Duty: Don't ask the same questions we did. Don't let the headlines get you down. While you're fixing things, laugh a little. Don't be afraid to challenge popular ideas. Stewards, not scolds. Follow your curiosity like a scientist on a skateboard when you see something off - a smell, a haze, a slick on the water.

Let us know what you've seen in your town

Let us know what confuses you. What makes you hopeful?

Let me know what you think. Join the conversation.

Comments for Our environment- Our duty

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by: Amanda

This post on our duty to our mother nature was really an eye opener. All of us should consider keeping our nature clean as one of our prime duties and by this we will be able to keep our Mother Earth clean.

From Barry - Thanks, Amanda! Simple daily habits start a clean environment. Pollution behaves like glitter in a fan: once it's loose, it spreads everywhere through wind shear and turbulence.

By keeping our surroundings clean, we can reduce the amount of debris that ends up in the air, in waterways, or in storm drains. Each time you clean, you're quietly beating the atmosphere at its own game.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Expressing my thoughts
by: KOTO

Aloha
I'm back!
Anonymous:, The fault lies, in my opinion, with all of us, to many people not really caring, and too many doing nothing about it.

We need to all start in our own back yards, where we live, play, work, vacation, not waiting, for the other person, or thinking, someone else will remove the trash. There are too many blind eyes and deaf ears, walking past garbage rather then reaching out and setting examples and making it safer for others. If we see discarded trash, left behind by mindless people, a caring person would remove and dispose of it properly.

KARMA is alive and well for those that leave dangers behind and for those that go the extra yard to remove it.

Suhana:, There are more then two sides to everything including coins: top, bottom, sides, to many people only see one or two ways to problems. Be open for other ways to look at things.

Samerra:, I would blame myself if I were not doing anything about the pollution except talking about it. Proper steps would be to Waster-Size, bending at the waist to pick up the waste and getting rid of both, (excess belly and trash). One would be exercising and assisting Mother Nature, at the same time, making it a safer place for all.

We are all in this neighborhood together; try and leave it better than you found it.

Asshima:, Action does speak louder than words - people hear what we say, but see what we do, and seeing is believing. One can start by notifying others of his concerns. Put out messages by stenciling little signs on storm drains where people walk and see them.

If we do our part, no matter how big or small, others see it. Some will engage and talk to the local media. Remember, the wheel that squeaks the most, gets oiled, noticed and looked at. NOW is the only time there is.

People like all of you below and Pooja are what we need to jump-start a wake-up call to others.
I hope that I made some sense and gave some ideas, May the force be with you all and may
The Powers Above Bless each and everyone of you.

With Aloha KOTO Keeper Of The Ocean

From Barry - Aloha, KOTO! You're right - waiting for someone else to pick up the trash is like assuming someone else will stabilize a storm cloud. A little bit more heat here, a little change in surface roughness there, and suddenly you've got a thunderstorm you didn't expect.

It's the same for humans. By removing debris, one person reduces airborne particulate matter, improves storm-drain flow, and sets off a cascade of better habits.

Yes, karma moves faster than a sea breeze.
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starstarstarstarstar 		My response is on the way
by: KOTO

Aloha To Anonymous, Suhana, Sameera, Asshima and of course Pooja

This past week I have been very busy with flooding and trash removing. I will share my beliefs with all of you wonderful concerned friends, soon, If you are interested in some of the things that I am involved in, please check out
solution2pollution.blogspot.com/ or
KOTO Keeper Of The Ocean.

Please keep in mind, there are more then two sides to a coin or anything else.

I'll be back!

May inner-wealth, health, happiness and peace be with all of you.

Gerry aka KOTO Keeper Of The Ocean

From Barry - I wish you luck with the flood cleanup, friend. When rain rates exceed ground absorption, debris becomes a secondary pollutant source. Your cleanup work prevents debris from entering waterways, raising BOD, lowering oxygen, and worsening downstream water quality. Keep being that friendly force of nature.
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starstarstarstarstar 		this is the first step.
by: Anonymous

I agree with all of dear but what I intend for is just to tell where the exact faults lie. Until we know about where is the major root of problem how will we move on to solve the problem? So first we need to realize that our actions are such as harming the environment. Then only we can work out some creative action to help save our environment.

From Barry - It's true: environmental problems always start with a source, just like air-quality models start with clearly defined emission points. If we don't name it, we can't fix it.

If we can identify the behaviors and systems that cause waste and pollution, we can target solutions with the same precision meteorologists use to trace a plume. Being aware isn't everything - but it's a good start.
Rating
star 		every coin has two sides
by: suhana

u told us what we know from past so many years . so inspite of repeating it tell measures to protect the environment

From Barry - That's a good point, Suhana. Here's a meteorologist's quick fix: don't expose as much stuff to the air. Why?

Chemical breakdown is accelerated by sunlight, heat, and wind. Pollutants are kept out of the air by covered storage, clean storm drains, less litter, and fewer open waste piles. A small change can have a big impact on the atmosphere.
Rating
star 		blaming others is not a solution
by: sameera

just telling what nature is doing for us is not enough. we must take proper steps.i appreciate the initiative but i do agree withy aashima.

From Barry - Yes, Sameera. When it comes to air quality, a model that stays on the computer doesn't help. Acting on results is what counts: planting buffers, improving combustion equipment, reducing solvent use, or controlling dust.

It means using fewer disposables, keeping drains clear, and preventing open burning. Talking is like a weather forecast; doing is like opening an umbrella.
Rating
star 		action speaks louder than words
by: aashima

an activist is not the man who says the river is dirty . the activist is the men who cleans it.

From Barry - That's perfect, Aashima. Taking trash out of rivers reduces microplastic generation, pathogen spread, and organic loads that trigger harmful algal blooms. Just one riverbank section cleaned improves water clarity, lowers turbidity, and boosts oxygen. That's activism in physics, chemistry, and compassion.
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starstarstarstarstar 		We all have the potential of changing the world
by: Gerry aka KOTO

Aloha Pooja:

Your way with words are beautiful; too bad they tell such a sad and true story. I feel if we expect to start saving Mother Earth, we need first to save our water. Many people do not know that water is 60% of our body, 70% of out brain and 80% of our blood, only 3% of Earth's water is fresh water and most of that is ice, that means there is "only" 0.007% of all water on Earth is available to drink.

We here at The Pollution Solution Group have a few ideas on things we can start doing to save Mother Earth which is dying as I type.

When people take a 10 minute shower they use 50 gallons of water. In the Navy or out at sea we were taught to get wet, turn off the water wash with soap, turn on the water and rinse off; you will save 90% of the water. When brushing your teeth and you leave the water running you waste 4 gallons.

25 million refugees were displaced by contaminated rivers last year. We will run out of water before we run out of oil.

It is TIME TO GIVE WATER A SECOND THOUGHT

USE LESS, SAVE MORE. Let others know you care. Take care of our storm water Keep things like oil, paint and garbage from contaminating and killing things in our water.

SAVE THE WATER AND WE WILL START TO SAVE THE EARTH The 6 R's include: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

With Aloha KOTO, One of the keepers of the ocean

From Barry - Gerry, those stats you shared on water hit hard - and they're true. There's not a lot of freshwater. Here's a meteorological twist: the hydrological cycle can't make drinkable water faster than we contaminate it. Runoff carries oils, metals, and waste into rivers, where they eventually evaporate, fall, and interact with aerosols. We dump stuff into the atmosphere, and it remembers it.

Water conservation is what air-quality scientists call "source minimization." Use less, waste less, pollute less - the math always works in our favor.

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