Revenge of the Waste

Author: Li Lixia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: Air is the pillar of life, providing the oxygen needed for human and animal respiration and the carbon dioxide required for plant photosynthesis. A significant portion of human and animal food consists of carbohydrates synthesized by plants through photosynthesis after absorbing carbon dioxide. The most dangerous animal in the world is humans! This is not a scare tactic! Our only planet Earth is already scarred. This book won the "Good Book Award" of the 8th "Five One Project" Award. The question "What is the most dangerous animal in the world?" is written on the wall of a small wooden house at Ecoland Wildlife Park in Germany. When faced with such a question, how would you answer it? Some friends might think of like lions and tigers. At the same time, the park poses this question to visitors, telling them that the answer can be seen by opening the door of the wooden house. Of course, this does not hinder visitors from using their imagination, but the answer is often something they do not expect. When this "answer door" is opened, visitors see a large mirror reflecting their own images. It is actually telling visitors: The most dangerous animal in the world is humans! Some environmental education teachers in China, after visiting this small wooden house, described their feelings as "shocking and unforgettable." The most dangerous animal in the world is humans! This is not a scare tactic! Our only planet Earth is already scarred: desertification is expanding, wastewater flows everywhere, exacerbating water scarcity, air pollution makes it impossible to see the blue sky or breathe fresh, clean air, and the scale and speed of species extinction have never been seen before. In short, the deterioration of the ecological environment is an undeniable fact. For a long time, humans have considered themselves the masters of the Earth and conquerors of nature, ignoring the intrinsic value of other species and all things in nature. In modern times, large-scale species extinction and other ecological disasters are mainly caused by the activities of one species on Earth—humans. Modern humans possess all means to eliminate other species. However, we must admit that humans and they are interdependent, sharing the Earth as their home. Only by treating living beings and the Earth with kindness can humans save themselves. China's modernization efforts also face severe ecological and environmental challenges. According to estimates by relevant experts, China suffers annual losses of 280 billion yuan due to environmental pollution, a truly staggering figure! The fragile ecological system calls for the awakening of public ecological awareness. Currently, the environmental awareness of the public in China, including teenagers, has both reasons for optimism and concerns. The optimistic side is that the public is increasingly concerned about and environmental issues, making environmental protection a focal point for urban residents. The concerning side is that the public lacks knowledge about ecological environments, which affects the overall level of environmental awareness. Many people are unaware of China's per capita arable land, freshwater, forests, wildlife, and other resources, as well as related knowledge. They do not know the dates of environmental such as "World Environment Day," "Earth Day," "National Day," "World Population Day," and "Bird Week," and believe that protecting the environment is primarily the government's responsibility, with little personal role. Therefore, strengthening environmental education, especially for teenagers, and popularizing ecological science knowledge is an urgent task. I am delighted to see that the Environmental and Development Committee of the China Society of Land Economics has organized experts to compile the "Green Future Series." I fully support the purpose and objectives of compiling this series: "The lack of environmental awareness among the public is a major reason for China's current severe ecological and environmental situation and a significant challenge for environmental protection work in China. Learning from past mistakes, this issue must also be addressed starting with teenagers. Environmental education and the popularization of green awareness among teenagers are key to a green future and an important part of quality education." This series, through many vivid and interesting examples and stories, systematically explains the scientific knowledge of various fields of the ecological environment, provides readers with new information, and elaborates on the responsibility of protecting the environment from the perspective of ecological ethics. Environmental security will become an important aspect of national security in the 21st century and a major concern for the masters of the 21st century—today's teenagers. Strengthening green awareness and creating a green future is not only the responsibility of each generation but should also become a way of thinking and a lifestyle. Garbage, something we frequently encounter and interact with, can be said to be a thing known to all. As a byproduct of human activities, garbage is something as old as human civilization, existing alongside human life. The of garbage and its transformation into a public nuisance that pollutes the environment are the results of modern industrial society, particularly urbanization. As a byproduct of human progress, garbage can also be dealt with through civilized means. Understanding garbage and knowing how to address it are one of the basic qualities of humans in the 21st century.