The Ozone layer is part of the atmosphere which protects us from ultraviolet light. Deodorants and cleaning sprays used to contain CFC gases which weakened the Ozone layer. The layer is much thinner and there is a large hole near Australia and Antarctica. This means that there has been a significant rise in skin cancer. Sun cream companies have used this as a way to increase prices.
Deforestation is cutting down trees for building space / wood or cattle grazing e.g. Amazon Rainforest. If the current rate of deforestation continues, the world's rain forests will vanish within 100 years-causing unknown effects on global climate and eliminating the majority of plant and animal species on the planet. Animal habitats are destroyed. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 53,000 square miles of tropical forests (rain forest and other) were destroyed each year during the 1980s. Of this, they estimate that 21,000 square miles were deforested annually in South America, most of this in the Amazon Basin. This leads to loss of revenue and soil erosion. . From 1850 to 1990, deforestation worldwide (including the United States) released 122 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere. In comparison, fossil fuel burning (coal, oil, and gas) releases about 6 billion metric tons per year!
Factories also release nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. These become trapped in rain water and make rainwater acidic. This leads to the destruction of trees and animal habitats. This changes the pH of soil which then has to be limed more often. Water supplies are poisoned. Also, Limestone or marble buildings are destroyed i.e. Taj Mahal, Greek statues.
People also harm animals due to blood sports. Cocks are given razor talons to fight against each other with, or people fight bulls. Scientists test animals in laboratories and animals are also forced to do tricks in circuses. All animals should have rights. I myself believe that animals should have the right to live – not be eaten.
One of the main ways that people harm animals is due to factory farming. This is when animals are packed into very tight spaces. This means that pork and eggs can be sold for very cheap. It is, however, very unhygienic. Sheep are transported in Lorries for 24 hour journeys. They are so close together, that they become soaked in their own urine and faeces. Treating animals such as this leads to animal and humans getting diseases I.e. salmonella, BSE, foot and mouth.
Not everything however is bad. Humans; at last are trying to stop these things. In 1991 country officials met to talk about 1 thing – the environment. Many countries said that they would reduce their energy usage over the next few years. Sweden and Finland reduced by 20%-30%. England reduced by 2%. U.S.A. however WENT UP by 15 %. Many countries are now switching power i.e. Iceland has 40% geothermal power. There are many alternatives which countries are trying – solar, nuclear, tidal and wind power. This helps reduce the acid rain and the greenhouse effect.
To conquer the Ozone problem, CFC gases have been banned in 1st world countries. 3rd world ones, however need financial assistance and are slowly phasing them out.
People are now trying to keep forests; many 1st world countries are managing forests in a sustainable way. Internationally, the governments have recognised it as a problem.
The prime minister is expected to woo anti-hunt MPs by accepting amendments to the government's hunting bill which could mean an end to the blood sport, according to newspaper reports (The Guardian). Although the bill would allow hunting under strict conditions, the amendments will make it virtually impossible for hunting to continue. This means that the problem of blood sports is slowly being conquered and people are moving away from barbaric sports. Animals are also being treated slightly better; people are moving towards organic food and politicians understand it as a problem.
One of the good things that humans have done is prevent the extinction of many animals, although humans have endangered most of those animals in the first place.
In conclusion, humans have not done a good job at all in looking after the Earth and the environment. The environment could be like a bowl full of peas that the humans have been give to look after. The humans have spilt all of them and have only just started to pick a few up. What this is trying to indicate, is that we have not made the Earth much better – there are still many spilt peas. Maybe in a hundred years, humans will have seen the error of their ways and the answer to this essay will be different. I, however do not think that that will be the case. I do not think that Adam and mankind have fulfilled this covenant AT ALL. In the last 200 years, we have done more damage to the environment than the rest of history put together.