Editorials

Saving earth's wonders

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-15 08:20

Editor's note:As environment woes like climate change threaten everyone's existence, it is time for us to concern about environmental protection and change our lifestyles.

What will the world look like for our future generation? Will all the gems of Mother Nature and human civilization remain for people to enjoy? Sadly, the answer is very likely to be "no".

A special edition of Newsweek magazine has selected 100 places in the world for people to remember in photographs, as these spots might disappear forever or become seriously damaged by climate change. These are some of the most beautiful places on earth. They include stunning natural sites like Hawaii's Kauai Island and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, as well as cities like Beijing and Tokyo. The two Asian metropolises might be under the threat of desertification and rising seawater levels as global warming worsens.

The magazine's collection should add gravity to our concerns on environmental conservation and prompt us to rethink our lifestyles. It might be too cynical to say that the history of the human race is the history of nature being exploited. But much evidence indicates that human activities have done irreversible damage to the environment. As a result, humans have to swallow the bitter fruit of environmental degradation for generations. Environmental woes like climate change threaten the very existence of the human race.

Every human has a role to play in this life-and-death battle against climate change. To reduce the earth's carbon footprint, we should change the way we live fundamentally.

That means applying the "low-carbon principle" to everyday life. To live a low-carbon lifestyle, we can begin by saving a single drop of water, a unit of electricity and a piece of paper.

(China Daily 04/15/2010 page8)